King James Version

What Does Lamentations 3:61 Mean?

Lamentations 3:61 in the King James Version says “Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;” — study this verse from Lamentations chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;”

Lamentations 3:61 · KJV

Context

59

O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.

60

Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.

61

Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;

62

The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.

63

Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.

Read Lamentations 3 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Continued appeal to God's awareness: "Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me." The Hebrew shamata cherpatam YHWH kol-machshevotam ali (שָׁמַעְתָּ חֶרְפָּתָם יְהוָה כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָם עָלָי) shifts from seeing (verse 60) to hearing. Shamata (שָׁמַעְתָּ, "you have heard") acknowledges God's awareness of spoken reproach. Cherpatam (חֶרְפָּתָם, "their reproach") means disgrace, scorn, or insults hurled at the speaker.

The repetition of "all their imaginations against me" (kol-machshevotam ali, כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָם עָלָי) from verse 60 creates emphasis through redundancy—a Hebrew poetic technique. The enemies' schemes occupy their thoughts constantly. Ali (עָלָי, "against me") stresses that these plans target the speaker personally.

Theologically, this demonstrates that God hears not just prayers but also reproaches against His servants. When enemies mock believers, God hears. Psalm 44:13-16 laments similar reproach: "Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours...a byword among the heathen...My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me, For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth." Yet the psalm ends with appeal to God for vindication. Romans 8:31-34 assures that no accusation stands against God's elect because Christ intercedes for us.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The reproaches Jeremiah heard were constant and public. Jeremiah 20:7-8 records: "I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily." His message that Jerusalem would fall seemed unpatriotic, making him hated. Pashhur the priest beat Jeremiah and put him in stocks (Jeremiah 20:2)—a public humiliation.

After Jerusalem's fall, vindication came. Jeremiah's warnings proved true; the mockers were silenced by events. The Babylonian commander Nebuzar-adan treated Jeremiah respectfully, offering him protection (Jeremiah 39:11-14, 40:4-6). The enemies who reproached Jeremiah faced judgment—death, imprisonment, or exile.

Similarly, Israel as a nation heard reproaches from surrounding peoples during exile. Ezekiel 36:2-7 records God's response to these taunts: "Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession...thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen...which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds...Therefore prophesy and say...I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame." God heard all reproaches and would vindicate His name.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does knowing God has heard enemy reproaches against us provide comfort when facing mockery for faithfulness?
  2. What does God's comprehensive hearing (reproaches, imaginations, speech) teach about His intimate awareness of our circumstances?
  3. In what ways did Jesus experience the ultimate reproach (Isaiah 53:3, Psalm 22:6-8) and how does this affect our response to insults?
  4. How should we respond to reproaches—with immediate retaliation, or with appeal to God who hears all and will vindicate?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 6 words
שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ1 of 6

“Thou hast heard”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

חֶרְפָּתָם֙2 of 6

“their reproach”

H2781

contumely, disgrace, the pudenda

יְהוָ֔ה3 of 6

“O LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

כָּל4 of 6
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם5 of 6

“and all their imaginations”

H4284

a contrivance, i.e., (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice)

עָלָֽי׃6 of 6
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Lamentations. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Lamentations 3:61 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Lamentations 3:61 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Lamentations 5:1Zephaniah 2:8Psalms 89:50Psalms 74:18Lamentations 3:30

Test Your Knowledge

Lamentations 3 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterLamentations Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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