The closing prayer — twenty-two verses, but no longer an acrostic: 'Remember, O Hashem, what has come upon us.' Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers; servants rule over us; the crown has fallen from our head. Yet You, O Hashem, are enthroned forever. The book ends with the plea the synagogue repeats aloud after the final verse, so that Eichah closes in return: 'Turn us to You, O Hashem, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.'
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
Remember, O Hashem, what has come upon us; Behold, and see our reproach.
verse value 1818
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 36 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 1818 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "remember" (זְכֹ֤ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "our·reproach" (אֶת־חֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּ, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "remember" (זְכֹ֤ר), "what·has·happened" (מֶֽה־הָ֣יָה), "and·see" (וּרְאֵ֥ה). The root נבט appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 32x in Lamentations); "what·has·happened" (root היה, 23x in Lamentations).
Ibn Ezra
"Zechor" (remember) — remembrance is [an act] of the heart, and "the look" is [an act] of the eye. And the sense is: all the distress that passed over us before the exile, and the reproach that we are [now] in.
Alshich
"Remember, Hashem, what has happened to us" — the greatness that was [once ours]. "Look and see" — Look at what was ours in the past, and see what is now, and weigh the one against the other, and you will see the greatness of our disgrace.
Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, Our houses to aliens.
verse value 1809
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 27 letters. The shortest word is "has·been·turned" (נֶֽהֶפְכָ֣ה, 5 letters) and the longest is "our·inheritance" (נַחֲלָתֵ֙נוּ֙, 6 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "our·inheritance" (נַחֲלָתֵ֙נוּ֙), "has·been·turned" (נֶֽהֶפְכָ֣ה), "to·strangers" (לְזָרִ֔ים). 5 unique roots are used. Full calculation: נַחֲלָתֵ֙נוּ֙ [our·inheritance] (544) + נֶֽהֶפְכָ֣ה [has·been·turned] (160) + לְזָרִ֔ים [to·strangers] (287) + בָּתֵּ֖ינוּ [our·houses] (468) + לְנׇכְרִֽים [to·aliens] (350) = 1809.
Ibn Ezra
"Nachalateinu" (our inheritance) — fields and vineyards, sold over to strangers who are [now] in our land.
Alshich
"our inheritance" — this is the Holy Temple, as it is written, "unto the resting place and unto the inheritance" (Deuteronomy 12:9), for it was the place where the Divine Presence (Shechinah) rested, and now it has been turned over to strangers — that is, to the forces of impurity, for "the wicked walk on every side" (Psalms 12:9), as is known to those who possess understanding (lit. "those who know grace").
We have become orphans and fatherless, Our mothers are as widows.
verse value 1772
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 33 letters. The shortest word is "father" (אָ֔ב, 2 letters) and the longest is "like·widows" (כְּאַלְמָנֽוֹת, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "orphans" (יְתוֹמִ֤ים), "we·have·become" (הָיִ֙ינוּ֙), "father" (אָ֔ב). The root אין appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "we·have·become" (root היה, 23x in Lamentations).
Ibn Ezra
"Yetomim" (orphans) — and moreover, we were, among the sojourners, wretched, as if we were orphans. "Ve-ein av" (and there is no father) — it is known that it is the custom of the father's family to help orphans.
Alshich
"and have no father" — for we live as orphans, in that our Father in heaven has gone and withdrawn from us. "our mothers" — that is, Zion and Jerusalem.
We have drunk our water for money; Our wood comes to us for price.
verse value 1589
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 29 letters. The shortest word is "for·money" (בְּכֶ֣סֶף, 4 letters) and the longest is "our·water" (מֵימֵ֙ינוּ֙, 6 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "our·water" (מֵימֵ֙ינוּ֙), "for·money" (בְּכֶ֣סֶף), "we·have·drunk" (שָׁתִ֔ינוּ). 6 unique roots are used. Full calculation: מֵימֵ֙ינוּ֙ [our·water] (156) + בְּכֶ֣סֶף [for·money] (162) + שָׁתִ֔ינוּ [we·have·drunk] (766) + עֵצֵ֖ינוּ [our·wood] (226) + בִּמְחִ֥יר [for·price] (260) + יָבֹֽאוּ [come] (19) = 1589.
Rashi
Our water we have drunk for payment We were afraid to draw water from the river because of the enemies; we therefore bought [it] from them with money.
Ibn Ezra
"Meimeinu" (our water) — even water and wood, which belong to no one, we must buy at a high price, because the city sits under siege from the enemy.
Alshich
"we have drunk our water for money" — when they [the nations] were subjugated beneath us, nevertheless we would drink even our own water from them for money, and we did not rob them of anything at all. But now, in place of the good deeds we did for them, our wood comes to us for a price: they bring us that very wood, loading it upon our necks, as we are pursued until we are exhausted, with no rest granted to us.
To our very necks we are pursued; We labor, and have no rest.
verse value 1205
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 31 letters. The shortest word is "upon" (עַ֤ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "is·given·rest·to·us" (הֽוּנַֽח־לָֽנוּ, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "our·neck" (צַוָּארֵ֙נוּ֙), "we·are·pursued" (נִרְדָּ֔פְנוּ), "we·labor" (יָגַ֖עְנוּ). The root לא appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·not" (root לא, 29x in Lamentations); "upon" (root על, 21x in Lamentations).
Rashi
We are pursued [with a yoke] on our necks because of the yoke of hard labor. we toil to gather money and property. but it does not remain with us [the fruits of] our toil [do not remain] in our hands, because the enemies would collect and seize everything for taxes, head taxes, and property taxes.
Ibn Ezra
"Al" (upon) — and if we bring the water or the wood, it is upon our necks that we are pursued; the adversary pursues us and wearies us for nothing, for he will not leave us what we had brought.
We have given the hand to Egypt, And to Assyria, to have bread enough;
verse value 1887
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 22 letters. The shortest word is "hand" (יָ֔ד, 2 letters) and the longest is "Egypt" (מִצְרַ֙יִם֙, 5 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "Egypt" (מִצְרַ֙יִם֙), "hand" (יָ֔ד), "Assyria" (אַשּׁ֖וּר). 6 unique roots are used. Full calculation: מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ [Egypt] (380) + נָתַ֣נּוּ [we·have·given] (506) + יָ֔ד [hand] (14) + אַשּׁ֖וּר [Assyria] (507) + לִשְׂבֹּ֥עַֽ [to·be·sated] (402) + לָֽחֶם [bread] (78) = 1887.
Rashi
We have stretched out our hands to Egypt It is customary for a falling person who wishes to stand up to stretch out a hand to someone nearby to help him. Here too, we stretched out a hand to Egypt that they should help us. [and to] Assyria to get enough food that they sate us with their bread. We have stretched out Heb. נָתַנוּ, like נָתַנְנוּ. The dagesh in the “nun” takes the place of the second “nun,” and so (I Chron. 29:14): “For all is from You, and from Your hand we have given it (נָתַנוּ) to You”; and so (Gen. 34:16): “and we will give (וְנָתַנוּ) our daughters to you.”
Ibn Ezra
"Mitzrayim natanu yad" (we have given the hand to Egypt) — the doubling [dagesh] in the nun of the word "natanu" stands in place of the root's [final] nun, for this nun is the marker of the first-person plural. And "giving the hand" [denotes] an oath, as in "vehinei natan yado" (and behold, he gave his hand) (Ezekiel 17:18); and the sense is like a handshake [sealing an oath], for they swore to Egypt and to Assyria — or perhaps [it should be read as] "nishba" (we swore).
Alshich
"we have given the hand to Egypt" — and all this came about precisely because we placed our trust in Egypt and not in the Holy One, blessed be He, and therefore these troubles came upon us.
Our fathers have sinned, and are not; And we have borne their iniquities.
verse value 1666
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 42 letters. The shortest word is "have·sinned" (חָֽטְאוּ֙, 4 letters) and the longest is "their·iniquities" (עֲוֺנֹתֵיהֶ֥ם, 7 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "our·fathers" (אֲבֹתֵ֤ינוּ), "have·sinned" (חָֽטְאוּ֙), "and·they·are·not" (וְאֵינָ֔ם). The root אין appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used.
Ibn Ezra
"Avoteinu" (our fathers) — this evil that has come upon us is because of our own iniquities, which joined together with the iniquities of our fathers; and they escaped, but not we — in the sense of "[He] visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children."
Alshich
"our fathers have sinned" — the intent follows what is stated in the writings of the Arizal (R. Isaac Luria): that because the soul of the son is contained within the power of the soul of the father, sometimes, when the son is destined to become wicked, he causes the father to sin. Therefore we also confess and say that, because of our many sins, all the sins that our fathers committed are counted as our own sins, since they came about on our account. "and are not" — the Holy One, blessed be He, regarded our fathers' sins, as concerns the fathers themselves, as though they were not. "and we have borne their iniquities" — we are punished also for their sins, similar to what is said, "visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children" (Exodus 20:5), and this is for the same reason — that the father's sin came about on our account — and therefore the punishment was magnified, to the point that "slaves have ruled over us," etc.
Servants rule over us; There is none to deliver us out of their hand.
verse value 1095
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 22 letters. The shortest word is "over·us" (בָ֔נוּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "servants" (עֲבָדִים֙, 5 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "servants" (עֲבָדִים֙), "rule" (מָ֣שְׁלוּ), "over·us" (בָ֔נוּ). 6 unique roots are used. Full calculation: עֲבָדִים֙ [servants] (126) + מָ֣שְׁלוּ [rule] (376) + בָ֔נוּ [over·us] (58) + פֹּרֵ֖ק [deliverer] (380) + אֵ֥ין [none] (61) + מִיָּדָֽם [from·their·hand] (94) = 1095.
Ibn Ezra
"Avadim" (servants) — our own servants, who used to pay us tribute, now rule over us, just as Edom [rules over us]. "Poreik" (deliverer) — like "matzil" (rescuer), as in "vayifrekeinu mitzareinu" (and He delivered us from our foes) (Psalms 136:24); and both are from the root of "mefarek harim" (breaking mountains) (1 Kings 19:11).
We get our bread with the peril of our lives Because of the sword of the wilderness.
verse value 1326
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 27 letters. Verse gematria: 1326 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "sword·of" (חֶ֥רֶב, 3 letters) and the longest is "with·our·soul" (בְּנַפְשֵׁ֙נוּ֙, 6 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "with·our·soul" (בְּנַפְשֵׁ֙נוּ֙), "we·bring" (נָבִ֣יא), "our·bread" (לַחְמֵ֔נוּ). 6 unique roots are used. Full calculation: בְּנַפְשֵׁ֙נוּ֙ [with·our·soul] (488) + נָבִ֣יא [we·bring] (63) + לַחְמֵ֔נוּ [our·bread] (134) + מִפְּנֵ֖י [because·of] (180) + חֶ֥רֶב [sword·of] (210) + הַמִּדְבָּֽר [the·wilderness] (251) = 1326.
Rashi
With our lives we bring our bread with the peril of our soul. We were endangered when we would bring our food from the field because of the sword of the wilderness.
Ibn Ezra
"Benafsheinu" (at the risk of our life) — at first our servants used to bring us bread, and now we [must do it] ourselves. And what seems correct to me is that its sense is "at the risk of our lives," and likewise "ki venafshotam heviyum" (for at the risk of their lives they brought them) (1 Chronicles 11:19).
Our skin is hot like an oven Because of the burning heat of famine.
verse value 2369
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 28 letters. The shortest word is "famine" (רָעָֽב, 3 letters) and the longest is "burning·heat·of" (זַלְעֲפ֥וֹת, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "our·skin" (עוֹרֵ֙נוּ֙), "like·an·oven" (כְּתַנּ֣וּר), "are·hot" (נִכְמָ֔רוּ). 6 unique roots are used. Full calculation: עוֹרֵ֙נוּ֙ [our·skin] (332) + כְּתַנּ֣וּר [like·an·oven] (676) + נִכְמָ֔רוּ [are·hot] (316) + מִפְּנֵ֖י [because·of] (180) + זַלְעֲפ֥וֹת [burning·heat·of] (593) + רָעָֽב [famine] (272) = 2369.
Rashi
is parched Heb. נִכְמַרוּ, became heated, and so (Gen. 43:30): “for his mercies were stirred up (נִכְמְרוּ)”; and in the language of the Gemara there are many instances [of the use of this word]: (Yev. 97a): “a heating vessel (כּוֹמֶר) of olives”; (Pes. 58a): “for the heating (מִכְמָר) of the flesh. the heat of hunger Heb. זַלְעֲפוֹת,” heat, like (Ps. 11:6): “and a burning wind (רוּחַ זִלְעָפוֹת)”; an expression of burning.
Ibn Ezra
"Oreinu" (our skin) — and if we do not risk [our lives] to bring bread, we will die of hunger. "Nichmaru" (are scorched) — like "yiv'aru" and "yikdu" (they burn and kindle); and [related to] "nichmaru" as in "ki nichmeru rachamav" (for his compassion was kindled) (Genesis 43:30).
They have ravished the women in Zion, The maidens in the cities of Judah.
verse value 1828
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 25 letters. The shortest word is "they·have·ravished" (עִנּ֔וּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·Zion" (בְּצִיּ֣וֹן, 5 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "they·have·ravished" (עִנּ֔וּ), "virgins" (בְּתֻלֹ֖ת), "in·the·cities·of" (בְּעָרֵ֥י). 6 unique roots are used. Full calculation: נָשִׁים֙ [women] (400) + בְּצִיּ֣וֹן [in·Zion] (158) + עִנּ֔וּ [they·have·ravished] (126) + בְּתֻלֹ֖ת [virgins] (832) + בְּעָרֵ֥י [in·the·cities·of] (282) + יְהוּדָֽה [Judah] (30) = 1828.
Ibn Ezra
"Nashim" (women) — the distress of famine was not enough for us, until the servants violated our women. And any intercourse that is by force, even if performed in the natural manner, is called "inui" (violation).
Princes are hanged up by their hand; The faces of elders are not honored.
verse value 1735
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 27 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "elders" (זְקֵנִ֖ים, 5 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "princes" (שָׂרִים֙), "by·their·hand" (בְּיָדָ֣ם), "are·hanged" (נִתְל֔וּ). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not" (root לא, 29x in Lamentations). Full calculation: שָׂרִים֙ [princes] (550) + בְּיָדָ֣ם [by·their·hand] (56) + נִתְל֔וּ [are·hanged] (486) + פְּנֵ֥י [faces·of] (140) + זְקֵנִ֖ים [elders] (207) + לֹ֥א [not] (31) + נֶהְדָּֽרוּ [are·honored] (265) = 1735.
Ibn Ezra
"Sarim" (princes) — we have no princes to save our women, for even they themselves were hanged by their own arm. And some say that "beyadam" (by their hand) refers back to the servants mentioned above.
Alshich
"are hanged up by their hand" — they hanged themselves by their own hands and deliberately destroyed themselves, because of the sin that in their time of ease the faces of elders were not honored.
The young men have borne the mill, And the children have stumbled under the wood.
verse value 1590
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 27 letters. The shortest word is "in·the·wood" (בָּעֵ֥ץ, 3 letters) and the longest is "young·men" (בַּחוּרִים֙, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "mill" (טְח֣וֹן), "and·boys" (וּנְעָרִ֖ים), "in·the·wood" (בָּעֵ֥ץ). 6 unique roots are used. Full calculation: בַּחוּרִים֙ [young·men] (266) + טְח֣וֹן [mill] (73) + נָשָׂ֔אוּ [have·borne] (357) + וּנְעָרִ֖ים [and·boys] (376) + בָּעֵ֥ץ [in·the·wood] (162) + כָּשָֽׁלוּ [have·stumbled] (356) = 1590.
Rashi
Young men carried the millstones When the enemies led them away in neck irons, they would place millstones and burdens on their shoulders in order to tire them. Similarly: and youths fail under [loads of] wood, meaning that their strength failed. The expression of failing applies to the weakening of the strength, as is stated in Ezra (Neh. 4:4), “And Judea said: The porter’s strength has failed (כָּשַּׁל) .” Similarly, (above 1:14) “and caused my strength to fail (הִכְשִּׁיל).”
Ibn Ezra
"Nas'u" (they carried) — young men [carried millstones] to grind, and "tachon" (grinding) would be an infinitive, like "nil'eiti nesso" (I am weary of bearing) (Isaiah 1:14); and the strength of the youths failed as they moved the wood of the mill. And some say that it is to be understood according to its plain sense, and the meaning is that every camp requires [people] for grinding and for wood.
The elders have ceased from the gate, The young men from their music.
verse value 2384
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 26 letters. The shortest word is "from·the·gate" (מִשַּׁ֣עַר, 4 letters) and the longest is "from·their·music" (מִנְּגִינָתָֽם, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "from·the·gate" (מִשַּׁ֣עַר), "have·ceased" (שָׁבָ֔תוּ). 5 unique roots are used. Full calculation: זְקֵנִים֙ [elders] (207) + מִשַּׁ֣עַר [from·the·gate] (610) + שָׁבָ֔תוּ [have·ceased] (708) + בַּחוּרִ֖ים [young·men] (266) + מִנְּגִינָתָֽם [from·their·music] (593) = 2384.
Ibn Ezra
"Zekenim" (elders) — their custom was to sit in the gates of Jerusalem.
Alshich
"The elders have ceased from the gate" — the commentators explained that the young Levites were the singers, and the elders were the gatekeepers. And this is the meaning of his words: from the time that "the elders ceased from the gate, and the young men from their music," from then on "our heart's joy has ceased," since "the crown of our head has fallen."
For this our heart is faint, For these things our eyes are dim;
verse value 901
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 29 letters. The shortest word is "has·become" (הָיָ֤ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "our·eyes" (עֵינֵֽינוּ, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "upon·this" (עַל־זֶ֗ה), "are·dim" (חָשְׁכ֥וּ). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "has·become" (root היה, 23x in Lamentations). Full calculation: עַל־זֶ֗ה [upon·this] (112) + הָיָ֤ה [has·become] (20) + דָוֶה֙ [faint] (15) + לִבֵּ֔נוּ [our·heart] (88) + עַל־אֵ֖לֶּה [upon·these] (136) + חָשְׁכ֥וּ [are·dim] (334) + עֵינֵֽינוּ [our·eyes] (196) = 901.
Rashi
For this our heart has become faint, etc. because of that which is delineated in the following verse: “For Mount Zion, which lies desolate, and foxes prowl over it.”
Ibn Ezra
"Al zeh hayah daveh libeinu" (for this our heart is faint) — and the eye grew dim from much weeping.
Alshich
"for this our heart is faint" — and although we had all these troubles, our heart was not faint except over Mount Zion, which lies desolate.
For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, The foxes walk upon it.
verse value 1666
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 24 letters. The shortest word is "upon" (עַ֤ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·mountain·of·Zion" (הַר־צִיּוֹן֙, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "the·mountain·of·Zion" (הַר־צִיּוֹן֙), "which·is·desolate" (שֶׁשָּׁמֵ֔ם), "foxes" (שׁוּעָלִ֖ים). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "upon" (root על, 21x in Lamentations). Full calculation: עַ֤ל [upon] (100) + הַר־צִיּוֹן֙ [the·mountain·of·Zion] (361) + שֶׁשָּׁמֵ֔ם [which·is·desolate] (680) + שׁוּעָלִ֖ים [foxes] (456) + הִלְּכוּ־בֽוֹ [walk·upon·it] (69) = 1666.
Ibn Ezra
"Al har Tzion she-shamem" (for Mount Zion, which is desolate) — ["shamem" is] a past-tense verb, like "ka'asher ahev" (as he loved) (Genesis 27:14). "Shu'alim" (foxes) — their custom is to be [found] in ruins. "Halchu vo" (they walk upon it) — [meaning] those who habitually walk [there], like "vayachantu oto" (and they embalmed him) (Genesis 50:26). And "halchu" would carry the sense of "walking" from the heavy binyan [the intensive conjugation], and it is an intransitive verb. But since I found "arom hilchu" (they walk naked) (Job 24:10), I was compelled to [adopt] the first grammatical analysis.
You, O Hashem, are enthroned for ever, Your throne is from generation to generation.
verse value 1867
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 27 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "You" (אַתָּ֤ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "forever" (לְעוֹלָ֣ם, 5 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "sit" (תֵּשֵׁ֔ב), "Your·throne" (כִּסְאֲךָ֖), "to·generation" (לְד֥וֹר). The root דור appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 32x in Lamentations). Full calculation: אַתָּ֤ה [You] (406) + יְהֹוָה֙ [Hashem] (26) + לְעוֹלָ֣ם [forever] (176) + תֵּשֵׁ֔ב [sit] (702) + כִּסְאֲךָ֖ [Your·throne] (101) + לְד֥וֹר [to·generation] (240) + וָדֽוֹר [and·generation] (216) = 1867.
Rashi
[But] You, O Lord we know that You will remain forever. Now since that is so...
Ibn Ezra
"Atah Hashem" (You, Hashem) — we know that Your kingship will not depart, and for all generations You sit upon the throne of the kingdom.
Alshich
"You, Hashem, are enthroned for ever" — the essence of my petition is that now the Name is not whole and the Throne is not whole, and therefore our request is: "You, Hashem, are enthroned for ever" — that the Name be whole and the Throne be whole.
Why do You forget us for ever, And forsake us so long time?
verse value 1923
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 27 letters. The shortest word is "why" (לָ֤מָּה, 3 letters) and the longest is "forget·us" (תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֔נוּ, 6 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "why" (לָ֤מָּה), "forever" (לָנֶ֙צַח֙), "forget·us" (תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֔נוּ). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "days" (root יום, 20x in Lamentations). Full calculation: לָ֤מָּה [why] (75) + לָנֶ֙צַח֙ [forever] (178) + תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֔נוּ [forget·us] (784) + תַּֽעַזְבֵ֖נוּ [forsake·us] (535) + לְאֹ֥רֶךְ [to·length·of] (251) + יָמִֽים [days] (100) = 1923.
Rashi
Why do You forget us forever Have You not sworn to us Yourself that just as You exist, so does Your oath exist?
Ibn Ezra
"Lamah" (why) — since You stand forever, why do You forget us, selah?
Alshich
"for ever" (la-netzach) — the days of the Messiah are called "netzach" (eternity). And she petitions: why do You forget us, [refraining] from returning us to Yourself, until the time of the days of the Messiah, waiting until we ourselves become the ones who initiate repentance — and for this You forsake us for so long a time? Therefore we petition: be You the One who initiates, to return us [to You].
Turn us to You, O Hashem, and we shall be turned; Renew our days as of old.
verse value 1785
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 37 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֤ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "renew" (חַדֵּ֥שׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "turn·us" (הֲשִׁיבֵ֨נוּ, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "turn·us" (הֲשִׁיבֵ֨נוּ), "to·You" (אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙), "renew" (חַדֵּ֥שׁ). The root שוב appears 3 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 32x in Lamentations); "our·days" (root יום, 20x in Lamentations).
Ibn Ezra
"Hashiveinu" (turn us back) — to the city, the dwelling place of Your Name, and we shall return to serve You as in days of old.
Alshich
"as of old" — like the days of their going out from Egypt, when You were the One who initiated [the redemption].
You cannot have utterly rejected us, And be exceeding wroth against us!
verse value 1684
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 27 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֚י, 2 letters) and the longest is "You·have·rejected·us" (מְאַסְתָּ֔נוּ, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "if·utterly" (אִם־מָאֹ֣ס), "You·have·rejected·us" (מְאַסְתָּ֔נוּ), "have·been·wroth" (קָצַ֥פְתָּ). The root מאס appears 2 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "against·us" (root על, 21x in Lamentations). Full calculation: כִּ֚י [for] (30) + אִם־מָאֹ֣ס [if·utterly] (142) + מְאַסְתָּ֔נוּ [You·have·rejected·us] (557) + קָצַ֥פְתָּ [have·been·wroth] (670) + עָלֵ֖ינוּ [against·us] (166) + עַד־מְאֹֽד [exceedingly] (119) = 1684.
Rashi
For if You have utterly rejected us because we have sinned, You should not have been exceedingly wroth as much as You were wroth. Restore us...O Lord Since he concludes with words of reproof, he had to repeat the preceding verse again, and so it is in Isaiah, the Twelve Prophets, and Ecclesiastes.
Ibn Ezra
"Ki" (for) — [the sense is]: restore us quickly — unless You have rejected us because of our sins [and] have already been exceedingly wrathful with us. And what seems correct to me is that it should be understood: "for if You have utterly rejected us" — because of our sins You have already been more than exceedingly wrathful with us — yet He, in His mercy, will have compassion upon us and upon the wretched, and will raise up the officer Michael to plead well on behalf of Israel, and "a redeemer shall come to Zion."
Alshich
"You cannot have utterly rejected us" — have You not already been exceedingly angry with us, and we have received our punishment? Therefore we petition: "Turn us to You, Hashem, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old." Amen. Concluded.
Ibn Ezra
Alshich