Lamentations 1:12

Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see! Is there any sorrow like mine, which was inflicted on me, which the LORD made me suffer on the day of His fierce anger?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The speaker, personifying Jerusalem, addresses bystanders passing by and demands they witness her suffering during the day of divine judgment.

The words — The phrase עֹבְרֵי דֶרֶךְ (‘overê derekh) literally means “those passing the road,” identifying the audience as casual observers. The imperative הַבִּיטוּ וּרְאוּ (haḇîṭû ûrĕ’û) commands them to look and see the specific affliction inflicted.

The thread — The motif of passersby witnessing desolation appears in Jeremiah 18:16, while the theme of executed judgment matching this verse runs in Daniel 9:12. Jesus redirects attention from spectacle to repentance in Luke 23:28.

Why it lands — The text states that the suffering is unique and directly caused by the LORD’s fierce anger, demanding that observers acknowledge it as deliberate divine judgment rather than random tragedy.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

ל֣וֹאLo'not אֲלֵיכֶם֮'a.lei./Khemto/ you כָּל־kol-O all עֹ֣בְרֵיoe.rei[those who] pass by of דֶרֶךְ֒de.reKh[the] road הַבִּ֣יטוּha.Bi.tulook וּרְא֗וּu./re.'Uand/ see אִם־'im-if יֵ֤שׁyeshthere מַכְאוֹב֙makh.'Ov[is] pain כְּמַכְאֹבִ֔יke./makh.'o.V/ilike/ pain/ my אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhich עוֹלַ֖לo.Lalit has been doneלִ֑יL/ito/ meאֲשֶׁר֙'a.Sherwhich הוֹגָ֣הho.Gahhe has caused grief יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh בְּי֖וֹםbe./Yomon/ [the] day of חֲר֥וֹןcha.Ron[the] burning of אַפּֽוֹ׃ ס'a.P/oanger/ his

King James Version

Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

Cross-references

Daniel 9:12 You have carried out the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us a great disaster. For under all of heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.
Luke 23:28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
Jeremiah 18:16 They have made their land a desolation, a perpetual object of scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and shake their heads.
Jeremiah 30:24 The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart. In the days to come you will understand this.
Lamentations 4:6 The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.
Isaiah 13:13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the wrath of the LORD of Hosts on the day of His burning anger.
Lamentations 2:13 What can I say for you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may console you, O Virgin Daughter of Zion? For your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can ever heal you?
Matthew 24:21 For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.
Luke 21:22 For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.