Jeremiah compares Jerusalem’s vast ruin to the immensity of the sea, pleading for healing that only the Lord can provide.
In Lamentations 2:13, the prophet Jeremiah laments over Jerusalem’s distress, exclaiming, “What can I say for you? What can I compare you to, O daughter of Jerusalem? What can I liken to you as I comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is as vast as the sea; Who can heal you?” (Lamentations 2:13). This anguished address to the “daughter of Jerusalem” and “virgin daughter of Zion” underscores the deep sorrow the city endures after the Babylonian invasion, which laid waste to its streets and temple. Here, “daughter of Zion” reflects Jerusalem’s inhabitants, a royal city in the southern kingdom of Judah whose temple sat upon Mount Moriah, with “Zion” often used as a designation for God’s holy hill and the collective people who dwelled there.
The vivid phrase, “For your ruin is as vast as the sea” (v.13), captures how overwhelming and incalculable Jerusalem’s suffering has become, much like the immeasurable waters that cover the earth. Jeremiah mourns that none among human powers can mend the brokenness wrought by sin and rebellion; such healing can only come from the Lord. This lament links to the broader theme of Lamentations, where God’s compassion and hope remain even amid destruction, reflecting a tension between divine judgment and divine mercy. From a New Testament perspective, Jesus too expresses sorrow for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), weeping over a city that rejects Him, echoing the prophet’s lament for a people in need of God’s saving hand.
In the prophet’s question, “Who can heal you?” (v.13), we see a plea pointing to the ultimate comfort found in God alone. The broken state of Jerusalem hints at the need for a greater Redeemer who can restore both a city and a people. For believers, this verse foreshadows the deeper healing offered by Christ, whose compassion extends to those overwhelmed by the vastness of sin. The lament thus remains a call for repentance and reliance on God’s steadfast love, the only hope for wholeness.
Set to dark mode
Lamentations 2:13 meaning
In Lamentations 2:13, the prophet Jeremiah laments over Jerusalem’s distress, exclaiming, “What can I say for you? What can I compare you to, O daughter of Jerusalem? What can I liken to you as I comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is as vast as the sea; Who can heal you?” (Lamentations 2:13). This anguished address to the “daughter of Jerusalem” and “virgin daughter of Zion” underscores the deep sorrow the city endures after the Babylonian invasion, which laid waste to its streets and temple. Here, “daughter of Zion” reflects Jerusalem’s inhabitants, a royal city in the southern kingdom of Judah whose temple sat upon Mount Moriah, with “Zion” often used as a designation for God’s holy hill and the collective people who dwelled there.
The vivid phrase, “For your ruin is as vast as the sea” (v.13), captures how overwhelming and incalculable Jerusalem’s suffering has become, much like the immeasurable waters that cover the earth. Jeremiah mourns that none among human powers can mend the brokenness wrought by sin and rebellion; such healing can only come from the Lord. This lament links to the broader theme of Lamentations, where God’s compassion and hope remain even amid destruction, reflecting a tension between divine judgment and divine mercy. From a New Testament perspective, Jesus too expresses sorrow for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), weeping over a city that rejects Him, echoing the prophet’s lament for a people in need of God’s saving hand.
In the prophet’s question, “Who can heal you?” (v.13), we see a plea pointing to the ultimate comfort found in God alone. The broken state of Jerusalem hints at the need for a greater Redeemer who can restore both a city and a people. For believers, this verse foreshadows the deeper healing offered by Christ, whose compassion extends to those overwhelmed by the vastness of sin. The lament thus remains a call for repentance and reliance on God’s steadfast love, the only hope for wholeness.