THEOSISEphraem the Syrian
My sons were lost to destruction like the fruits of the wilderness, meaning that those who were uprooted and wearied in their bondage turned into wild figs, even though prior to their captivity they resembled sturdy cedars.
Lamentations 1:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
Ain. Therefore do I weep, and my eyes run down with water: because the comforter, the relief of my soul, is far from me: my children are desolate because the enemy hath prevailed.
עַל־אֵ֣לֶּה ׀ אֲנִ֣י בוֹכִיָּ֗ה עֵינִ֤י ׀ עֵינִי֙ יֹ֣רְדָה מַּ֔יִם כִּֽי־רָחַ֥ק מִמֶּ֛נִּי מְנַחֵ֖ם מֵשִׁ֣יב נַפְשִׁ֑י הָי֤וּ בָנַי֙ שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ים כִּ֥י גָבַ֖ר אוֹיֵֽב׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Theodoret of Cyrus
My eyes have streamed with tears, because the One who brings me solace has gone from my side. To clarify the identity of this comforter, the prophet further states, "He that restoreth my soul." This is why He imposed discipline, aiming to heal the spirit. The prophet also mourns the devastation of the children and the dominance of the adversaries. He depicts the visible sorrow of the grieving city.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Lam 1:2Beth. Weeping, she hath wept in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: there is none to comfort her among all them that were dear to her: all her friends have despised her, and are become her enemies.
- Lam 2:18Sade. Their heart cried to the Lord upon the walls of the daughter of Sion: Let tears run down like a torrent day and night: give thyself no rest, and let not the apple of thy eye cease.
- Lam 3:48Phe. My eye hath run down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
- Lam 3:49Ain. My eye is afflicted, and hath not been quiet, because there was no rest:
- Ps 119 (118):136
- Lam 2:11Caph. My eyes have failed with weeping, my bowels are troubled: my liver is poured out upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people, when the children, and the sucklings, fainted away in the streets of the city.
- Jer 13:17But if you will not hear this, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride: weeping it shall weep, and my eyes shall run down with tears, because the flock of the Lord is carried away captive.
- Jer 14:17And thou shalt speak this word to them: Let my eyes shed down tears night and day, and let them not cease, because the virgin daughter of my people is afflicted with a great affliction, with an exceeding grievous evil.