Lamentations 2:13

What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

Lamentations 2:13 (KJV)

Context

Lamentations is a book in the Old Testament written by the prophet Jeremiah, expressing sorrow over the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. In this verse, Jeremiah speaks on behalf of God, addressing the daughter of Jerusalem and the virgin daughter of Zion—terms that symbolize the people of Israel, particularly the inhabitants of the city who have suffered greatly.

Meaning

The verse opens with a search for a witness: “What thing shall I take to witness for thee?” God, through Jeremiah, seeks something or someone to testify to the severity of the affliction. This reflects divine concern and empathy, as God understands the depth of His people’s suffering.

The next questions, “what thing shall I liken to thee?” and “what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee?” show God searching for a comparison adequate to their pain. Yet no comparison suffices, for their breach is “great like the sea”—vast, overwhelming, and beyond human remedy. The final question, “who can heal thee?” underscores the impossibility of healing apart from divine intervention. Only God can bring restoration to a people so devastated.

Biblical connections

The imagery of an incurable wound and the need for divine healing points to the seriousness of sin and the inadequacy of human resources for restoration. It foreshadows the need for a divine healer, ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who heals the breach caused by sin.

Application

This verse calls readers to recognize the severity of sin and the futility of seeking comfort or healing apart from God. It also models honest lament—bringing deep sorrow before God as a legitimate form of worship. Believers are encouraged to bring their deepest wounds to God, who alone can heal, and to lament with hope, trusting in His redemptive purposes.

Reflection

Even when suffering seems as vast as the sea, God is not distant. He sees the breach, and His desire to comfort His people points to His mercy. The question “who can heal thee?” finds its answer in God alone, who offers healing and restoration through Christ.