Lamentations 5:1
1 ▼ O Lord, reflect on ▼▼ The basic meaning of זָכַר (zakhar) is “to remember, call to mind” (HALOT 270 s.v. I זכר). Although often used of recollection of past events, זָכַר (zakhar, “to remember”) can also describe consideration of present situations: “to consider, think about” something present (BDB 270 s.v. 5), hence “reflect on,” the most appropriate nuance here. Verses 1–6 describe the present plight of Jerusalem. The parallel requests הַבֵּיט וּרְאֵה (habbet ure’eh, “Look and see!”) have a present-time orientation as well. See also 2:1; 3:19–20.
what has happened to us; consider ▼
▼ Heb “Look!” Although often used in reference to visual perception, נָבַט (navat, “to look”) can also refer to cognitive consideration and mental attention shown to a situation: “to regard” (e.g., 1 Sam 16:7; 2 Kgs 3:14), “to pay attention to, consider” (e.g., Isa 22:8; Isa 51:1, 2).
and look at ▼ our disgrace.
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