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The Agora
The Lamentations of Jeremiah

Parallel Passages

This is an area of study limited only by the student's own curiosity, ingenuity, and ambition. To pursue links between Scriptures can be fruitful, to a point; but it can readily be pushed beyond that point to become burdensome. Three main examples and a few passing references must suffice to illustrate the Lamentations' relationship with other passages.

First of all, Lamentations is a compilation of five elegies -- poems which reflect affliction, hope and deliverance. (Some briefer examples of the elegy in Hebrew Scriptures are Amos 5:1,2; Isaiah 14:4,5,12; and Ezekiel 19:10-14). Of the five poems: the first, second and fourth are dirges in the strictest sense; the third is a personal lament and prayer and the fifth is a national prayer.

Perhaps the best example of the funeral song is David's lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (2Sa 1:17-27). The quickest examination reveals a number of parallels with the Lamentations:

David's funeral dirge (2Sa 1:17-27)	Lamentations
19. The beauty of Israel	1:6; 2:1
How are the mighty fallen!	1:1; 2:1; 4:1; 5:16
20,21. Lest the daughters (of the Philistines) rejoice...	4:21,22
21. Anointed with oil	4:20
22. The blood of the slain	4:13
The bow (of Jonathan)	2:4; 3:12
The sword (of Saul)	2:21; 4:9; 5:9
23. Swifter than eagles	4:19
Stronger than lions	3:10
24. Ye daughters of Israel, weep	1:2, etc
Clothed in scarlet	4:5
Ornaments of gold	4:1,2

Psalm 74 is an excellent example of a national lament and prayer, and has extraordinary parallels with Lamentations (so many, in fact, that some expositors have suggested a common authorship):

Psalm 74	Lamentations
1. O God, why hast Thou cast us off forever?	3:31; 5:20,22
Why doth Thine anger smoke...?	2:1,3; 4:16
2,18. Remember...	1:9,11,12,20; 2:20; 5:1
This mount Zion, wherein Thou hast dwelt	2:1,15; 5:18
3. The perpetual desolations	5:18
All that the enemies hath done wickedly in the sanctuary	1:10; 4:12
4,5. Thine enemies roar in the midst of Thy congregations	2:6,7
7. They have cast fire into Thy sanctuary	1:13; 2:3; 4:11
8. (Note: the AV's "synagogue" is not, as some claim, a sure sign of post-exilic authorship -- but rather a poor translation of the Hebrew "moed": the same word is translated "congregation" in v 4.)
9. There is no more any prophet	2:9,20
10. O God, how long shall the adversary reproach?	2:15
11. Thy right hand	2:3

Perhaps Psalm 69 is the best example of a personal lament (as Lamentations 3):

Psalm 69	Lamentations
1. The waters are come in unto my soul	3:54
2,14. I sink in deep mire	3:53,55
2,15. The floods overflow me	3:54
3. I am weary of my crying	1:2,16; 2:18,19
My throat is dried	4:4
Mine eyes fail	2:11; 3:48,49
I wait for my god	3:25,26
5. My sins are not hid from Thee	3:39,42; 5:16
7. I have borne reproach	2:15
8. A stranger... an alien...	3:14
11. Sackcloth	2:10
12. I was the song of the drunkards	3;14,46,60-63
15. The pit	3:55; 4:20
16. The multitude of Thy tender mercies	3;22,23,32
17. Hide not Thy face from Thy servant	3:8,44
I am in trouble	3:1,19
20. I looked... for comforters, but I found none	1:2,7,9,17,21
21. Gall	3:5,19
22-28. Imprecation against enemies	1:21,22; 3:64-66; 4:21,22

Among the other personal laments of Scripture, Psalm 22 may also be noted for its parallels to both Psalm 69 and portions of Lamentations, and for its applicability (along with those two portions of Scripture) to the sufferings of Christ.

Neither should we neglect to mention, in passing, the strong parallels (too diffuse to catalogue and examine here) between Job and Lamentations.