Lamentations 5:15
Lamentations 5:15 in Multiple Translations
Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.
The joy of our heart is ceased; Our dance is turned into mourning.
The joy of our hearts is ended; our dancing is changed into sorrow.
There's no more happiness for us; our dancing has turned into mourning.
The ioy of our heart is gone, our daunce is turned into mourning.
Ceased hath the joy of our heart, Turned to mourning hath been our dancing.
The joy of our heart has ceased. Our dance is turned into mourning.
The joy of our heart hath ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.
The joy of our heart is ceased, our dancing is turned into mourning.
We [SYN] are no longer joyful; instead of dancing joyfully, we now mourn.
Berean Amplified Bible — Lamentations 5:15
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Lamentations 5:15 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
שָׁבַת֙
מְשׂ֣וֹשׂ
לִבֵּ֔/נוּ
נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ
לְ/אֵ֖בֶל
מְחֹלֵֽ/נוּ
שָׁבַת֙
shâbath
H7673
to cease
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
מְשׂ֣וֹשׂ
mâsôws
H4885
rejoicing
N-ms
לִבֵּ֔/נוּ
lêb
H3820
heart
N-ms | Suff
נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ
hâphak
H2015
to overturn
V-Niphal-Perf-3ms
לְ/אֵ֖בֶל
ʼêbel
H60
mourning
Prep | N-ms
מְחֹלֵֽ/נוּ
mâchôwl
H4234
dance
N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Lamentations 5:15
שָׁבַת֙
shâbath
H7673
"to cease"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
To keep the Sabbath means to rest and stop working, as commanded by God in the book of Exodus. This Hebrew word is used to describe the act of observing the Sabbath day, and is an important part of Jewish tradition and worship.
Definition: 1) to cease, desist, rest 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cease 1a2) to rest, desist (from labour) 1b) (Niphal) to cease 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to cease, put an end to 1c2) to exterminate, destroy 1c3) to cause to desist from 1c4) to remove 1c5) to cause to fail
Usage: Occurs in 67 OT verses. KJV: (cause to, let, make to) cease, celebrate, cause (make) to fail, keep (sabbath), suffer to be lacking, leave, put away (down), (make to) rest, rid, still, take away. See also: Genesis 2:2; Isaiah 14:4; Psalms 8:3.
מְשׂ֣וֹשׂ
mâsôws
H4885
"rejoicing"
N-ms
This Hebrew word means a feeling of great joy or delight, like the rejoicing in Psalm 16:11. It's about being happy and celebrating something good. In the Bible, it often describes a positive emotional state.
Definition: exultation, joy, rejoicing
Usage: Occurs in 16 OT verses. KJV: joy, mirth, rejoice. See also: Job 8:19; Isaiah 62:5; Psalms 48:3.
לִבֵּ֔/נוּ
lêb
H3820
"heart"
N-ms | Suff
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Definition: 1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding 1a) inner part, midst 1a1) midst (of things) 1a2) heart (of man) 1a3) soul, heart (of man) 1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory 1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will) 1a6) conscience 1a7) heart (of moral character) 1a8) as seat of appetites 1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
Usage: Occurs in 552 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom. See also: Genesis 6:5; 2 Samuel 13:33; Psalms 4:8.
נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ
hâphak
H2015
"to overturn"
V-Niphal-Perf-3ms
To overturn means to turn something around or change it completely, often implying a reversal or transformation. This can be seen in the Bible when something is turned upside down or changed radically.
Definition: 1) to turn, overthrow, overturn 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to overturn, overthrow 1a2) to turn, turn about, turn over, turn around 1a3) to change, transform 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to turn oneself, turn, turn back 1b2) to change oneself 1b3) to be perverse 1b4) to be turned, be turned over, be changed, be turned against 1b5) to be reversed 1b6) to be overturned, be overthrown 1b7) to be upturned 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to transform oneself 1c2) to turn this way and that, turn every way 1d) (Hophal) to turn on someone
Usage: Occurs in 92 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] become, change, come, be converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse, retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary, every way). See also: Genesis 3:24; Job 30:15; Psalms 30:12.
לְ/אֵ֖בֶל
ʼêbel
H60
"mourning"
Prep | N-ms
Mourning refers to the act of grieving or lamenting, often for someone who has died, like the mourning of the Israelites after the death of Moses in Deuteronomy 34.
Definition: 1) mourning 1a) for the dead 1b) for rites of mourning (metaph) 1c) mourning garb 1d) period of mourning
Usage: Occurs in 22 OT verses. KJV: mourning. See also: Genesis 27:41; Ecclesiastes 7:4; Isaiah 60:20.
מְחֹלֵֽ/נוּ
mâchôwl
H4234
"dance"
N-ms | Suff
In the Bible, a dance or dancing refers to a round dance, where people move in a circle. This word is used to describe joyful celebrations and worship.
Definition: dance, dancing
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: dance(-cing). See also: Psalms 30:12; Jeremiah 31:4; Psalms 149:3.
Study Notes — Lamentations 5:15
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — A Prayer for Restoration
13Young men toil at millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
14The elders have left the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
15Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
16The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! 17Because of this, our hearts are faint; because of these, our eyes grow dim—Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amos 8:10 | I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation. I will cause everyone to wear sackcloth and every head to be shaved. I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son, and its outcome like a bitter day. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 25:10 | Moreover, I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp. |
| 3 | James 4:9–10 | Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. |
| 4 | Psalms 30:11 | You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, |
| 5 | Amos 6:4–7 | You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. You improvise songs on the harp like David and invent your own musical instruments. You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph. Therefore, you will now go into exile as the first of the captives, and your feasting and lounging will come to an end. |
Lamentations 5:15 Summary
[Lamentations 5:15 tells us that joy has left the hearts of the people, and their dancing has turned to mourning, which means they've gone from being very happy to very sad. This happens when we focus on earthly things for our happiness instead of God, as we're reminded in Colossians 3:2 to set our minds on things above. When we sin or face hard times, our joy can fade, but as Psalm 16:11 says, joy can be found in God's presence. By focusing on God and seeking Him, we can find joy even in difficult times, just like the encouragement in Nehemiah 8:10 that the joy of the Lord is our strength.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for joy to leave our hearts?
When joy leaves our hearts, it means that the happiness and delight we once felt are now gone, often due to circumstances or sin, as seen in Lamentations 5:15 and also in Ezekiel 24:16 where God takes away the joy of His people due to their disobedience.
Why has the dancing turned to mourning in Lamentations 5:15?
The dancing turning to mourning signifies a drastic change from celebration and happiness to sorrow and grief, much like the transformation seen in Ecclesiastes 3:4 where there is a time to mourn, indicating that life's circumstances can shift rapidly from joy to sorrow.
How does this verse relate to the overall message of Lamentations?
This verse is part of the lament over the fall of Jerusalem, emphasizing the loss of joy and the presence of sorrow, which is a central theme in the book of Lamentations, as also seen in Lamentations 1:1 where the city lies desolate.
What can we learn from the loss of joy in Lamentations 5:15?
We can learn that our joy should be rooted in God and not in earthly circumstances, as stated in Psalm 16:11, where joy is found in God's presence, and in Nehemiah 8:10, which reminds us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Reflection Questions
- What are the things in my life that bring me joy, and are they rooted in God or in earthly things?
- How can I, like the Psalmist in Psalm 42:1-2, yearn for God when joy seems lost, and what practices can help me cultivate this yearning?
- In what ways can I, despite my circumstances, choose to rejoice in the Lord as Philippians 4:4 suggests, and what difference might this make in my life and the lives of those around me?
- What role does sin play in the loss of joy, as hinted at in Lamentations 5:16, and how can acknowledging and repenting of sin restore joy, as seen in Psalm 51:12?
Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 5:15
The joy of our heart is ceased,.... ward joy was gone, as well as the external signs of it: it "sabbatized" (y), as it may be rendered; alluding perhaps to the cordial joy expressed formerly on their
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 5:15
The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 5:15
Either our rejoicing at our solemn festivals, and dancings there, which were usual, as appeareth from many scriptures; or all our joy and dancings, as well at other times as in our solemn festivals.
Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 5:15
Lamentations 5:15 The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.Ver. 15. The joy of our heart is ceased.] Heb., Keepeth Sabbath, i.e., is vanished, and that because we made not God’ s Sabbath our delight.
Sermons on Lamentations 5:15
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
An Inquiry After Truth and Righteousness, and After the People, &C. by Isaac Penington | Greek Word Studies for an aid_number 34478 preaches on the significance of mourning over sin, emphasizing the need for genuine confession, repentance, and sorrow. The preacher high |
|
Somebody Prayed - Part 2 (Compilation) by Compilations | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of witnessing a preacher named Michael weeping and begging for people to repent and get right with God. The speaker emphasi |
|
Step 7 on Mourning Which Causes Joy. by St. John Climacus | St. John Climacus preaches about the importance of mourning, compunction, and repentance as essential steps in the spiritual journey towards God. He emphasizes the need for genuine |
|
|
An Enrollment of Our Names in Heaven —The Noblest Source of Joy by Samuel Davies | Samuel Davies preaches about the joy of having our names written in heaven, emphasizing that this surpasses all other sources of joy. He highlights the importance of heavenly citiz |
|
Mourning for Sin and Holy Joy by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes the profound relationship between godly sorrow and holy joy, illustrating that true mourning for sin leads to the deepest forms of spiritual joy. He explai |
|
Hindrances to Revival: Fear of Emotion by J. Edwin Orr | J. Edwin Orr addresses the fear of emotional displays in the context of revival, arguing that genuine emotional responses are often a sign of the Holy Spirit's work. He critiques t |
|
Apart by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that true repentance is deeply personal and always accompanied by sorrow for sin. He argues against the modern notion that repentance is merely a change of |