In moments of deep distress, a person naturally reaches out to God, the Master of all, seeking salvation and rescue. When trouble strikes, the immediate response is to seek out His intervention [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. This search is especially profound during times of exile, representing a longing for the Divine Presence that dwells with the people of Israel even in their darkest hours [אלשיך].
The core of this suffering is often experienced as a deep, physical blow. The primary approach among commentators is that the pain is likened to a severe wound or strike [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת ציון, מאירי, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד]. However, this suffering takes on many forms. It can represent a person's strength slowly melting away, their physical displacement, or a state of deeply confused thoughts [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מאירי]. In a more symbolic sense, it feels as though God's own hand, which was expected to bring help, has seemingly lost its strength [מלבי״ם].
This pain is not static; it is raw and active. It is compared to a fresh, open wound that constantly oozes fluid and blood [רש״י, מלבי״ם, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Beyond a physical injury, this continuous flow serves as a powerful metaphor for endless sighing, deep heartache, streaming tears, and a mind overwhelmed by confusion [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, מאירי].
The agony reaches its peak during the night. On a practical level, when the distractions of the day fade, a person is left alone with their thoughts, causing their troubles to become the sole focus [רד״ק, מאירי]. What should be a time of quiet rest and sleep instead brings even heavier pain [אלשיך]. On a broader, symbolic level, this darkness represents the bitter and blinding period of exile [רש״י, מאירי].
The intensity of this suffering simply does not weaken, stop, or cool down from its burning heat [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, מאירי, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Faced with such relentless torment, the soul entirely refuses to accept any comfort. Even when a person tries to calm their own heart with the hope that God will eventually end the exile, the sheer weight of the pain drains them of the mental strength needed to find peace or accept consolation [רד״ק, אלשיך, מצודת דוד].