The Westminster Podcast Hope in the Midst of Ruin: The Theology of Lamentations w/ Jeremy Menicucci
Jan 12, 2026
Jeremy Menicucci, doctoral student in Old Testament and pastor, studies Hebrew poetry and Lamentations. He discusses deviations in Hebrew word order, the book’s acrostic and chiasm structure, and why chapter 3 centers hope. Conversation also traces his move to Westminster and pastoral reflections on grief, presence, and reading Lamentations faithfully.
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Cross‑Country Move Under Pressure
- Jeremy Menicucci moved his pregnant wife and three children across the country to attend Westminster Seminary, enduring car breakdowns and hotel stays.
- The ordeal included a dead alternator on the Oklahoma turnpike and towing to a dealer before they completed the journey.
Hebrew Word Order Signals Meaning
- Unmarked Hebrew word order is verb–subject–object, and deviations signal authorial intent like emphasis or backgrounding.
- Hebrew poetry complicates this rule because poets freely vary order for style, rhyme, or pragmatic emphasis.
Acrostic Form Makes Word Order Meaningful
- Lamentations' first four chapters use an alphabetic acrostic, making word‑order variation highly intentional and interpretable.
- This structure lets scholars test whether poetic word order conveys theological emphasis rather than random variation.
