53. Dungeon. Some have taken 52-57 as autobiographical, recounting Jeremiah’s experience in the dungeon of Malchiah (Jer. 38:1-13). However, there is no record that stones were thrown upon Jeremiah, or that he was in any actual water. However, if these expressions are to be taken figuratively, it would seem that the whole passage here may well be understood as referring to the experience of the nation as a whole.
A stone. ’eben. While singular in form, this word seems to be collective in meaning, “stones,” and probably refers to the Hebrew custom of stoning. Thus the body of Absalom was put into a pit and stones were heaped upon it (2 Sam. 18:17). If the word is taken as singular, however, the meaning might be that not only has the afflicted prisoner been put into a dungeon, but a stone has been thrown over its mouth to prevent any possibility that he might escape.