Thematic Bible
Lamentations 4:1 (show verse)
How the pure gold has changed!
The sacred stones [of the temple] are poured out and scattered
At the head of every street.
Lamentations 4:2 (show verse)
The [noble and] precious sons of Zion,
[Once] worth their weight in fine gold,
How they are regarded [merely] as earthen jars,
The work of a potter’s hands!
Lamentations 4:3 (show verse)
Even the jackals offer the breast,
They nurse their young;
But the daughter of my people has become cruel
Like ostriches in the wilderness [that desert their young].
Lamentations 4:4 (show verse)
The tongue of the infant clings
To the roof of its mouth because of thirst;
The little ones ask for food,
But no one gives it to them.
Lamentations 4:5 (show verse)
Those who feasted on delicacies
Are perishing in the streets;
Those reared in purple [as nobles]
Embrace ash heaps.
Lamentations 4:6 (show verse)
For the [punishment of the] wickedness of the daughter of my people [Jerusalem]
Is greater than the [punishment for the] sin of Sodom,
Which was overthrown in a moment,
And no hands were turned toward her [to offer help].
Lamentations 4:7 (show verse)
Her princes were purer than snow,
They were whiter than milk [in appearance];
They were more ruddy in body than rubies,
Their polishing was like lapis lazuli (sapphire).
Asceticism » Practised by the nazarites
Famine » Described
Fraternity » Instances of » The nazarites, vows of
Milk » An animal secretion, of a white color
Nazarite » Character of
Nazarites » Esteemed pure
Precious stones » Mentioned in scripture » Ruby
Snow » A symbol of whiteness
Snow » Figurative » Of purity
Famine » Described
Fraternity » Instances of » The nazarites, vows of
Milk » An animal secretion, of a white color
Nazarite » Character of
Nazarites » Esteemed pure
Precious stones » Mentioned in scripture » Ruby
Snow » A symbol of whiteness
Snow » Figurative » Of purity
Lamentations 4:8 (show verse)
Their appearance is [now] blacker than soot [because of the prolonged famine];
They are not recognized in the streets;
Their skin clings to their bones;
It is withered, and it has become [dry] like wood.
Lamentations 4:9 (show verse)
Those killed with the sword
Are more fortunate than those killed with hunger;
For the hungry pine and ebb away,
For the lack of the fruits of the field.
Lamentations 4:10 (show verse)
The hands of compassionate women
Boiled their own children;
They became food for them
Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people [Judah].
Lamentations 4:11 (show verse)
The Lord has fulfilled His wrath;
He has poured out His fierce anger
And has kindled a fire in Zion
That has consumed her foundations.
No Themes for this verse.
Lamentations 4:12 (show verse)
The kings of the earth did not believe,
Nor did any of the inhabitants of the earth,
That the adversary (oppressor) and enemy
Could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
No Themes for this verse.
Lamentations 4:13 (show verse)
Because of the sins of her [counterfeit] prophets
And the wickedness of her [unfaithful] priests,
Who have shed in her midst
The blood of the just and righteous;
Lamentations 4:14 (show verse)
They wandered, blind, in the streets;
They were defiled with blood
So that no one could touch their garments.
Lamentations 4:15 (show verse)
People cried to them, “Go away! Unclean!
Depart! Depart! Do not touch!”
So they fled, then they wandered [as fugitives];
People among the nations said,
“They shall not stay here any longer with us.”
No Themes for this verse.
Lamentations 4:16 (show verse)
The presence of the Lord scattered them [among the nations];
He will not continue to look after them.
They did not honor the priests;
They did not favor the elders.
No Themes for this verse.
Lamentations 4:17 (show verse)
[And as for us,] yet our eyes failed,
Looking in vain for help.
Watching [from the towers] we watched
For a nation that could not save.
Lamentations 4:18 (show verse)
The enemy hunted our steps,
So that we could not walk in our streets;
Our end drew near,
Our days were finished
For our end had come.
No Themes for this verse.
Lamentations 4:19 (show verse)
Our pursuers were swifter
Than the eagles of the sky;
They pursued us on the mountains,
They waited in ambush for us in the wilderness.
Lamentations 4:20 (show verse)
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord [our king],
Was captured in their snares,
He of whom we had said, “Under his shadow
We shall live among the nations.”
No Themes for this verse.
Lamentations 4:21 (show verse)
Rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom,
Who lives in the land of Uz.
But the cup [of the wine of God’s wrath] will pass to you as well;
You will become drunk and make yourself naked.
Lamentations 4:22 (show verse)
The punishment of your sin has been completed, O Daughter of Zion;
The Lord will no longer send you into exile.
But He will punish your sin, O Daughter of Edom;
He will expose your sins.
No Themes for this verse.