Lamentations Chapter 4 — The Suffering of Jerusalem's People
This chapter describes the tragic downfall of Jerusalem, contrasting its former prosperity with the extreme suffering and hunger faced by its people.
1How the gold has become dim!
2The precious sons of Zion,
3Even the jackals offer their breast.
4The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst.
5Those who ate delicacies are desolate in the streets.
6For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom,
7Her nobles were purer than snow.
8Their appearance is blacker than a coal.
9Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger;
10The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children.
11The LORD has accomplished his wrath.
12The kings of the earth didn’t believe,
13It is because of the sins of her prophets
14They wander as blind men in the streets.
15“Go away!” they cried to them.
16The LORD’s anger has scattered them.
17Our eyes still fail,
18They hunt our steps,
19Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky.
20The breath of our nostrils,
21Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom,
22The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Lamentations 4:1
“How the gold has become dim!”
This opening statement serves as a powerful metaphor for the loss of Jerusalem's glory and value.
Lamentations 4:11
“The LORD has accomplished his wrath.”
This verse identifies the destruction of Zion as an act of divine judgment.
Lamentations 4:22
“The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion.”
It offers a glimmer of hope by signaling that the period of judgment for the city has reached its end.
Chapter Summary
Lamentations 4 provides a vivid comparison between the former status of Jerusalem’s people and their current state of misery. Once compared to fine gold, the inhabitants now face desolation and are esteemed as common earthen pitchers. The text describes the horrors of famine, where nursing children suffer from thirst and formerly wealthy citizens are left destitute. It highlights how the nobility, once pure, have become unrecognizable due to their suffering. The chapter attributes this catastrophe to the sins of Jerusalem’s leaders, specifically its prophets and priests. It also mentions the futility of seeking help from other nations, noting that pursuers were swifter than eagles. The chapter concludes by stating that the punishment for Zion is complete, while also predicting a future day of reckoning for the daughter of Edom.
Frequently Asked Questions
The chapter focuses on the physical and social devastation of Jerusalem after its fall. It contrasts the city's previous wealth and health with the current starvation and ruin faced by its inhabitants.
The text identifies the sins of the prophets and the iniquities of the priests as a primary cause for the tragedy that befell the people, specifically mentioning the shedding of innocent blood.
It describes extreme hunger and thirst, noting that nursing children suffer and people who once ate delicacies are now desolate in the streets, illustrating a complete societal breakdown.
Study Note
Lamentations 4 is an acrostic poem where each of the 22 verses begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
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