top of page

Lamentations 4

Lamentations 4 reflects on the suffering and devastation experienced by Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege. The chapter describes the drastic changes in the lives of the people, highlighting the suffering of the children, the nobility, and the priests who once lived in luxury but now face starvation, exile, and humiliation. The chapter paints a picture of the tragic consequences of sin and divine judgment, capturing the deep sorrow of a once-great city brought low.

Lamentations 4:1-10 (NKJV)
1 How the gold has become dim! How changed the fine gold! The stones of the sanctuary are scattered at the head of every street.
2 The precious sons of Zion, valuable as fine gold, How they are regarded as clay pots, The work of the hands of the potter!
3 Even the jackals present their breasts To nurse their young; But the daughter of my people is cruel, Like ostriches in the wilderness.
4 The tongue of the infant clings To the roof of its mouth for thirst; The young children ask for bread, But no one breaks it for them.
5 Those who ate delicacies Are desolate in the streets; Those who were brought up in scarlet Embrace ash heaps.
6 The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people Is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown in a moment, With no hand to help her!
7 Her Nazirites were brighter than snow And whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, Like sapphire in their appearance.
8 Now their appearance is blacker than soot; They go unrecognized in the streets; Their skin clings to their bones, It has become as dry as wood.
9 Those slain by the sword are better off Than those who die of hunger; For these pine away, Stricken for lack of the fruits of the field.
10 The hands of the compassionate women Have cooked their own children; They became food for them In the destruction of the daughter of my people.

The glory of Jerusalem, symbolized by gold, has faded as the people are scattered and treated as worthless. The “precious sons of Zion” who were once honored are now disregarded, much like common clay pots. Children suffer immensely, thirsting and starving as there is no one to care for them. Those who once enjoyed luxury are now destitute, a stark contrast to their previous lives. The judgment faced by Jerusalem surpasses even that of Sodom’s swift destruction. The city’s noble individuals, once radiant and healthy, are now unrecognizable, reduced to frailty and suffering due to extreme hunger. Compassionate mothers are even driven to cook their own children, showcasing the unimaginable horrors faced by the people during this siege.

Lamentations 4:11-16 (NKJV)
11 The Lord has fulfilled His fury, He has poured out His fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion, And it has devoured its foundations.
12 The kings of the earth, And all inhabitants of the world, Would not have believed That the adversary and the enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem—
13 Because of the sins of her prophets And the iniquities of her priests, Who shed in her midst The blood of the just.
14 They wandered blind in the streets; They have defiled themselves with blood, So that no one would touch their garments.
15 They cried out to them, “Go away, unclean! Go away, go away, Do not touch us!” When they fled and wandered, Those among the nations said, “They shall no longer dwell here.”
16 The face of the Lord scattered them; He no longer regards them. The people do not respect the priests Nor show favor to the elders.

God’s anger has been fully poured out on Jerusalem, bringing destruction upon the city’s very foundation. The devastation was so profound that no one thought an enemy could penetrate Jerusalem’s walls. This judgment comes because of the sins of the prophets and priests, who misled the people and shed innocent blood. Their spiritual blindness is symbolized by their physical wandering, covered in defilement, causing others to avoid them as if they were unclean. The people’s leaders are now disrespected and abandoned, reflecting a complete breakdown of societal structure and respect for religious authority.

Lamentations 4:17-20 (NKJV)
17 Still our eyes failed us, Watching vainly for our help; In our watching we watched For a nation that could not save us.
18 They tracked our steps So that we could not walk in our streets. Our end was near; Our days were over, For our end had come.
19 Our pursuers were swifter Than the eagles of the heavens. They pursued us on the mountains And lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, Was caught in their pits, Of whom we said, “Under his shadow We shall live among the nations.”

The people of Jerusalem waited in vain for help from other nations, expecting rescue that never came. The enemy’s relentless pursuit left no place for safety, driving them from the streets and surrounding them even in the mountains and wilderness. Their last hope, the “anointed of the Lord,” referring to the king or leader, was also captured, ending any hope of protection or survival among the nations.

Lamentations 4:21-22 (NKJV)
21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, You who dwell in the land of Uz! The cup shall also pass over to you And you shall become drunk and make yourself naked.
22 The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; He will no longer send you into captivity. He will punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; He will uncover your sins!

Edom, a neighboring nation that rejoiced at Jerusalem’s downfall, is warned that they too will face judgment. Their brief satisfaction will be replaced by exposure and disgrace, much like the punishment suffered by Jerusalem. For Jerusalem, however, there is a glimmer of hope. Her punishment has been fulfilled, and her time of captivity will eventually end. Edom, on the other hand, will now be held accountable for its actions, and God will expose its sins as He once did for Jerusalem.

bottom of page