Lamentations 5:12

12 Their hands put princes to death by hanging: the faces of old men were not honoured.

Lamentations 5:12 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 5:12

Princes are hanged up by their hand
According to some, as Aben Ezra observes, by the hand of the servants before mentioned; however, by the hand of the Chaldeans or Babylonians; see ( Jeremiah 52:10 ) . Some understand it of their own hands, as if they laid violent hands upon themselves, not being able to bear the hardships and disgrace they were subjected to but I should rather think this is to be understood of hanging them, not by the neck, but by the hand, could any instance be given of such a kind of punishment so early used, and by this people; which has been in other nations, and in more modern times: the faces of elders were not honoured;
no reverence or respect were shown to elders in age or office, or on account of either; but were treated with rudeness and contempt.

Lamentations 5:12 In-Context

10 Our skin is heated like an oven because of our burning heat from need of food.

11 They took by force the women in Zion, the virgins in the towns of Judah.

12 Their hands put princes to death by hanging: the faces of old men were not honoured.

13 The young men were crushing the grain, and the boys were falling under the wood.

14 The old men are no longer seated in the doorway, and the music of the young men has come to an end.