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Lamentations 2:15-22

Listen to Lamentations 2:15-22
15 All who pass along the way clap their hands at you; 1they hiss and wag their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called 2the perfection of beauty, 3the joy of all the earth? ”
16 4All your enemies rail against you; they hiss, they gnash their teeth, they cry: “We 5have swallowed her! Ah, this is the day we longed for; now we have it; 6we see it! ”
17 The Lord has done what he purposed; he has carried out 7his word, which he commanded 8long ago; 9he has thrown down 10without pity; 11he has made the enemy rejoice over you and exalted the 12might of your foes.
18 Their heart cried to the Lord. O 13wall of the daughter of Zion, 14let tears stream down like a torrent 15day and night! 16Give yourself no rest, 17your eyes no respite!
19 “Arise, 18cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! 19Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! 20Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, 21who faint for hunger at the head of every street. ”
20 Look, O Lord, and see! 22With whom have you dealt thus? 23Should women eat the fruit of their womb, the children of 24their tender care? Should 25priest and prophet be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord?
21 In the dust of the streets 26lie the young and the old; 27my young women and my young men have fallen by the sword; 28you have killed them in the day of your anger, slaughtering 29without pity.
22 You summoned as if to 30a festival day 31my terrors on every side, 32and on the day of the anger of the Lord no one escaped or survived; 33those whom I held and raised my enemy destroyed.

Lamentations 2:15-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS 2

This chapter contains another alphabet, in which the Prophet Jeremiah, or those he represents, lament the sad condition of Jerusalem; the destruction of the city and temple, and of all persons and things relative to them, and to its civil or church state; and that as being from the hand of the Lord himself, who is represented all along as the author thereof, because of their sins, La 2:1-9; and then the elders and virgins of Zion are represented as in great distress, and weeping for those desolations; which were very much owing to the false prophets, that had deceived them, La 2:10-14; and all this occasioned great rejoicing in the enemies of Zion, La 2:15-17; but sorrow of heart to Zion herself, who is called to weeping, La 2:18,19; and the chapter is concluded with an address to the Lord, to take this her sorrowful case into consideration, and show pity and compassion, La 2:20-22.

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Cross References 33

  • 1. 2:15 See 2 Chr. 29:8
  • 2. 2:15 Ps. 48:2; Ezek. 16:14
  • 3. 2:15 Ps. 48:2; Ezek. 16:14
  • 4. 2:16 ch. 3:46; [Job 16:9, 10]
  • 5. 2:16 See ver. 2
  • 6. 2:16 [Ps. 35:21]
  • 7. 2:17 See Lev. 26:14-45; Deut. 28:15-68
  • 8. 2:17 ch. 1:7; Jer. 46:26
  • 9. 2:17 See ver. 2
  • 10. 2:17 ver. 2, 21
  • 11. 2:17 [Ps. 38:16; 89:42]
  • 12. 2:17 [ver. 3]
  • 13. 2:18 ver. 8
  • 14. 2:18 See ver. 11
  • 15. 2:18 Ps. 32:4; 42:3
  • 16. 2:18 Ps. 77:2
  • 17. 2:18 Ps. 17:8
  • 18. 2:19 Ps. 119:147, 148
  • 19. 2:19 Ps. 62:8; [1 Sam. 7:6]
  • 20. 2:19 [1 Tim. 2:8]
  • 21. 2:19 See ver. 11, 12
  • 22. 2:20 ch. 1:22
  • 23. 2:20 ch. 4:10; See Jer. 19:9
  • 24. 2:20 ver. 22
  • 25. 2:20 [ch. 4:13]
  • 26. 2:21 [2 Chr. 36:17]
  • 27. 2:21 [2 Chr. 36:17]
  • 28. 2:21 ch. 3:43
  • 29. 2:21 ver. 2, 17
  • 30. 2:22 [ver. 6]
  • 31. 2:22 See Jer. 6:25
  • 32. 2:22 [Jer. 42:17; 44:14]
  • 33. 2:22 ver. 20
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025

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