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Lamentations 2:17-22

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

Lamentations 2:17-22 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 27

  • 1. 2:17 See Lev. 26:14-45; Deut. 28:15-68
  • 2. 2:17 ch. 1:7; Jer. 46:26
  • 3. 2:17 See ver. 2
  • 4. 2:17 ver. 2, 21
  • 5. 2:17 [Ps. 38:16; 89:42]
  • 6. 2:17 [ver. 3]
  • 7. 2:18 ver. 8
  • 8. 2:18 See ver. 11
  • 9. 2:18 Ps. 32:4; 42:3
  • 10. 2:18 Ps. 77:2
  • 11. 2:18 Ps. 17:8
  • 12. 2:19 Ps. 119:147, 148
  • 13. 2:19 Ps. 62:8; [1 Sam. 7:6]
  • 14. 2:19 [1 Tim. 2:8]
  • 15. 2:19 See ver. 11, 12
  • 16. 2:20 ch. 1:22
  • 17. 2:20 ch. 4:10; See Jer. 19:9
  • 18. 2:20 ver. 22
  • 19. 2:20 [ch. 4:13]
  • 20. 2:21 [2 Chr. 36:17]
  • 21. 2:21 [2 Chr. 36:17]
  • 22. 2:21 ch. 3:43
  • 23. 2:21 ver. 2, 17
  • 24. 2:22 [ver. 6]
  • 25. 2:22 See Jer. 6:25
  • 26. 2:22 [Jer. 42:17; 44:14]
  • 27. 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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