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Lamentations 4:1-6

Listen to Lamentations 4:1-6

The Holy Stones Lie Scattered

1 1How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The holy stones lie scattered 2at the head of every street.
2 The precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in 3fine gold, how they are regarded as 4earthen pots, the work of a potter’s hands!
3 Even jackals offer the breast; they nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4 The tongue of the nursing infant 5sticks to the roof of its mouth for thirst; 6the children beg for food, but no one gives to them.
5 Those who once feasted on delicacies perish in the streets; 7those who were brought up in purple embrace ash heaps.
6 8For the chastisement[a] of the daughter of my people has been greater than the punishment[b] of Sodom, 9which was overthrown in a moment, and no hands were wrung for her. [c]

Lamentations 4:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS 4

The prophet begins this chapter with a complaint of the ill usage of the dear children of God, and precious sons of Zion, La 4:1,2; relates the dreadful effects of the famine during the siege of Jerusalem, La 4:3-10; the taking and destruction of that city he imputes to the wrath of God; and represents it as incredible to the kings and inhabitants of the earth, La 4:11,12; the causes of which were the sins of the prophets, priests, and people, La 4:13-16; expresses the vain hopes they once had, but now were given up entirely, their king being taken, La 4:17-20; and the chapter is concluded with a prophecy of the destruction of the Edomites, and of the return of the Jews from captivity, La 4:21,22.

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Cross References 9

  • 1. 4:1 [Isa. 1:22; Jer. 6:30]
  • 2. 4:1 ch. 2:19
  • 3. 4:2 Ps. 19:10
  • 4. 4:2 See Jer. 19:11
  • 5. 4:4 Ps. 22:15
  • 6. 4:4 [ch. 2:11]
  • 7. 4:5 [2 Sam. 1:24]
  • 8. 4:6 Matt. 10:15; Luke 10:12
  • 9. 4:6 Gen. 19:25; 2 Pet. 2:6; Jude 7

Footnotes 3

  • [a] 4:6 Or 'iniquity'
  • [b] 4:6 Or 'sin'
  • [c] 4:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
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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