Lamentations 2:11-21

11 My 1eyes fail because of tears, My 2spirit is greatly troubled; My 3heart is poured out on the earth 4Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, When 5little ones and infants faint In the streets of the city.
12 They say to their mothers, "6Where is grain and wine?" As they faint like a wounded man In the streets of the city, As their 7life is poured out On their mothers' bosom.
13 How shall I admonish you? To what 8shall I compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? To what shall I liken you as I comfort you, O 9virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is as vast as the sea; Who can 10heal you?
14 Your 11prophets have seen for you False and foolish visions; And they have not 12exposed your iniquity So as to restore you from captivity, But they have 13seen for you false and misleading oracles.
15 All who pass along the way 14Clap their hands in derision at you; They 15hiss and shake their heads At the daughter of Jerusalem, "Is this the city of which they said, '16The perfection of beauty, 17A joy to all the earth '?"
16 All 18your enemies Have opened their mouths wide against you; They hiss and 19gnash their teeth. They say, "We have 20swallowed her up! Surely this is the 21day for which we waited; We have reached it, we have seen it."
17 The LORD has 22done what He purposed; He has accomplished His word Which He commanded from days of old. He has thrown down 23without sparing, And He has caused the enemy to 24rejoice over you; He has 25exalted the might of your adversaries.
18 Their 26heart cried out to the Lord, "O 27wall of the daughter of Zion, Let your 28tears run down like a river day and night; Give yourself no relief, Let your eyes have no rest.
19 "Arise, cry aloud in the 29night At the beginning of the night watches; 30Pour out your heart like water Before the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to Him For the 31life of your little ones Who are 32faint because of hunger At the head of every street."
20 See, O LORD, and look! With 33whom have You dealt thus? Should women 34eat their offspring, The little ones who were born healthy? Should 35priest and prophet be slain In the sanctuary of the Lord?
21 On the ground in the streets Lie 36young and old; My 37virgins and my young men Have fallen by the sword. You have slain them in the day of Your anger, You have slaughtered, 38not sparing.

Lamentations 2:11-21 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.

Cross References 38

  • 1. Lamentations 1:16; Lamentations 3:48, 51
  • 2. Jeremiah 4:19
  • 3. Job 16:13
  • 4. Isaiah 22:4; Lamentations 4:10
  • 5. Jeremiah 44:7; Lamentations 2:19
  • 6. Jeremiah 5:17
  • 7. Job 30:16; Psalms 42:4; Psalms 62:8
  • 8. Lamentations 1:12
  • 9. Isaiah 37:22
  • 10. Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 30:12-15
  • 11. Jeremiah 23:25-29; Jeremiah 29:8, 9
  • 12. Isaiah 58:1; Ezekiel 23:36; Micah 3:8
  • 13. Jeremiah 23:36; Ezekiel 22:25, 28
  • 14. Job 27:23; Ezekiel 25:6
  • 15. Psalms 22:7; Isaiah 37:22; Jeremiah 18:16; Jeremiah 19:8; Zephaniah 2:15
  • 16. Psalms 50:2
  • 17. Psalms 48:2
  • 18. Job 16:10; Psalms 22:13; Lamentations 3:46
  • 19. Job 16:9; Psalms 35:16; Psalms 37:12
  • 20. Psalms 56:2; Psalms 124:3; Jeremiah 51:34
  • 21. Obad 12-15
  • 22. Jeremiah 4:28
  • 23. Lamentations 2:1, 2; Ezekiel 5:11; Ezekiel 7:8, 9; Ezekiel 8:18
  • 24. Psalms 35:24, 26; Psalms 89:42; Isaiah 14:29
  • 25. Deuteronomy 28:43, 44; Lamentations 1:5
  • 26. Psalms 119:145; Hosea 7:14
  • 27. Lamentations 2:8; Habakkuk 2:11
  • 28. Psalms 119:136; Jeremiah 9:1; Lamentations 1:2, 16; Lamentations 3:48, 49
  • 29. Psalms 42:3; Isaiah 26:9
  • 30. 1 Samuel 1:15; Psalms 42:4; Psalms 62:8
  • 31. Lamentations 2:11
  • 32. Isaiah 51:20
  • 33. Exodus 32:11; Deuteronomy 9:26
  • 34. Jeremiah 19:9; Lamentations 4:10
  • 35. Psalms 78:64; Jeremiah 14:15; Jeremiah 23:11, 12
  • 36. 2 Chronicles 36:17; Jeremiah 6:11
  • 37. Psalms 78:62, 63
  • 38. Jeremiah 13:14; Zechariah 11:6

Footnotes 9

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.