Lamentations 2:4-7

4 Like an enemy he has strung his bow; his right hand is ready. Like a foe he has slain all who were pleasing to the eye; he has poured out his wrath like fire on the tent of Daughter Zion.
5 The Lord is like an enemy; he has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed her strongholds. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for Daughter Judah.
6 He has laid waste his dwelling like a garden; he has destroyed his place of meeting. The LORD has made Zion forget her appointed festivals and her Sabbaths; in his fierce anger he has spurned both king and priest.
7 The Lord has rejected his altar and abandoned his sanctuary. He has given the walls of her palaces into the hands of the enemy; they have raised a shout in the house of the LORDas on the day of an appointed festival.

Lamentations 2:4-7 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 16

  • 1. S Job 3:23; Job 16:13; Lamentations 3:12-13
  • 2. S Psalms 48:2; Ezekiel 24:16,25
  • 3. S 2 Chronicles 34:21; Ezekiel 20:34
  • 4. Isaiah 42:25; S Jeremiah 7:20
  • 5. S Jeremiah 4:20
  • 6. S Job 13:24; Jeremiah 30:14
  • 7. ver 2
  • 8. S Isaiah 29:2
  • 9. S Jeremiah 7:20; Jeremiah 9:17-20
  • 10. 2 Chronicles 36:19
  • 11. S Jeremiah 52:13
  • 12. Lamentations 1:4; Zephaniah 3:18
  • 13. Isaiah 43:28; S Jeremiah 7:14; Lamentations 4:16; Lamentations 5:12
  • 14. S Leviticus 26:31; S Ezekiel 7:24
  • 15. Psalms 74:7-8; S Isaiah 64:11; Jeremiah 33:4-5; Ezekiel 7:21-22
  • 16. Jeremiah 21:4; Jeremiah 52:13
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.