Lamentations 4:17

17 As for us, our eyes are worn out from looking in vain for help; we kept on watching and watching for a nation that couldn't save us.

Lamentations 4:17 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 4:17

As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help
Or, "while we were yet" ^F8; a nation, a people, a body politic, in our own land, before the city of Jerusalem was taken, we were looking for help, as was promised us; but it proved a vain help, none was given us; for which we kept looking to the last, till our eyes failed, and we could look no longer; no help appeared, nor was there any prospect or probability of it, and therefore gave all up: in our watching we watched for a nation [that] could not save [us];
not the Romans, as the Targum, but the Egyptians; these promised them help and relief, and therefore in their watching they watched, or vehemently watched, and wistfully looked out for it, but all in vain; for though these made an attempt to help them, they durst not proceed; were obliged to retire, not being a match for the Chaldean army, and so could not save them, or break up the siege, and relieve them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 (hnydwe) "quum adhuc essemus", Munster: Piscator.

Lamentations 4:17 In-Context

15 "Keep away! Unclean!" people shout at them, "Keep away! Away! Don't touch us!"They flee, to wander here and there; but no nation allows them to stay.

16 ADONAI himself scattered them; he will no longer look after them; they had no respect for cohanim and showed no kindness to the leaders.

17 As for us, our eyes are worn out from looking in vain for help; we kept on watching and watching for a nation that couldn't save us.

18 They keep dogging our steps, so that we can't go out in our streets. Our end is near, our time is up; yes, our end has come.

19 Those who pursued us were swifter than eagles in the sky. They chased us over the mountains and waylaid us in the desert.