Lamentations 5:16

16 The crown has fallen from our heads. Woe to us! for we have sinned.

Lamentations 5:16 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 5:16

The crown is fallen [from] our head
Or, "the crown of our head is fallen" F1; all their honour and glory as a nation were gone; the glory of their kingdom and priesthood, to both which a crown or mitre belonged; the glory of church and state. Aben Ezra interprets it of the temple, the place of the divine Majesty. Sanctius thinks there is an allusion to the crowns they wore upon their heads at their feasts and festivals; and so the words have a close connection with what goes before: woe unto us that we have sinned!
which had brought all these evils upon them: this is not to be considered as an imprecation or denunciation of misery; but as a commiseration of their case; calling upon others to it, and particularly God himself, to have mercy upon them; for, alas for them! they had sinned, and justly deserved what was come upon them; and therefore throw themselves at the feet of mercy, and implore divine compassion.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 (wnvar trje hlpn) "cecidit corona capitis nostri", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Lamentations 5:16 In-Context

14 The old men have deserted the city gate, the young men have given up their music.
15 Joy has vanished from our hearts, our dancing has turned into mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our heads. Woe to us! for we have sinned.
17 This is why our hearts are sick; this is why our eyes grow dim -
18 it's because of Mount Tziyon, so wasted that jackals have overrun it.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.