Lamentations 4:6

6 The punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment without a hand turned to help her.

Lamentations 4:6 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
6 For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.
English Standard Version (ESV)
6 For the chastisement of the daughter of my people has been greater than the punishment of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and no hands were wrung for her.
New Living Translation (NLT)
6 The guilt of my people is greater than that of Sodom, where utter disaster struck in a moment and no hand offered help.
The Message Bible (MSG)
6 The evil guilt of my dear people was worse than the sin of Sodom - The city was destroyed in a flash, and no one around to help.
American Standard Version (ASV)
6 For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
6 The punishment for my people's wickedness has been more severe than the punishment for the sins of Sodom. Sodom was destroyed instantly, without one human hand touching it.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
6 The punishment of my dear people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand laid on it.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
6 My people have been punished more than Sodom was. It was destroyed in a moment. No one offered it a helping hand.

Lamentations 4:6 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 4:6

For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my
people
In the long siege of their city, and the evils that attended it, especially the sore famine: is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom;
which was destroyed at once by fire from heaven: or it may be rendered, "the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom" F16; though the men of Sodom were great sinners, the Jews were greater, their sins being more aggravated; to this agrees the Targum, which renders the word "sin", and paraphrases the words following thus,

``and there dwelt not in her prophets to prophesy unto her, and turn her by repentance;''
as the Jews had, and therefore their sin was the greater; both senses are true, and the one is the foundation of the other; but the first seems best to agree with what follows: that was overthrown as in a moment;
by a shower of fire from heaven, which consumed it at once; whereas the destruction of Jerusalem was a lingering one, through a long and tedious siege; the inhabitants were gradually wasted and consumed by famine, pestilence, and sword, and so their punishment greater than Sodom's: and no hand stayed on her;
that is, on Sodom; the hand of God was immediately upon her, and dispatched her at once, but not the hands of men; as the hands of the Chaldeans were upon the Jews, afflicting and distressing them a long time, which made their ease the worse.
FOOTNOTES:

F16 (tajxm) ----(Nwe ldgyw) "et ingens fuit iniquitas--prae peccato", Montanus; "et major extitit pravitas--prae peccato", Cocceius. So V. L.

Lamentations 4:6 In-Context

4 Because of thirst the infant’s tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth; the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them.
5 Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets. Those brought up in royal purple now lie on ash heaps.
6 The punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment without a hand turned to help her.
7 Their princes were brighter than snow and whiter than milk, their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like lapis lazuli.
8 But now they are blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Genesis 19:25
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