Lamentations 4:15-22

15 “Go away! You are unclean!” people cry to them. “Away! Away! Don’t touch us!” When they flee and wander about, people among the nations say, “They can stay here no longer.”

16 The LORD himself has scattered them; he no longer watches over them. The priests are shown no honor, the elders no favor.

17 Moreover, our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; from our towers we watched for a nation that could not save us.

18 People stalked us at every step, so we could not walk in our streets. Our end was near, our days were numbered, for our end had come.

19 Our pursuers were swifter than eagles in the sky; they chased us over the mountains and lay in wait for us in the desert.

20 The LORD’s anointed, our very life breath, was caught in their traps. We thought that under his shadow we would live among the nations.

21 Rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom, you who live in the land of Uz. But to you also the cup will be passed; you will be drunk and stripped naked.

22 Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion; he will not prolong your exile. But he will punish your sin, Daughter Edom, and expose your wickedness.

Lamentations 4:15-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS 4

The prophet begins this chapter with a complaint of the ill usage of the dear children of God, and precious sons of Zion, La 4:1,2; relates the dreadful effects of the famine during the siege of Jerusalem, La 4:3-10; the taking and destruction of that city he imputes to the wrath of God; and represents it as incredible to the kings and inhabitants of the earth, La 4:11,12; the causes of which were the sins of the prophets, priests, and people, La 4:13-16; expresses the vain hopes they once had, but now were given up entirely, their king being taken, La 4:17-20; and the chapter is concluded with a prophecy of the destruction of the Edomites, and of the return of the Jews from captivity, La 4:21,22.

Cross References

• 1. S Jeremiah 44:14
• 2. Leviticus 13:46; Micah 2:10
• 3. Isaiah 9:14-16
• 4. Lamentations 5:12
• 5. S Lamentations 2:6
• 6. S Genesis 15:18; S Isaiah 20:5; Ezekiel 29:16
• 7. S Lamentations 1:7
• 8. Jeremiah 37:7
• 9. Ezekiel 7:2-12; Amos 8:2
• 10. S Deuteronomy 28:49
• 11. S Leviticus 26:36; Isaiah 5:26-28
• 12. Jeremiah 52:7
• 13. S 1 Samuel 26:9; 2 Samuel 19:21
• 14. Jeremiah 39:5; Ezekiel 12:12-13; Ezekiel 19:4,8
• 15. S Psalms 91:1
• 16. S Genesis 10:23
• 17. S Psalms 16:5; S Jeremiah 25:15
• 18. Isaiah 34:6-10; S Isaiah 63:6; Ezekiel 35:15; Amos 1:11-12; Obadiah 1:16; Habakkuk 2:16
• 19. Isaiah 40:2; Jeremiah 33:8
• 20. S Psalms 137:7; Ezekiel 25:12-14; Malachi 1:4