Lamentations 1

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:1: S Lev 26:43

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:1: S Jer 42:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:1: S Isa 47:8

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:1: S 1Ki 4:21

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:1: Isa 3:26 ; S Jer 40:9 ; Eze 5:5

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:2: Ps 6:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:2: S Jer 3:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:2: S Jer 4:30 ; Mic 7:5

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:2: ver 16 ; S Jer 30:14

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:3: S Jer 13:19

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:3: Dt 28:65

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:3: S Ex 15:9

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:4: S Ps 137:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:4: S Isa 27:10 ; S Jer 9:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:4: ver 21 ; Joel 1:8–13

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:5: S Isa 22:5 ; S Jer 30:15

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:5: S Ps 5:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:5: S Jer 10:20 ; S 39:9 ; 52:28–30

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:5: S Ps 137:3 ; La 2:17

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:6: S Ps 9:14 ; Jer 13:18

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:6: S Lev 26:36

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:7: S 2Ki 14:26 ; S Jer 37:7 ; La 4:17

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:7: S Jer 2:26

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:8: ver 20 ; Isa 59:2–13

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:8: S Jer 2:22

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:8: S Jer 13:22 , 26

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:8: ver 21 , 22 ; S Ps 6:6 ; S 38:8

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:9: Dt 32:28–29 ; Eze 24:13

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:9: Jer 13:18

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:9: S Ecc 4:1 ; S Jer 16:7

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:9: Ps 25:18

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:10: S Isa 64:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:10: Ps 74:7–8 ; 79:1 ; Jer 51:51

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:10: Dt 23:3

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:11: S Ps 6:6 ; S 38:8

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:11: S Jer 37:21 ; S 52:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:12: S Jer 18:16

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:12: ver 18

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:12: S Isa 10:4 ; 13:13 ; S Jer 30:24

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:13: S Job 30:30 ; Ps 102:3

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:13: S Job 18:8

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:13: S Jer 44:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:13: Hab 3:16

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:14: S Dt 28:48 ; S Isa 47:6 ; S Jer 15:12

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:14: S Jer 32:5

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:15: Jer 37:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:15: Isa 41:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:15: Isa 28:18 ; S Jer 18:21

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:15: S Jdg 6:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:15: S Isa 5:5

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:15: Jer 14:17

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:16: S Job 7:3 ; S Ps 119:136 ; S Isa 22:4 ; La 2:11 , 18 ; 3:48–49

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:16: S Ps 69:20 ; Ecc 4:1 ; S Jer 16:7

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:16: S ver 2 ; Jer 13:17 ; 14:17

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:17: S Jer 4:31

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:17: S Ex 23:21

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:17: Jer 2:22

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:17: S Lev 18:25–28

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:18: S Ex 9:27 ; S Ezr 9:15

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:18: S 1Sa 12:14

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:18: ver 12

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:18: Dt 28:32 , 41

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:19: S Jer 22:20

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:19: S Jer 14:15 ; La 2:20

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:20: S Jer 4:19

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:20: La 2:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:20: S Job 20:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:20: S ver 8

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:20: S Dt 32:25 ; Eze 7:15

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:21: S ver 8 ; S Ps 6:6 ; S 38:8

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:21: ver 4

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:21: La 2:15

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:21: Isa 47:11 ; Jer 30:16

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:22: Ne 4:5

^{[BACK TO †]} 1:22: S ver 8 ; S Ps 6:6

Lamentations 2

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:1: La 3:44

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:1: Ps 99:5 ; 132:7

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:1: S Jer 12:7

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:2: ver 17 ; La 3:43

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:2: Ps 21:9

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:2: Ps 89:39–40 ; Mic 5:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:2: S Isa 25:12

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:3: Ps 75:5 , 10

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:3: Ps 74:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:3: S Isa 42:25 ; Jer 21:4–5 , 14

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:4: S Job 3:23 ; 16:13 ; La 3:12–13

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:4: S Ps 48:2 ; Eze 24:16 , 25

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:4: S 2Ch 34:21 ; Eze 20:34

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:4: Isa 42:25 ; S Jer 7:20

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:4: S Jer 4:20

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:5: S Job 13:24

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:5: ver 2

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:5: S Isa 29:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:5: S Jer 7:20 ; 9:17–20

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:6: 2Ch 36:19

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:6: S Jer 52:13

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:6: Zep 3:18

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:6: Isa 43:28 ; S Jer 7:14 ; La 4:16 ; 5:12

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:7: S Lev 26:31 ; S Eze 7:24

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:7: Ps 74:7–8 ; S Isa 64:11 ; Jer 33:4–5 ; Eze 7:21–22

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:7: Jer 21:4 ; 52:13

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:8: ver 18

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:8: S 2Ki 21:13

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:8: S Ps 48:13

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:8: Isa 3:26 ; S Jer 39:8 ; S 52:14

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:9: S Ne 1:3

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:9: S Isa 45:2 ; Hos 11:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:9: Dt 28:36 ; S 2Ki 24:15 ; Jer 16:13 ; Hos 3:4

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:9: S 2Ch 15:3

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:9: S 1Sa 3:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:9: S Jer 14:14

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:10: La 3:28

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:10: S Jos 7:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:10: Job 2:12

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:10: S Isa 3:24

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:10: S Job 2:13 ; S Isa 3:26 ; Eze 27:30–31

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:11: S Ps 119:82 ; S Isa 15:3 ; S La 1:16 ; 3:48–51

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:11: S Job 30:27 ; La 1:20

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:11: S Isa 1:5

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:11: ver 19 ; Ps 22:14

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:11: S Jer 9:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:11: La 4:4

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:12: Isa 24:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:12: S Job 3:24

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:12: La 4:4

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:13: S Isa 1:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:13: S 2Ki 19:21

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:13: Isa 37:22

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:13: Jer 14:17 ; 30:12–15 ; La 1:12

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:14: S Jer 28:15

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:14: Jer 8:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:14: Jer 2:8 ; S 20:6 ; 23:25–32 , 33–40 ; S 29:9 ; Eze 13:3 ; 22:28

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:15: S Nu 24:10 ; Eze 25:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:15: S Dt 28:37 ; S Isa 28:22 ; Jer 19:8 ; S Na 3:19

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:15: S Job 16:4

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:15: S La 1:21

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:15: Ps 45:11 ; S 48:2 ; 50:2 ; Eze 16:14

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:15: Ps 48:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:16: Ps 22:13 ; La 3:46

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:16: S Job 16:9

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:16: S Ps 35:25

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:16: Eze 36:3 ; Mic 4:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:17: S Jer 39:16

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:17: Dt 28:15–45

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:17: S ver 2 ; Eze 5:11 ; 7:9 ; 8:18

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:17: S Ps 22:17

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:17: Ps 89:42 ; S Isa 44:26 ; S La 1:5 ; Zec 1:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:18: S Ps 119:145

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:18: ver 8

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:18: S La 1:16

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:18: S Jer 9:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:18: La 3:49

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:19: 1Sa 1:15

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:19: S ver 11 ; Isa 26:9

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:19: S Ps 28:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:19: S Isa 51:20

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:20: S Dt 28:53 ; Jer 19:9 ; Eze 5:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:20: La 4:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:20: Ps 78:64 ; S Jer 14:15 ; 23:11–12

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:20: S La 1:19

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:21: S Dt 32:25 ; S 2Ch 36:17 ; Ps 78:62–63 ; Jer 6:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:21: S Jer 13:14 ; La 3:43 ; Zec 11:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:22: S Ps 31:13 ; S Jer 20:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:22: S Jer 11:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 2:22: Job 27:14 ; Hos 9:13

Lamentations 3

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:1: Jer 15:17–18

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:1: S Job 19:21 ; Ps 88:7

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:2: S Job 19:8 ; S Ps 82:5 ; S Jer 4:23

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:3: Ps 38:2 ; Isa 5:25

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:4: S Job 30:30 ; La 4:8

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:4: Ps 51:8 ; S Isa 38:13 ; S Jer 50:17

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:5: ver 19

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:5: Jer 23:15

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:6: Ps 88:5–6 ; 143:3 ; Isa 59:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:7: S Job 3:23

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:7: Jer 40:4

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:8: Ps 5:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:8: ver 44 ; S Dt 1:45 ; S Job 30:20 ; Ps 22:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:9: S Job 19:8

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:9: S Job 9:24 ; S Isa 63:17 ; Hos 2:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:10: S Job 10:16

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:10: Hos 13:8 ; Am 5:18–19

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:11: Hos 6:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:12: S La 2:4

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:12: Job 7:20

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:12: S Job 16:12 ; Ps 7:12–13 ; 38:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:13: S Job 16:13

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:13: Job 6:4

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:14: S Ge 38:23 ; Ps 22:6–7 ; Jer 20:7

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:14: S Job 17:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:14: S Job 30:9

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:15: ver 19 ; Jer 9:15

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:16: S Pr 20:17

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:16: S Ps 7:5

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:18: S ver 54 ; S Job 17:15

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:19: ver 5

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:19: S ver 15

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:20: S Ps 42:5

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:20: Ps 42:11 ; 43:5

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:22: S Ps 103:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:22: S Job 34:15 ; S Hos 11:9

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:22: Ps 78:38 ; 130:7

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:23: S Ex 34:6 ; Zep 3:5

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:24: S Ps 119:57

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:25: S Ps 33:18 ; Isa 25:9 ; S 30:18

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:26: S Isa 7:4

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:26: Ps 37:7 ; 40:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:28: Jer 15:17 ; La 2:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:29: S Job 2:8

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:29: S Jer 31:17

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:30: S Job 16:10 ; S Isa 50:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:30: Mic 5:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:31: Ps 94:14 ; Isa 54:7

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:32: Ps 78:38 ; 106:43–45 ; Hos 11:8 ; Na 1:12

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:33: S Job 37:23 ; S Jer 31:20 ; Eze 18:23 ; 33:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:35: Ge 14:18 , 19 , 20 , 22

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:36: Ps 140:12 ; S Pr 17:15 ; S Jer 22:3 ; Hab 1:13

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:37: Ps 33:9–11 ; S Pr 19:21 ; S 21:30

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:38: S Job 2:10 ; S Isa 45:7 ; Jer 32:42

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:39: S Jer 30:15 ; Mic 7:9

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:40: 2Co 13:5

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:40: Ps 119:59 ; 139:23–24

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:41: S Ps 25:1 ; S 28:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:42: Jer 14:20 ; Da 9:5

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:42: S 2Ki 24:4 ; Jer 5:7–9

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:43: ver 66 ; Ps 35:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:43: S La 2:2 , 17 , 21

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:44: Ps 97:2 ; La 2:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:44: S ver 8 ; Zec 7:13

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:44: S Isa 58:4

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:45: 1Co 4:13

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:46: Ps 22:13

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:46: La 2:16

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:47: Jer 48:43

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:47: S Isa 24:17–18 ; S 51:19

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:48: S Ps 119:136

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:48: S Jer 9:1 , 18 ; La 1:16

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:48: La 2:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:49: Jer 14:17 ; S La 2:18

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:50: S Ps 14:2 ; 80:14 ; S Isa 63:15

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:52: Ps 35:7

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:53: Jer 37:16 ; S 38:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:54: Ps 69:2 ; Jnh 2:3–5

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:54: ver 18 ; Ps 88:5 ; Eze 37:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:55: S Ps 88:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:55: Ps 130:1 ; Jnh 2:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:56: S Ps 55:1 ; 116:1–2

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:57: S Ps 46:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:57: Isa 41:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:58: S Jer 51:36

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:58: Ps 34:22 ; S Jer 50:34

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:59: Jer 18:19–20

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:59: Ps 35:23 ; 43:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:60: S Jer 11:20 ; 18:18

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:61: Ps 89:50 ; Zep 2:8

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:62: Eze 36:3

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:63: S Job 30:9

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:64: S Ps 28:4 ; S Jer 51:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:65: Ex 14:8 ; Dt 2:30 ; Isa 6:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 3:66: S ver 43

Lamentations 4

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:1: Eze 7:19

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:2: Isa 51:18

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:3: S Job 39:16

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:4: S Dt 28:48 ; S 2Ki 18:31

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:4: S Ps 22:15

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:4: La 2:11 , 12

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:5: Jer 6:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:5: S Isa 3:26 ; Am 6:3–7

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:6: S Ge 19:25

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:8: S Job 30:28

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:8: Ps 102:3–5 ; S La 3:4

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:9: S 2Ki 25:3

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:9: S Jer 15:2 ; S 16:4 ; La 5:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:10: S Lev 26:29 ; Dt 28:53–57 ; Jer 19:9 ; La 2:20 ; Eze 5:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:11: S Job 20:23

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:11: S 2Ch 34:21

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:11: Na 1:6 ; Zep 2:2 ; 3:8

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:11: Jer 17:27

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:11: S Dt 32:22 ; S Jer 7:20 ; Eze 22:31

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:12: S 1Ki 9:9 ; S Jer 21:13

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:13: Jer 5:31 ; 6:13 ; Eze 22:28 ; Mic 3:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:13: S 2Ki 21:16

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:14: S Isa 59:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:14: Jer 19:4

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:15: S Jer 44:14

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:15: Lev 13:46 ; Mic 2:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:16: Isa 9:14–16

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:16: La 5:12

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:16: S La 2:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:17: S Ge 15:18 ; S Isa 20:5 ; Eze 29:16

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:17: S La 1:7

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:17: Jer 37:7

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:18: Eze 7:2–12 ; Am 8:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:19: S Dt 28:49

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:19: S Lev 26:36 ; Isa 5:26–28

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:19: Jer 52:7

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:20: S 1Sa 26:9 ; 2Sa 19:21

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:20: Jer 39:5 ; Eze 12:12–13 ; 19:4 , 8

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:20: S Ps 91:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:21: S Ge 10:23

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:21: S Ps 16:5 ; S Jer 25:15

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:21: Isa 34:6–10 ; S 63:6 ; Eze 35:15 ; Am 1:11–12 ; Ob 1:16 ; Hab 2:16

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:22: Isa 40:2 ; Jer 33:8

^{[BACK TO †]} 4:22: S Ps 137:7 ; Eze 25:12–14 ; Mal 1:4

Lamentations 5

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:1: Ps 44:13–16 ; 89:50

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:2: Ps 79:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:2: S Ps 109:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:2: Zep 1:13

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:2: Jer 17:4

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:3: S Ex 22:24 ; Jer 15:8 ; S 18:21

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:4: S Isa 55:1 ; Eze 4:16–17

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:4: Isa 3:1

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:5: S Ne 9:37 ; Isa 47:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:5: S Jos 1:13

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:6: Jer 2:36 ; Hos 5:13 ; 7:11 ; 9:3

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:7: S Jer 31:29

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:7: Jer 14:20 ; 16:12

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:8: Ne 5:15

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:8: Zec 11:6

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:10: S Job 30:30 ; S La 4:8–9

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:11: S Ge 34:29 ; Zec 14:2

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:12: S Lev 19:32

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:12: S La 2:6 ; 4:16

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:14: S Isa 24:8 ; Jer 7:34

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:15: S Jer 25:10 ; Am 8:10

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:16: Ps 89:39 ; S Jer 13:18

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:16: S Job 19:9

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:16: S Isa 3:11 ; Jer 14:20

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:17: S Isa 1:5

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:17: S Jer 8:18

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:17: Ps 6:7

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:17: S Job 16:8

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:18: Ps 74:2–3

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:18: S Isa 27:10 ; Mic 3:12

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:19: S 1Ch 16:31

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:19: S Ps 45:6 ; 102:12 , 24–27

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:20: S Ps 13:1 ; 44:24

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:20: S Ps 71:11

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:21: S Ps 80:3 ; Isa 60:20–22

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:22: S Ps 53:5 ; 60:1–2 ; S Jer 6:30

^{[BACK TO †]} 5:22: S Isa 64:9

[BACK TO 1:1–22] As is widely done in OT prophecy and psalmody, Jerusalem is here presented as a woman—and represents the nation of which she is the political head and symbolic heart.

[BACK TO 1:1–11] In the first half of this first lament, Jerusalem’s condition is described by one who speaks of her in the third person—yet as one who bemoans the city’s desperate situation. For the transition to Jerusalem’s own voice, see the quoted words at the end of v. 11 .

[BACK TO 1:1] How … ! Expresses a mixture of shock and deep dismay (see 2:1 ; 4:1–2 ; 2Sa 1:25 , 27 ; Jer 9:19 ; 48:17 , 39 ; Eze 26:17 ). deserted lies. Due to the Babylonian exile (v. 3 ). The Hebrew underlying this phrase is translated “sat alone” in Jer 15:17 . There the prophet sat alone; here his beloved city does the same. city. Jerusalem. once so full of people. Cf. Isa 1:21 . great among the nations. Cf. Jer 49:15 . slave. The Hebrew for this word is translated “forced labor” in Ex 1:11 ; 1Ki 4:6 .

[BACK TO 1:2] Bitterly she weeps. As did Jeremiah, and for much the same reason ( Jer 13:17 ). at night. See 2:18–19 . lovers … friends. International allies to whom the people of Jerusalem and Judah looked for security rather than to the Lord (see Jer 2:36–37 ; 27:3 ; Eze 16:26 , 28–29 ; 23:11–21 ; see also Ex 34:15 and note). no one to comfort her. See vv. 9 , 16–17 , 21 . All … have betrayed her. See v. 19 ; like Edom ( 4:21–22 ; Ps 137:7 ) and Ammon ( Jer 40:14 ; Eze 25:2–3 , 6 ). become her enemies. See v. 17 .

[BACK TO 1:3] gone into exile. To Babylonia (see Jer 20:4–5 and thereafter in Jeremiah). among the nations … finds no resting place. As Moses warned in Dt 28:65 .

[BACK TO 1:4] mourn. Are deserted and desolate (see Jdg 5:6 ; Isa 33:8 and notes). appointed festivals. See Ex 23:14–17 and notes; Lev 23:2 . young women grieve. A sign of utter defeat (see Jer 9:20 ; contrast Ex 15:20 and note; 1Sa 18:6 ; Ps 68:25 ; Jer 31:13 ).

[BACK TO 1:5] masters. Lit. “head”—in accordance with Dt 28:44 (contrast Dt 28:13 ).

[BACK TO 1:6] Daughter Zion. A personification of Jerusalem (see note on 2Ki 19:21 ). Her princes … have fled before the pursuer. See Jer 52:7–8 . like deer that find no pasture. Hence are weakened and become easy prey for predators.

[BACK TO 1:7] affliction and wandering. See 3:19 . treasures. See vv. 10–11 . days of old. For example, the days of David and Solomon. fell into enemy hands. See 2Sa 24:14 . destruction. Lit. “cessation” (see notes on Ge 2:2–3 ). The Hebrew root for this word is the same as that for “Sabbath”—and may be intended as an ironic pun (see Lev 26:34–35 ).

[BACK TO 1:8] unclean. See v. 17 and note. It refers to the ceremonial uncleanness of a woman during her monthly period (see Lev 12:2 , 5 ; 15:19 ). her naked. See Isa 47:3 ; Eze 16:37 and notes.

[BACK TO 1:9] filthiness. Ceremonial uncleanness (see note on Lev 4:12 ), here caused by willful sin. did not consider her future. Just as Babylon did not ( Isa 47:7 ). Look , L ORD. Jerusalem’s desolation is further depicted by quoting the cry that bursts from her lips (see v. 11 and note). enemy has triumphed. See v. 16 .

[BACK TO 1:10] forbidden to enter your assembly. See Eze 44:7 , 9 and notes.

[BACK TO 1:11] search for bread. Food shortages were an ever-present problem during and after the siege of Jerusalem. keep themselves alive. See v. 19 ; 2Ki 6:24–29 . Look , L ORD. Again, Jerusalem’s desperate cry to the Lord is suddenly introduced. From here to the end of this lament, personified Jerusalem speaks.

[BACK TO 1:12] who pass by. See Jer 18:16 and note. Look … like my suffering. In his magisterial The Messiah , Handel borrowed these lines (as they appeared in the KJV: “Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow”) and placed them on the lips of the Messiah—perhaps associating them with Isa 53:4 (“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows …”); cf. also Isa 53:3 (“a man of sorrows”). fierce anger. See 2:3 , 6 ; 4:11 . The expression is common in Jeremiah (see Jer 4:8 , 26 ; 12:13 ; 25:37–38 ; 44:6 ; 49:37 ; 51:45 ).

[BACK TO 1:13] From on high he sent fire. The fire of his judgment (see 2:3–4 ; Lev 10:2 ; Nu 11:1–3 ; 16:35 ; 2Ki 1:10 , 12 ; Isa 29:6 ; 30:30 ; 66:15–16 ; Jer 4:4 ; 21:14 ; 49:27 ; 50:32 ; Am 7:4 ). my bones. The bones of Jerusalem (personified as a woman; see note on v. 8 ). In a strikingly similar image, the word of the Lord was like fire in the bones of the prophet (see Jer 20:9 and note). spread a net for my feet. See Ps 57:6 ; Pr 29:5 . desolate. Like Absalom’s sister Tamar (see 2Sa 13:20 ).

[BACK TO 1:15] In his winepress … trampled. A common metaphor of divine judgment (see Isa 63:2–3 ; Joel 3:13 ; Rev 14:19–20 ; 19:15 ). Virgin Daughter Judah. A personification of Judah (see note on 2Ki 19:21 ).

[BACK TO 1:16] eyes overflow with tears. See 2:11 ; 3:48 ; Jer 9:1 , 18 and note on 9:1 ; 13:17 ; 14:17 . enemy has prevailed. See v. 9 .

[BACK TO 1:17] become his foes. See v. 2 . unclean thing. See note on v. 8 ; for the same imagery elsewhere, see Ezr 9:11 ; Isa 30:22 ; 64:6 ; Eze 7:19–20 ; 36:17 .

[BACK TO 1:18] is righteous. Has dealt rightly with me. yet I rebelled. Better “for I have rebelled.” Listen … look. The nations are called to take note of the Lord’s righteous acts of judgment, as well as of his righteous acts of deliverance.

[BACK TO 1:19] allies … betrayed me. See v. 2 and note. keep themselves alive. See note on v. 11 .

[BACK TO 1:20] I am in torment within. Repeated in 2:11 . Outside … inside. See Jer 14:18 . The Sumerian “Lamentation over the Destruction of Ur” contains a striking parallel: “Inside it we die of famine, outside we are killed by weapons” (lines 403–404).

[BACK TO 1:21] day you have announced. Day of God’s judgment on the nations (see 4:21–22 ; Jer 25:15–38 and notes).

[BACK TO 1:22] wickedness … before you. See Ps 109:14–15 . my heart is faint. The same expression is found in Jer 8:18 ; see La 5:17 ; Isa 1:5 .

[BACK TO 2:1–22] Jerusalem is again personified as a woman—and represents the nation (see note on 1:1–22 ). In vv. 1–10 Jerusalem’s experience of God’s wrath is described by a voice that speaks of her in the third person. In vv. 12–19 Jerusalem is directly addressed (second-person pronouns abound). At the center (vv. 11–12 ) the author begins to speak in the first person (see note on 1:1–11 ). The first-person voice of vv. 20–22 is that of Jerusalem.

[BACK TO 2:1] How … ! See note on 1:1 . Daughter Zion. A personification of Jerusalem (see the same or similar idiom in vv. 2 , 4–5 , 8 , 10 , 13 , 15 , 18 ; see also note on 2Ki 19:21 ). hurled down the splendor of Israel. The imagery is that of a falling star (as in Isa 14:12 ). footstool. Either (1) the ark of the covenant (see 1Ch 28:2 ) or, more likely, (2) Mount Zion (see Ps 99:5 and note).

[BACK TO 2:2] swallowed up all the dwellings. See v. 5 . Daughter Judah. See note on v. 1 .

[BACK TO 2:3] cut off every horn. See NIV text note. flaming fire that consumes. See 1:13 and note.

[BACK TO 2:4] strung his bow. See 3:12 ; Dt 32:42 ; Ps 7:12–13 ; Hab 3:9 . poured out. Widely used imagery in the OT for the display of God’s wrath (see Ps 69:24 ; 79:6 ; Jer 6:11 ; 7:20 ; 10:25 ; 42:18 ; 44:6 ; Hos 5:10 ; Zep 3:8 ). Daughter Zion. See note on v. 1 .

[BACK TO 2:5] palaces … strongholds. See Hos 8:14 . multiplied mourning and lamentation. The Sumerian “Lamentation over the Destruction of Sumer and Ur” offers this parallel: “In the desolate city there was uttered nothing but laments and dirges” (lines 361–362, 486–487). Daughter Judah. See note on v. 1 . See photos .

[BACK TO 2:6] his dwelling … his place of meeting. The temple in Jerusalem (see 1Ki 8:29 ; 9:3 ; 2Ch 6:2 ; 7:1–3 ; Ps 27:7–10 and note; 132:8 , 13–14 ). like a garden. Cf. Isa 5:5–6 ; Jer 5:10 ; 12:10 .

[BACK TO 2:7] rejected … abandoned. These two verbs are found in Ps 89:38–39 (“rejected … renounced”) in connection with the Lord’s forsaking of the king from the dynasty of David. raised a shout in the house of the L ORD. See Ps 74:4 . as on the day of an appointed festival. See Ps 42:4 ; 47:5 ; 81:1–4 . But there is bitter irony in the fact that the triumphant shouts of the enemy have silenced the joyful shouts of those who had worshiped at the temple.

[BACK TO 2:8] determined to tear down. See Jer 1:15 ; 32:31 . Daughter Zion. See note on v. 1 . stretched out a measuring line. To destroy with the same standards of precision used in building (see Isa 28:17 ; Am 7:7–8 and notes). ramparts … walls. Cf. Isa 26:1 . The ramparts were the outer fortifications (see 2Sa 20:15 ).

[BACK TO 2:9] the law is no more. There are no longer any priests (see v. 20 ) to teach and interpret the covenant law (see Jer 18:18 ; Hos 4:4–9 and notes). prophets no longer find visions. The Lord was no longer communicating to his people through prophets (see Ps 74:9 ; Am 8:11 and note; Mic 3:7 ).

[BACK TO 2:10] elders. See note on Ex 3:16 . Daughter Zion. See note on v. 1 . sit on the ground in silence … sprinkled dust on their heads and put on sackcloth … bowed their heads. Signs of mourning (see Job 2:12–13 ; Ps 35:13–14 ). young women of Jerusalem. See 1:4 and note.

[BACK TO 2:11] My … I … my … my. See note on vv. 1–22 . Presumably the speaker is the same as that heard in vv. 1–10 and in 1:1–11 (see note there). He begins at this point with an expression of deep personal grief over Jerusalem’s condition, especially that of her little ones (vv. 11–12 ), and then addresses Jerusalem directly (vv. 13–19 ). weeping. See note on 1:16 . I am in torment within. Repeated from 1:20 . my people. Lit. “the daughter of my people” (see note on v. 1 ). This particular phrase occurs also in 3:48 ; 4:3 , 6 , 10 ; Isa 22:4 ; Jer 8:11 , 21 ; cf. Jer 14:17 .

[BACK TO 2:13] What can I say for you? The author has no words that can bring comfort to suffering Jerusalem. Daughter Jerusalem … Virgin Daughter Zion. See note on v. 1 .

[BACK TO 2:14] prophets … false. Jeremiah often denounced the false prophets (see Jer 5:12–13 ; 6:13–14 ; 8:10–11 ; 14:13–15 ; 23:9–40 ; 27:9–28:17 ; cf. Jer 26:7–11 , 16 ; Eze 22:26 , 28 ). worthless. Or “mere whitewash”; for an explanation of this image, see Eze 13:10–16 ; 22:28 . misleading. The unusual Hebrew word underlying this word comes from the same root as that underlying “banish” in Jer 27:10 , 15 : The lies of false prophets “mislead” the people and thus lead to “banishment” by the Lord—so they are “banishing” in their effect.

[BACK TO 2:15] who pass your way. See 1:12 . clap their hands. See Job 27:23 ; 34:37 . scoff. See v. 16 ; see also note on Jer 19:8 . shake their heads. See Job 16:4 and note; Ps 44:14 ; 64:8 ; 109:25 ; Jer 18:16 . Daughter Jerusalem. See note on v. 1 . was called the perfection of beauty. As in Ps 50:2 (see note there). was called … the joy of the whole earth. As in Ps 48:2 (see note there; cf. Jer 51:41 ).

[BACK TO 2:16] open their mouths wide. To taunt or to devour (see Nu 16:30 ; Ps 22:13 ; Isa 5:14 ; 9:12 ). swallowed her up. See vv. 2 , 5 ; Jer 51:34 .

[BACK TO 2:17] fulfilled his word. See Isa 55:11 and note. long ago. The days of Moses (see, e.g., the threats of Lev 26:23–39 ; Dt 28:15–68 ). exalted the horn. Increased the strength (see NIV text note; see also 1Sa 2:1 ; Ps 75:4 ).

[BACK TO 2:18] See Jer 14:17 . You walls. A city gate is similarly addressed in Isa 14:31 . Daughter Zion. See note on v. 1 .

[BACK TO 2:19] watches of the night begin. See note on Jdg 7:19 ; see also Ps 63:6 . pour out your heart. In earnest prayer (see Ps 62:8 ). like water. A common simile with “pour out” (see Dt 12:16 , 24 ; 15:23 ; Ps 79:3 ; Hos 5:10 ). Lift up your hands. In prayer (see Ps 28:2 and note; 1Ti 2:8 ). children , who faint from hunger. See vv. 11–12 .

[BACK TO 2:20–22] Jerusalem’s heartbroken prayer in response to v. 19 .

[BACK TO 2:20] women eat their offspring. See 4:10 ; Jer 19:9 and note.

[BACK TO 2:21] See Jer 6:11 and note.

[BACK TO 2:22] summon to a feast day. The same Lord who had called Israel to come to him in worship and to celebrate his saving acts in her history (see, e.g., Ps 81 ; 95 ; 114 ) now issues a quite different summons. summoned against me. See 1:15 . terrors on every side. See note on Jer 6:25 . day of the L ORD ’s anger. The lament ends as it began (see v. 1 ). no one escaped or survived. See Jer 42:17 ; 44:14 . those I cared for. Jerusalem’s inhabitants.

[BACK TO 3:1–66] This lament at the center of the book stands apart in significant ways. As to form: Like chs. 1 and 2 , it is an alphabetic acrostic and is made up of 22 three-line units, but here each line of each unit begins with the same letter (see Introduction: Literary Features ; see also diagram ). That probably accounts for why in this lament each poetic line, rather than each stanza, has traditionally been set off as a grammatical unit and assigned a separate verse number. As to content: It begins (vv. 1–39 ) like the prayers of individuals found in the Psalter (which it extensively echoes) without any clear reference to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the nation. This extended introduction may have been intended to put the communal lament that follows (vv. 40–66 ; see note on vv. 48–66 ) in a context that models how the community should react to its present distress.

[BACK TO 3:1] The exact center of the book. The speaker identifies himself as one who exemplifies those who have suffered much under the rod of God’s wrath. affliction. See v. 19 . rod of the L ORD ’s wrath. See Job 9:34 ; 21:9 ; cf. Isa 10:5 and note.

[BACK TO 3:2] darkness rather than light. See Job 12:25 ; Ps 143:3 ; Isa 50:10 ; 59:9 ; cf. Am 5:18 and note.

[BACK TO 3:4] grow old. See Ps 32:3 (“wasted away”); Ps 49:14 (“decay”). broken my bones. See Ps 51:8 ; Isa 38:13 and note.

[BACK TO 3:5] surrounded me. See Job 19:6 . bitterness. Lit. “poison” (see Jer 8:14 and note). hardship. See Ex 18:8 ; Nu 20:14 ; Ne 9:32 .

[BACK TO 3:6] See Ps 143:3 and note.

[BACK TO 3:7] walled. The Hebrew for this word is the same as that for “barred” in v. 9 (see Job 19:8 ; Hos 2:6 ). cannot escape. See Ps 88:8 .

[BACK TO 3:8] shuts out my prayer. See v. 44 ; Job 30:20 ; Ps 18:41 ; 22:2 ; Pr 1:28 ; Jer 7:16 and note.

[BACK TO 3:9] blocks of stone. Of enormous size, like those used in the foundation of Solomon’s temple (see 1Ki 5:17 ). made … crooked. Rather than level (see Isa 26:7 ; 45:2 ; Jer 31:9 and note) or straight (see Ps 5:8 ; Pr 3:6 and notes; 11:5 ; Isa 45:13 ).

[BACK TO 3:10] Like a bear … like a lion. See Jer 4:7 ; 5:6 ; 49:19 ; 50:44 ; Am 1:2 and note; 5:19 ; cf. Ps 7:2 and note.

[BACK TO 3:11] See 1:2 .

[BACK TO 3:12] drew his bow. See note on 2:4 . made me the target. See note on Job 6:4 .

[BACK TO 3:13] heart. Lit. “kidneys” (as in Job 16:13 ). with arrows. See Ps 38:2 and note.

[BACK TO 3:14] See Jeremiah’s complaint in Jer 20:7 . mock me in song. See v. 63 ; Ps 69:12 ; see also Ps 22:6–7 ; cf. Isa 28:9–10 and note.

[BACK TO 3:15] filled me with bitter herbs. The Hebrew underlying this phrase is translated “overwhelm me with misery” in Job 9:18 (see note on Jer 9:15 ). For the significance of the bitter herbs eaten during the Passover meal, see note on Ex 12:8 .

[BACK TO 3:16] broken my teeth with gravel. Cf. Ps 72:9 ; Mic 7:17 . trampled me in the dust. See Ps 7:5 .

[BACK TO 3:18] all that I had hoped from the L ORD. See Ps 39:7 ; the first explicit mention of God in ch. 3 .

[BACK TO 3:19–20] The author again recalls all his troubles but now in preparation for his words of hope and encouragement in vv. 21–39 .

[BACK TO 3:19] affliction and … wandering. See 1:7 . the bitterness and the gall. See vv. 5 , 15 ; cf. Jer 9:15 .

[BACK TO 3:21–26] The theological—and spiritual—high point of the book of Lamentations (see Introduction: Themes and Theology ).

[BACK TO 3:22] great love. See v. 32 . The Hebrew for this phrase is plural (as also in Ps 107:43 ) and denotes the Lord’s loving faithfulness to his covenant promises (see Ps 89:1 ). See note on Ps 6:4 ; see also Isa 63:7 (“kindnesses”) and note. we. The Lord’s people.

[BACK TO 3:23] They. The “great love” and “compassions” (v. 22 ) of the Lord. new every morning. See Ps 30:5 and note; Isa 33:2 . great is your faithfulness. It is beyond measure (see note on v. 32 ; see also Ps 36:5 and note).

[BACK TO 3:24] The L ORD is my portion. See Ps 73:26 ; 142:5 and notes. He was the inheritance share of the priests and Levites (see Nu 18:20 ; see also note on Ge 15:1 ). therefore I will wait. See Ps 27:14 ; 71:14 and notes. The Hebrew for this phrase is the same as that for “therefore I have hope” in v. 21 and serves as a refrain.

[BACK TO 3:25] The L ORD is good. See Ps 34:8 and note on 34:8–14 ; 86:5 . whose hope is in him. See Ps 25:3 ; 33:18 ; 37:9 and note.

[BACK TO 3:26] See Ps 40:1 ; Isa 26:3 ; 30:15 .

[BACK TO 3:27] It is good. See Pr 3:11–12 and note. a man to bear the yoke. Echoes the thought of v. 1 : “the man who has seen affliction.” while … young. Cf. Ecc 12:1 .

[BACK TO 3:28] sit alone. Patiently suffering the mockery of his enemies (see v. 30 ). in silence. See v. 39 ; Ps 39:9 . it. The yoke (see v. 27 ).

[BACK TO 3:29] bury his face in the dust. Showing humble submission to God. there may yet be hope. See 2Sa 12:22 ; Job 2:14; Am 5:15 ; Jnh 3:9 .

[BACK TO 3:30] offer his cheek. See Mt 5:39 . filled with disgrace. See Ps 123:3–4 .

[BACK TO 3:31] no one is cast off … forever. See Isa 49:14–16 ; cf. note on Jer 3:5 ; cf. also Ro 11:11–32 and notes.

[BACK TO 3:32] The same God who judges also restores (see Ps 30:5 ; Isa 54:7–8 ). great is his unfailing love. See note on v. 22 ; see also “great is your faithfulness” (v. 23 )—faithfulness and unfailing love are often used together to sum up God’s covenant mercies toward his people (see Ps 25:10 ; 26:3 and notes).

[BACK TO 3:33] does not willingly bring affliction. See Eze 18:23 , 32 ; Hos 11:8 ; 2Pe 3:9 .

[BACK TO 3:34] crush underfoot. As the Babylonians had done in 586 BC.

[BACK TO 3:35] deny … rights. As the leaders of Judah had done, in direct violation of the law (see Ex 23:6 ). before the Most High. In the presence of those whom the Most High designates to dispense justice (see Ex 22:8–9 and NIV text notes; see also introduction to Ps 82 ). Most High. See note on Ge 14:19 .

[BACK TO 3:36] deprive … of justice. People might, but God never does (see Job 8:3 ; 34:12 ). the Lord see such things. Contrary to what the wicked think (see Ps 10:11 and note), the Lord does see and will call to account (see Psalm 10:13–15 ).

[BACK TO 3:37] speak and have it happen. No one is equal to God (see Ge 1:3 and note; Ps 33:9–11 and note on 33:4–11 ); so no one can override the Lord’s governing authority (cf. Job 1:12 ; 2:6 and notes).

[BACK TO 3:38] See Job 2:10 ; Pr 3:11–12 ; Isa 45:7 ; Am 3:3–6 and notes; see also Jer 32:42 .

[BACK TO 3:39] complain. See v. 28 and note.

[BACK TO 3:40–41] Here the voice of the community breaks in, responding to the model set before them in vv. 1–39 (see note on v. 1 ). Appropriately, the community begins with a confession of sin (see 1:8 and note; see also Ps 32:3–5 ; 39:7–10 ; 40:11–12 ; 41:4 ).

[BACK TO 3:40] let us return to the L ORD. See Hos 6:1 ; cf. Jer 3:1 ; 4:1 ; Hos 14:1 ; Joel 2:12–13 ; Zec 1:3 .

[BACK TO 3:41] lift up … hands. See note on 2:19 . heaven. Where God is enthroned (see Ps 2:4 ; Isa 63:15 ; 66:1 ).

[BACK TO 3:42] We have sinned and rebelled. For similar confessions, see Ps 106:6 ; Da 9:5 .

[BACK TO 3:43] covered yourself with anger. Cf. Isa 59:17–18 . pursued us … slain without pity. See v. 66 ; 2:21 ; Jer 29:18 .

[BACK TO 3:46] See 2:16 and note.

[BACK TO 3:48–66] The voice returns to first-person singular. It could be the same voice as that heard in vv. 1–39 , but more likely the community now speaks in first-person singular (see, e.g., Ps 44:1 , 4 and note on 44:4 ). To its prayer the community adds expressions of assurance of being heard and a call for redress against the enemies who have attacked them “without cause” (v. 52 )—both of which are common elements in the prayers of individuals in the Psalter (cf. Ps 5:10 ; Ps 54 and notes).

[BACK TO 3:48] tears flow from my eyes. See note on 1:16 . my people. Lit. “the daughter of my people” (see note on 2:11 ).

[BACK TO 3:50] looks down … sees. See 5:1 ; Ps 80:14 ; Isa 63:15 .

[BACK TO 3:51] women of my city. See 1:4 , 18 ; 2:20–21 ; 5:11 .

[BACK TO 3:52] enemies without cause. See note on Ps 35:19 . like a bird. See Ps 124:7 .

[BACK TO 3:53] end my life in a pit. See Ps 35:7 . threw stones at. See 2Sa 16:6 ; 1Ki 12:18 .

[BACK TO 3:54] waters closed over my head. See Ps 32:6 ; 42:7 ; 69:1–2 and notes; Jnh 2:5 . perish. Cf. Ps 18:4–5 ; 30:3 and notes; Isa 53:8 ; Jnh 2:2 and note.

[BACK TO 3:55] from the depths of the pit. See Ps 30:1 and note.

[BACK TO 3:56] cry for relief. See Job 32:20 ; Ps 118:5 .

[BACK TO 3:57] near when I called. See Ps 145:18 . Do not fear. A frequent reassuring word from God (see Jer 1:8 and note).

[BACK TO 3:58] redeemed my life. See Ps 25:22 ; 103:4 and notes.

[BACK TO 3:59] you have seen. See Ps 10:14 ; 35:22 . Uphold my cause! See Ps 35:23 ; 43:1 ; 119:154 .

[BACK TO 3:61] you have heard. The Lord has heard, as well as seen (vv. 59–60 ), what the enemies are doing.

[BACK TO 3:62] whisper … mutter. See Ps 5:9 and note.

[BACK TO 3:63] Sitting or standing. Engaging in any kind of activity (see Dt 6:7 ; 11:19 ; Ps 139:2 ; Isa 37:28 ). mock me in their songs. See note on v. 14 .

[BACK TO 3:64] Paralleled in Ps 28:4 ; see Ps 5:10 and note.

[BACK TO 3:65] Put a veil over their hearts. So they cannot see the error of their ways or foresee the consequences. may your curse be on them! See Ps 109:16–20 and note.

[BACK TO 3:66] Pursue them. Just as you have pursued us without pity because of our sins (v. 43 ), so now pursue them without pity for what they have done to us.

[BACK TO 4:1–22] Another lamentation over the conquest of Jerusalem by the Babylonians—apparently by someone who had experienced the long siege of the city and the subsequent dispersion of its people. Verses 1–10 describe the terrible conditions of the siege, vv. 11–19 speak of the taking of the city and the fate of the refugees, v. 20 expresses the people’s shock and dismay at the crushing of the Davidic king, and vv. 21–22 close the lament with words about the contrasting futures of exultant Edom and desolate Zion.

[BACK TO 4:1] How … ! See note on 1:1 . gold … gems. Metaphors for God’s chosen people (see v. 2 ). For similar imagery, see SS 5:11–12 , 14–15 ; Zec 9:16 ; cf. “The Babylonian Theodicy”: “O … my precious brother,… jewel of gold” (lines 56–57; see chart ). at every street corner. See 2:19 ; Isa 51:20 .

[BACK TO 4:3] my people. Lit. “the daughter of my people” (see note on 2:11 ). become heartless. See v. 10 and note. like ostriches. See Job 39:14–16 .

[BACK TO 4:5] delicacies … purple. See Ge 49:20 . Purple was the color of royalty (see, e.g., Jdg 8:26 ; see also note on SS 7:5 ); cf. the expressions “born to the purple” and “royal blue.” lie on ash heaps. See Job 2:8 and note; cf. Jer 6:26 and note.

[BACK TO 4:6] my people. Lit. “the daughter of my people” (see note on 2:11 ). Sodom. See note on Jer 20:16 . overthrown in a moment. And therefore spared the suffering of a lengthy siege (like that of Jerusalem).

[BACK TO 4:7] whiter … ruddy. The Hebrew underlying these two words is translated “radiant … ruddy” in SS 5:10 . than rubies. See Job 28:18 . lapis lazuli. See SS 5:14 ; Isa 54:11 and notes.

[BACK TO 4:8] skin has shriveled on their bones. See Job 19:20 .

[BACK TO 4:10] See 2:20 ; Jer 19:9 and note. my people. Lit. “the daughter of my people” (see note on 2:11 ).

[BACK TO 4:11] fierce anger. See 1:12 and note. kindled a fire … consumed. See Jer 17:27 and note.

[BACK TO 4:12] peoples. Or “rulers” (parallel to “kings”); the Hebrew form underlying this word is translated “king” in Am 1:5 , 8 .

[BACK TO 4:13] See 2:14 and note; see also Eze 22:26 , 28 .

[BACK TO 4:14] grope … as if they were blind. See Dt 28:28–29 ; Isa 29:9 and note; 59:10 and note; Zep 1:17 . defiled with blood. See Isa 59:3 .

[BACK TO 4:15] unclean! The cry of the person with a much dreaded skin disease (see Lev 13:45 ). people … no longer. Threatened in Dt 28:65–66 .

[BACK TO 4:16] As threatened in Dt 28:49–50 .

[BACK TO 4:17] our eyes failed. See Dt 28:28 ; Ps 69:3 . nation that could not save us. For example, Egypt (see Eze 29:16 ).

[BACK TO 4:19] eagles. See Jer 4:13 ; 48:40 and notes.

[BACK TO 4:20] The L ORD ’s anointed. King Zedekiah of the dynasty of David—under which the people of Judah felt secure because of God’s covenant with David (see 2Sa 7 ; Ps 89 ; 132 ; Isa 55:3 and note). our very life breath. Lit. “the breath of our nostrils” (a title used also of Pharaoh Rameses II in an inscription found at Abydos in Egypt). was caught. See Jer 39:4–7 ; 52:7–11 . shadow. Protection (see Jdg 9:15 ; Ps 17:8 and notes). This verse beautifully expresses the hope that came to be focused in the promised Messiah—the “Anointed One” from the house of David.

[BACK TO 4:21] Rejoice and be glad. Irony—exult for the little time you have left before God’s judgment sweeps over you (see v. 22 ). Daughter Edom. A personification of Edom (see note on 2Ki 19:21 ). Edom. Because of its close relationship with Israel from earliest times and its persistent hostility (see note on Ge 25:26 ), Edom often served OT writers as representative of all Israel’s enemies (see Ps 137:7 and note; Isa 13:1–6 and note on 13:1 ; 34:5 and note; Jer 49:7–22 and note on 49:8 ; Am 9:12 and note; Introduction to Obadiah: Unity and Theme; Ob 8 and note). land of Uz. See Jer 25:20 ; see also note on Job 1:1 . cup. See note on Jer 25:15 . stripped naked. See 1:8 ; see also Jer 49:10 ; Na 3:5 .

[BACK TO 4:22] Daughter Zion. A personification of Jerusalem (see note on 2Ki 19:21 ). will not prolong your exile. See Jer 31–33 . expose your wickedness. Contrast Ps 32:1 ; 85:2 .

[BACK TO 5:1–22] Although not an explicitly alphabetic acrostic like chs. 1–4 , this lament is still controlled by the alphabet in that it is composed of just 22 poetic lines (see introduction to Ps 33 ). The first-person plural language identifies it as the voice of the community (like Ps 44 ; 60 ; 74 ; 80 ). The circumstances described suggest the time immediately after the fall of Jerusalem, when all was chaotic in the land (see v. 18 ; see also Jer 40:7–41:45 ). Some interpreters have suggested that the diminution of formal structure in this final lament may have been chosen to reflect the social disintegration brought on by the Babylonian destruction of the state of Judah.

[BACK TO 5:1] Remember … see. Initial appeal to the Lord to give his full attention to the plight of his people (see Ps 44:13 ; 79:4 ).

[BACK TO 5:2] Our inheritance. The land of Judah (see Jer 2:7 and note; 3:18 ).

[BACK TO 5:3] have become fatherless … widows. Are as helpless as these (see notes on Ex 22:21–27 ; Isa 1:17 ).

[BACK TO 5:4] We must buy the water … wood. Contrast Dt 29:11 ; Jos 9:21 , 23 , 27 . wood. Firewood.

[BACK TO 5:5] find no rest. The promised “rest” has been taken from them (see Dt 3:20 and note).

[BACK TO 5:6] submitted. See 1Ch 29:24 ; 2Ch 30:8 ; Jer 50:15 ; lit. “gave the hand” (as in 2Ki 10:15 ; Ezr 10:19 ; Eze 17:18 ). Egypt … Assyria. By this time a conventional way of referring to the great world powers to which the Israelites had often turned for protective alliances (see Isa 7:18 ; 11:16 ; 19:23–25 ; 52:4 ; Jer 2:18 , 36 ; see also Hos 7:11 ; 9:3 ; 11:5 , 11 ; 12:1 and notes; cf. Mic 7:12 ; Zec 10:10 and note).

[BACK TO 5:7] Fathers and sons alike are responsible for the calamity that has befallen Jerusalem (see v. 16 ; Jer 3:25 ; 16:11–12 ; 31:29–30 ; Eze 18:2–4 ; cf. Isa 65:7 ).

[BACK TO 5:8] Slaves. An ironic reference to the Babylonian officials who now rule over Jerusalem (formerly “queen among the provinces,” 1:1 ); see Pr 30:21–22 .

[BACK TO 5:9] sword in the desert. Marauding bandits.

[BACK TO 5:12] hung. An added indignity following execution (see notes on Dt 21:22–23 ).

[BACK TO 5:13] toil at the millstones. Humiliating work (see note on Jdg 9:53 ; see also Isa 47:2 ).

[BACK TO 5:14] city gate. The municipal court (see Jos 20:4 ), but also a gathering place for conversation and entertainment (cf. 1:4 ).

[BACK TO 5:15] See Jer 7:34 ; 16:9 ; 25:10 ; contrast Ps 30:11 ; Jer 31:13 .

[BACK TO 5:16] crown. Symbolizes the glory and honor embodied in the city of Jerusalem (see 1:1 ; 2:15 ; cf. Isa 28:1 , 3 ).

[BACK TO 5:17] hearts are faint. See note on 1:22 . eyes grow dim. See 2:11 ; see also note on Ps 6:7 .

[BACK TO 5:18] jackals. The Hebrew for this word, different from that used in 4:3 , can also mean “foxes” (see note on Jdg 15:4 ). For similar imagery of desolation, see Isa 13:21–22 ; 34:11–15 ; Zep 2:13–15 .

[BACK TO 5:19] Paralleled in Ps 102:12 (see note there). Elsewhere also prayer begins with praise (see Ps 44:1–8 ; 74:12–14 ; 80:1–2 ; 89:1–18 ; cf. Ac 24:23 and note). See Introduction: Themes and Theology (last paragraph).

[BACK TO 5:20] Why … ? Why … ? See note on Ps 6:3 .

[BACK TO 5:21] Restore us to yourself. This language suggests a prayer for renewed commitment to the Lord (see 1Ki 8:33 , 48 ; Ne 1:9 ; Jer 3:7 , 10 ; Hos 7:10 ). we may return. See Jer 31:18 and note on 31:18–19 . renew. See Ps 104:30 .

[BACK TO 5:22] See Jer 14:19 . unless. Or “but.” A similarly somber ending characterizes not only other laments (e.g., Ps 88 ) but also other OT books (e.g., Isaiah and Malachi).

Ezekiel

a quick look

Author:

Ezekiel

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Audience:

Jews who were taken captive to Babylonia in 597 BC

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Date:

Between 593 and 571 BC

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Theme:

Ezekiel the priest assures his fellow Jews that God will one day return them to Jerusalem and restore the temple.

Background

Ezekiel lived during a time of international upheaval. The Assyrian Empire that had once conquered the Syro-Palestinian area and destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel (which fell to the Assyrians in 722–721 BC ) began to crumble under the blows of a resurgent Babylonia. In 612 the great Assyrian city of Nineveh fell to a combined force of Babylonians and Medes. Three years later, Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt marched north to assist the Assyrians and to try to reassert Egypt’s age-old influence over Canaan and Aram (Syria). At Megiddo, King Josiah of Judah, who may have been an ally of Babylonia as King Hezekiah had been, attempted to intercept the Egyptian forces but was crushed, losing his life in the battle (see 2Ki 23:29–30 and note on 23:29 ; 2Ch 35:20–24 ).

Jehoahaz, a son of Josiah, ruled Judah for only three months, after which Necho installed Jehoiakim, another son of Josiah, as his royal vassal in Jerusalem (609 BC ). In 605 the Babylonians overwhelmed the Egyptian army at Carchemish (see Jer 46:2 ), then pressed south as far as the Philistine plain. In the same year, Nebuchadnezzar was elevated to the Babylonian throne and Jehoiakim shifted allegiance to him. When a few years later the Egyptian and Babylonian forces met in a standoff battle, Jehoiakim rebelled against his new overlord.

Nebuchadnezzar soon responded by sending a force against Jerusalem, subduing it in 597 BC. Jehoiakim’s son Jehoiachin and about 10,000 Jews (see 2Ki 24:14 ), including Ezekiel, were exiled to Babylonia, where they joined those who had been exiled in Jehoiakim’s “third year” (see Da 1:1 and note). Nebuchadnezzar placed Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah, on the throne in Jerusalem, but within five or six years he too rebelled. The Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem in 588, and in July, 586, the walls were breached and the city plundered. On Aug. 14, 586, the city and temple were burned.

Under Nebuchadnezzar and his successors, Babylonia dominated the international scene until it was crushed by Cyrus the Persian in 539 BC. The reign of the house of David came to an end; the kingdom of Judah ceased to be an independent nation; Jerusalem and the Lord’s temple lay in ruins.

Author

What is known of Ezekiel is derived solely from the book that bears his name. He was among the Jews exiled to Babylonia by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC, and there among the exiles he received his call to become a prophet (see 1:1–3 ). He was married (see 24:15–18 ), lived in a house of his own (see 3:24 ; 8:1 ) and along with his fellow exiles, though confined to Babylonia, had a relatively free existence there.

He was a member of a priestly family (see note on 1:3 ) and therefore was eligible to serve as a priest. As a priest-prophet called to minister to the exiles (separated from the temple of the Lord with its symbolism, sacrifices, priestly ministrations and worship rituals), his message had much to do with the temple (see especially chs. 8–11 ; 40–48 ) and its ceremonies.

Ezekiel was obviously a man of broad knowledge, not only of his own national traditions but also of international affairs and history. His acquaintance with general matters of culture, from shipbuilding to literature, is equally amazing. He was gifted with a powerful intellect and was capable of grasping large issues and of dealing with them in grand and compelling images. His style is often detached, but in places it is passionate and earthy (see chs. 16 ; 23 ).

More than any other prophet (more even than Hosea and Jeremiah) he was directed to involve himself personally in the divine word by acting it out in prophetic symbolism.

Occasion, Purpose and Summary of Contents

Though Ezekiel lived with his fellow exiles in Babylonia, his divine call forced him to suppress any natural expectations he may have had of an early return to an undamaged Jerusalem. For the first seven years of his ministry (593–586 BC ) he faithfully relayed to his fellow Jews the stern, heartrending, hope-crushing word of divine judgment: Because of all her sins, Jerusalem would fall (see chs. 1–24 ). The fact that Israel was God’s covenant people and that Jerusalem was the city of his temple would not bring early release from exile or prevent Jerusalem from being destroyed (see Jer 29–30 ). The only hope the prophet was authorized to extend to his hearers was that of living at peace with themselves and with God during their exile.

After being informed by the Lord that Jerusalem was under siege and would surely fall ( 24:1–14 ), Ezekiel was told that his beloved wife would soon die. The delight of his eyes would be taken from him, just as the temple, the delight of Israel’s eyes, would be taken from her. He was not to mourn openly for his wife, as a sign to his people not to mourn openly for Jerusalem ( 24:15–27 ). He was then directed to pronounce a series of judgments on Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon and Egypt (chs. 25–32 ). The day of God’s wrath was soon to come, but not on Israel alone.

Once news was received that Jerusalem had fallen, Ezekiel’s message turned to the Lord’s consoling word of hope for his people—they would experience revival, restoration and a glorious future as the redeemed and perfected kingdom of God in the world (chs. 33–48 ).

Date

Since the book of Ezekiel contains more dates (see chart below) than any other OT prophetic book, its prophecies can be dated with considerable precision. In addition, modern scholarship, using archaeology (Babylonian annals on cuneiform tablets) and astronomy (accurate dating of eclipses referred to in ancient archives), provides precise modern calendar equivalents.

Twelve of the thirteen dates specify times when Ezekiel received a divine message. The other is the date of the arrival of the messenger who reported the fall of Jerusalem ( 33:21 ).

Having received his call in July, 593 BC, Ezekiel was active for 22 years, his last dated message being received in April, 571 (see 29:17 ). Since the “thirtieth year” of 1:1 (see note there) refers to Ezekiel’s age at the time of his call, his prophetic career exceeded a normal priestly term of service by two years (see Nu 4:3 ). His period of activity coincides with Jerusalem’s darkest hour, preceding the 586 destruction by 7 years and following it by 14.