Lamentations1
English Standard Version
1How the that was of ! How like a has she become, she who was ! She who was a among the has become a .
2She in the , with her ; her she has to her; her have with her; they have become her .
3 has gone into of and ; she now , but ; her have her in the of her .
4The to , to the ; her are ; her ; her have been , and she herself .
5Her have become the ; her , the Lord has her for the of her ; her have away, the .
6 the of her has . Her have become like that ; they the .
7 in the of her and the were hers of . When her into the of the , and there was to her, her over her; they her .
8 ; she ; who her her, they have her ; she herself and her .
9Her was in her ; she took of her ; therefore her is ; she has . O Lord, my , the has !
10The has his her ; she has the her , those you to your .
11 her as they for ; they their for to their . , O Lord, and , I am .
12Is it to you, you who ? and there any like my , was brought , the Lord on the of his .
13 on he ; into my he made it ; he a for my ; he me ; he has me , the long.
14My were into a ; by his they were ; they were my ; he my to ; the me into the of those whom I .
15The my in my ; he an me to my ; the has as in a the of .
16 these ; my ; a is me, one to my ; my are , the has .
17 her , but there is to her; the Lord has against that his should be his ; has become a among them.
18The Lord is in the , I have against his ; but , you , and my ; my and my have into .
19I to my , but they me; my and in the , while they to their .
20 , O Lord, I am in ; my ; my is me, I have been . In the the ; in the it is like .
21They , yet there is one to me. my have of my ; they are you have it. You have the you ; now let them as I am.
22Let their you, and with them you have with me of my ; my are , and my is .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Lamentations 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The miserable state of Jerusalem, the just consequences of its sins. (1-11). Jerusalem represented as a captive female, lamenting, and seeking the mercy of God. (12-22).
vv1-11
The prophet sometimes speaks in his own person; at other times Jerusalem, as a distressed female, is the speaker, or some of the Jews. The description shows the miseries of the Jewish nation. Jerusalem became a captive and a slave, by reason of the greatness of her sins; and had no rest from suffering. If we allow sin, our greatest adversary, to have dominion over us, justly will other enemies also be suffered to have dominion. The people endured the extremities of famine and distress. In this sad condition Jerusalem acknowledged her sin, and entreated the Lord to look upon her case. This is the only way to make ourselves easy under our burdens; for it is the just anger of the Lord for man's transgressions, that has filled the earth with sorrows, lamentations, sickness, and death.
vv12-22
Jerusalem, sitting dejected on the ground, calls on those that passed by, to consider whether her example did not concern them. Her outward sufferings were great, but her inward sufferings were harder to bear, through the sense of guilt. Sorrow for sin must be great sorrow, and must affect the soul. Here we see the evil of sin, and may take warning to flee from the wrath to come. Whatever may be learned from the sufferings of Jerusalem, far more may be learned from the sufferings of Christ. Does he not from the cross speak to every one of us? Does he not say, Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Let all our sorrows lead us to the cross of Christ, lead us to mark his example, and cheerfully to follow him.
Key Words
בָּדָד: separate; adverb, separately
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
עִיר: a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
רַב: abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אַלְמָנָה: a widow; also a desolate place
גּוֹי: a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
שָׂרָה: a mistress, i.e. female noble
מְדִינָה: properly, a judgeship, i.e. jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region
מַס: properly, a burden (as causing to faint), i.e. a tax in the form of forced labor
Cross References
Lamentations 1Directly fulfills covenant curse of Deuteronomy 28:43; adversaries rise above Israel and become the chief.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Judah dwelling among the heathen finding no rest fulfills Moses' warning in Deuteronomy.
Supported by JFB
Alludes to the exclusion of Ammonites/Moabites from entering God's congregation, now violated by invaders.
Supported by JFB
Refers to the illegal retention of Hebrew slaves as a cause of judgment/captivity.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Affirms that God Himself delivered Judah because of her manifold sins and transgressions.
Supported by JFB
Reflects Solomon's prophetic warning of captivity because of Israel's inevitable sins.
Supported by JFB
Jerusalem compared to a legally unclean, menstruous woman, signifying her moral and ceremonial impurity.
Supported by JFB
Matches Deuteronomy's lament that Israel would fail to consider her latter/last end.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts Jerusalem's current tributary status with her former dominion under David and Solomon.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts God's promise of eternal rest in Jerusalem with her actual desolation.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallels Jeremiah's secret weeping day and night for the Lord's captive flock.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Judah's political allies (lovers) have abandoned and betrayed her in her distress.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Points to the overarching fulfillment of the Levitical and Deuteronomic covenant curses.
Supported by John Calvin
Illustrates the posture of sitting on the ground as a sign of deep mourning.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the extreme, desperate measures taken to secure physical sustenance during famine.
Supported by JFB