Lamentations 4

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 4 of 5

¹ How the gold dims, the good pure gold is changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of all the outside places.

² The precious sons of Zion are weighed against pure gold. How they are counted as earthen vessels, the work of a potter's hand!

³ Even the jackals draw out the breast; they suckle their young. But the daughter of my people is cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

Chapter Summary

Zion bewails her pitiful estate. She confesses her sins. Edom is threatened.

עָוֺן iniquity H5771 · TWOT 1577a

נָזִיר consecrated one (Nazarite) H5139 · TWOT 1340b

רָעָב famine H7458 · TWOT 2183a

חֵמָה fury, burning wrath H2534 · TWOT 860a

מָשִׁיחַ anointed one H4899 · TWOT 1255c

זָהָב gold H2091 · TWOT 529a

Jehovah

Fulfills His fury, pours out His anger, kindles fire in Zion, and divides out the guilty (vv.11,16).

Daughter of Zion

Personified Jerusalem whose perversity is complete; promised her exile will not be prolonged (v.22).

Daughter of Edom

Personified Edom dwelling in Uz, told the cup of wrath will pass to her and her sins be exposed (vv.21-22).

The Devaluation of Zion's Sons

The precious sons of Zion, once weighed against pure gold, are devalued and counted merely as earthen vessels made by a potter.

Lamentations 4:2

Desperate Acts of Famine

The famine becomes so severe and devastating that compassionate women resort to boiling their own children for food.

Lamentations 4:10

Capture of the King

The anointed of Jehovah, considered the breath of the people's nostrils, is captured in the pits of their pursuers.

Lamentations 4:20

Word-for-word literal translation with Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.