Lamentations 2:15

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

All that pass by clap [their] hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, [saying, Is] this the city that [men] call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?

Complete Jewish Bible:

All who pass your way clap their hands at you, hissing and shaking their heads at the daughter of Yerushalayim: "This city was called 'perfection in beauty'? 'the joy of the whole earth'?"

Berean Standard Bible:

All who pass by clap their hands at you in scorn. They hiss and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?”

American Standard Version:

All that pass by clap their hands at thee; They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men called The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

All that pass^{H5674} by clap^{H5606} their hands^{H3709} at thee^{H1870}; they hiss^{H8319} and wag^{H5128} their head^{H7218} at the daughter^{H1323} of Jerusalem^{H3389}, saying, Is this the city^{H5892} that men call^{H559} The perfection^{H3632} of beauty^{H3308}, The joy^{H4885} of the whole earth^{H776}?

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Commentary for Lamentations 2:15

Lamentations 2:15 is part of a larger poetic lament over the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. The book of Lamentations is traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, who witnessed the fall of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people. This particular verse captures the shock and disdain of those who see the once-great city in ruins.

The themes of this verse include the stark contrast between past glory and present desolation, the public shame heaped upon the city, and the mournful reaction of those who behold its downfall. The onlookers, referred to as "all that pass by," are moved to derisive gestures—clapping their hands, hissing, and wagging their heads—a sign of scorn and mockery in ancient cultures. These actions underscore the magnitude of Jerusalem's fall, emphasizing that the city, once renowned for its beauty and joy, has become an object of pity and ridicule.

In the historical context, Jerusalem was considered the center of the Jewish religious and national identity. It was home to the Temple, the dwelling place of God, and was seen as a symbol of divine favor and protection. The city's destruction was therefore not just a political or military defeat but also a profound spiritual and existential crisis for the Jewish people. The verse reflects this crisis by highlighting the disbelief and contempt of outsiders, which would have deepened the sorrow and humiliation felt by the survivors of the siege.

In summary, Lamentations 2:15 poignantly expresses the grief and horror of seeing a city that was once the epitome of beauty and joy reduced to a shell of its former self, while also capturing the harsh reality of public derision that compounded the suffering of the people of Jerusalem during one of the darkest periods of their history.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5674
   There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָבַר
   Transliteration: ʻâbar
   Pronunciation: aw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5606
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סָפַק
   Transliteration: çâphaq
   Pronunciation: saw-fak'
   Description: or שָׂפַק; (1 Kings 20:10; Job 27:23; Isaiah 2:6), a primitive root; to clap the hands (in token of compact, derision, grief, indignation, or punishment); by implication of satisfaction, to be enough; by implication of excess, to vomit; clap, smite, strike, suffice, wallow.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3709
   There are 180 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כַּף
   Transliteration: kaph
   Pronunciation: kaf
   Description: from כָּפַף; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power; branch, [phrase] foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1870
   There are 627 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דֶּרֶךְ
   Transliteration: derek
   Pronunciation: deh'-rek
   Description: from דָּרַךְ; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb; along, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).
   
5. Strong's Number: H8319
   There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁרַק
   Transliteration: shâraq
   Pronunciation: shaw-rak'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to be shrill, i.e. to whistle or hiss (as a call or in scorn); hiss.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5128
   There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נוּעַ
   Transliteration: nûwaʻ
   Pronunciation: noo'-ah
   Description: a primitive root; to waver, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (as subjoined); continually, fugitive, [idiom] make, to (go) up and down, be gone away, (be) move(-able, -d), be promoted, reel, remove, scatter, set, shake, sift, stagger, to and fro, be vagabond, wag, (make) wander (up and down).
   
7. Strong's Number: H7218
   There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רֹאשׁ
   Transliteration: rôʼsh
   Pronunciation: roshe
   Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1323
   There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּת
   Transliteration: bath
   Pronunciation: bath
   Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3389
   There are 600 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם
   Transliteration: Yᵉrûwshâlaim
   Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im
   Description: rarely יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of יְרוּשָׁלֵם)); probably from (the passive participle of) יָרָה and שָׁלַם; founded peaceful; Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine; Jerusalem.
   
10. Strong's Number: H5892
    There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עִיר
    Transliteration: ʻîyr
    Pronunciation: eer
    Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
    
11. Strong's Number: H559
    There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמַר
    Transliteration: ʼâmar
    Pronunciation: aw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
    
12. Strong's Number: H3632
    There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כָּלִיל
    Transliteration: kâlîyl
    Pronunciation: kaw-leel'
    Description: from כָּלַל; complete; as noun, the whole (specifically, a sacrifice entirely consumed); as adverb, fully; all, every whit, flame, perfect(-ion), utterly, whole burnt offering (sacrifice), wholly.
    
13. Strong's Number: H3308
    There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יֳפִי
    Transliteration: yŏphîy
    Pronunciation: yof-ee'
    Description: from יָפָה; beauty; beauty.
    
14. Strong's Number: H4885
    There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָשׂוֹשׂ
    Transliteration: mâsôws
    Pronunciation: maw-soce'
    Description: from שׂוּשׂ; delight, concretely (the cause or object) or abstractly (the feeling); joy, mirth, rejoice.
    
15. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.