King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all [that were] pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He bent his bow like an enemy, with his right hand set like a foe. He killed all who were pleasant to see. In the tent of the daughter of Tziyon, he poured out his fury like fire.
Berean Standard Bible:
He has bent His bow like an enemy; His right hand is positioned. Like a foe He has killed all who were pleasing to the eye; He has poured out His wrath like fire on the tent of the Daughter of Zion.
American Standard Version:
He hath bent his bow like an enemy, he hath stood with his right hand as an adversary, And hath slain all that were pleasant to the eye: In the tent of the daughter of Zion he hath poured out his wrath like fire.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
He hath bent{H1869} his bow{H7198} like an enemy{H341}: he stood{H5324} with his right hand{H3225} as an adversary{H6862}, and slew{H2026} all that were pleasant{H4261} to the eye{H5869} in the tabernacle{H168} of the daughter{H1323} of Zion{H6726}: he poured out{H8210} his fury{H2534} like fire{H784}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Jeremiah 7:20
- Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.
Isaiah 42:25
- Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid [it] not to heart.
Jeremiah 21:5
- And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.
Lamentations 3:12
- He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
Lamentations 3:13
- He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
Ezekiel 24:25
- Also, thou son of man, [shall it] not [be] in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their minds, their sons and their daughters,
Job 6:4
- For the arrows of the Almighty [are] within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
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Commentary for Lamentations 2:4
Lamentations 2:4 is part of a larger poem found in the book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah. This verse is set within the context of the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. The historical backdrop is one of intense national suffering, as the people of Judah experienced the horrors of war, the destruction of their city, and the desecration of their sacred Temple—the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion.
In this particular verse, the author employs powerful imagery to convey the severity of God's judgment. The metaphor of God as an enemy with a bent bow and standing with his right hand as an adversary personifies the divine wrath as if God himself were a hostile warrior. The verse suggests that God's anger is not random or indiscriminate but targeted, as He "slew all that were pleasant to the eye." This phrase indicates that those who were beautiful, noble, or held in high regard—perhaps the leadership, the wealthy, or the especially gifted—were cut down. The pouring out of His fury "like fire" evokes the destructive force of God's judgment, which consumes everything in its path, much like a raging fire.
The themes of Lamentations 2:4 include divine retribution, the devastating consequences of sin, and the profound sense of loss and mourning that comes with divine judgment. The verse reflects the theology that God is sovereign over nations and can use foreign powers as instruments of His judgment (in this case, the Babylonians). It also touches on the idea that human suffering, while painful and often seemingly unjust, can be a manifestation of God's larger purposes for His people. This verse is a poignant expression of the anguish experienced by the people of Judah as they grappled with the reality of their devastation and sought to understand it within the framework of their faith.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1869
There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּרַךְ
Transliteration: dârak
Pronunciation: daw-rak'
Description: a primitive root; to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string abow (by treading on it in bending); archer, bend, come, draw, go (over), guide, lead (forth), thresh, tread (down), walk. - Strong's Number: H7198
There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֶשֶׁת
Transliteration: qesheth
Pronunciation: keh'-sheth
Description: from קָשָׁה in the original sense (of קוֹשׁ) of bending; a bow, forshooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris; [idiom] arch(-er), [phrase] arrow, bow(-man, -shot). - Strong's Number: H341
There are 481 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹיֵב
Transliteration: ʼôyêb
Pronunciation: o-yabe'
Description: or (fully) אוֹיֵב; active participle of אָיַב; hating; an adversary; enemy, foe. - Strong's Number: H5324
There are 75 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָצַב
Transliteration: nâtsab
Pronunciation: naw-tsab'
Description: a primitive root; to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively); appointed, deputy, erect, establish, [idiom] Huzzah (by mistake for a proper name), lay, officer, pillar, present, rear up, set (over, up), settle, sharpen, establish, (make to) stand(-ing, still, up, upright), best state. - Strong's Number: H3225
There are 133 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָמִין
Transliteration: yâmîyn
Pronunciation: yaw-meen'
Description: from יָמַן; the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south; [phrase] left-handed, right (hand, side), south. - Strong's Number: H6862
There are 102 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צַר
Transliteration: tsar
Pronunciation: tsar
Description: or צָר; from צָרַר; compare as in צֹר; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ; (transitive) an opponent (as crowding); adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble. - Strong's Number: H2026
There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָרַג
Transliteration: hârag
Pronunciation: haw-rag'
Description: a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent; destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely. - Strong's Number: H4261
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַחְמָד
Transliteration: machmâd
Pronunciation: makh-mawd'
Description: from חָמַד; delightful; hence, a delight, i.e. object of affection or desire; beloved, desire, goodly, lovely, pleasant (thing). - Strong's Number: H5869
There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַיִן
Transliteration: ʻayin
Pronunciation: ah'-yin
Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves). - Strong's Number: H168
There are 369 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹהֶל
Transliteration: ʼôhel
Pronunciation: o'-hel
Description: from אָהַל; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance); covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent. - 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. - Strong's Number: H6726
There are 154 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צִיּוֹן
Transliteration: Tsîyôwn
Pronunciation: tsee-yone'
Description: the same (regularly) as צִיּוּןlemma צִיוּן missing dagesh, corrected to צִיּוּן; Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem; Zion. - Strong's Number: H8210
There are 111 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁפַךְ
Transliteration: shâphak
Pronunciation: shaw-fak'
Description: a primitive root; to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e. to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc.); intensively, to sprawl out; cast (up), gush out, pour (out), shed(-der, out), slip. - Strong's Number: H2534
There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֵמָה
Transliteration: chêmâh
Pronunciation: khay-maw'
Description: or (Daniel 11:44) חֵמָא; from יָחַם; heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever); anger, bottles, hot displeasure, furious(-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath(-ful). See חֶמְאָה. - Strong's Number: H784
There are 549 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵשׁ
Transliteration: ʼêsh
Pronunciation: aysh
Description: a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively); burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.