King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.
Complete Jewish Bible:
For the offense of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of S'dom, which was overthrown in an instant, without a hand to help her.
Berean Standard Bible:
The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.
American Standard Version:
For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
For the punishment of the iniquity{H5771} of the daughter{H1323} of my people{H5971} is greater{H1431} than the punishment{H2403} of the sin of Sodom{H5467}, that was overthrown{H2015} as in a moment{H7281}, and no hands{H3027} stayed{H2342} on her.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 19:25
- And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
Luke 10:12
- But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
Luke 12:47
- And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not [himself], neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes].
Ezekiel 16:48
- [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.
Ezekiel 16:50
- And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw [good].
Matthew 11:23
- And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
Matthew 11:24
- But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
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Commentary for Lamentations 4:6
Lamentations 4:6 is a verse from the book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, which laments the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. The verse compares the severity of the punishment inflicted upon Jerusalem, referred to as "the daughter of my people," with that of Sodom, a city infamous for its wickedness and subsequently destroyed by God in the book of Genesis.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the Babylonian Exile, a period when many Jews were taken captive to Babylon following the fall of Jerusalem. The city's destruction was seen as divine retribution for the people's persistent disobedience and idolatry. The author of Lamentations reflects on the magnitude of Jerusalem's suffering, suggesting that it surpasses even the swift and complete destruction of Sodom, which was overthrown suddenly and utterly, without any attempt to rescue or rebuild it.
The themes of Lamentations 4:6 include the gravity of sin, the justice of divine punishment, and the depth of suffering experienced by the people of Judah. The verse conveys a sense of shock and sorrow that the punishment of Jerusalem, God's chosen city, could be harsher than that of Sodom, a symbol of human depravity. This comparison underscores the writer's belief that the sins of Judah had reached a level that demanded an extraordinary and severe response from God, despite Jerusalem's once privileged status as the city of God's temple and presence.
In summary, Lamentations 4:6 reflects on the enormity of Jerusalem's punishment, presenting it as worse than the destruction of Sodom. It speaks to the profound theological crisis faced by the Israelites as they grappled with the reality of their defeat and exile, questioning how their plight could be so severe. The verse encapsulates the book's broader themes of sorrow, repentance, and the search for understanding in the face of catastrophic national devastation.
*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: H5771
There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָוֺן
Transliteration: ʻâvôn
Pronunciation: aw-vone'
Description: or עָווֹן; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (אֲבַד)), from עָוָה; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin. - 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: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H1431
There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּדַל
Transliteration: gâdal
Pronunciation: gaw-dal'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to twist (compare גְּדִל), i.e.; to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride); advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax), great(-er, come to... estate, [phrase] things), grow(up), increase, lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly (spoken), tower. - Strong's Number: H2403
There are 272 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַטָּאָה
Transliteration: chaṭṭâʼâh
Pronunciation: khat-taw-aw'
Description: or חַטָּאת; from חָטָא; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender; punishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering). - Strong's Number: H5467
There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סְדֹם
Transliteration: Çᵉdôm
Pronunciation: sed-ome'
Description: from an unused root meaning to scorch; burnt (i.e. volcanic or bituminous) district; Sedom, a place near the Dead Sea; Sodom. - Strong's Number: H2015
There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָפַךְ
Transliteration: hâphak
Pronunciation: haw-fak'
Description: a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert; [idiom] become, change, come, be converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse, retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary, every way). - Strong's Number: H7281
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֶגַע
Transliteration: regaʻ
Pronunciation: reh'-gah
Description: from רָגַע.; a wink (of the eyes), i.e. a very short space of time; instant, moment, space, suddenly. - Strong's Number: H3027
There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָד
Transliteration: yâd
Pronunciation: yawd
Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves. - Strong's Number: H2342
There are 58 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חוּל
Transliteration: chûwl
Pronunciation: khool
Description: or חִיל; a primitive root; properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively, to wait, to pervert; bear, (make to) bring forth, (make to) calve, dance, drive away, fall grievously (with pain), fear, form, great, grieve, (be) grievous, hope, look, make, be in pain, be much (sore) pained, rest, shake, shapen, (be) sorrow(-ful), stay, tarry, travail (with pain), tremble, trust, wait carefully (patiently), be wounded.