Lamentations 1:19

I called for my lovers, [but] they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.

I called {H7121} for my lovers {H157}, but they deceived {H7411} me: my priests {H3548} and mine elders {H2205} gave up the ghost {H1478} in the city {H5892}, while they sought {H1245} their meat {H400} to relieve {H7725} their souls {H5315}.

"I called out to my lovers, but they let me down. My cohanim and leaders perished in the city, as they were seeking food to keep themselves alive.

I called out to my lovers, but they have betrayed me. My priests and elders perished in the city while they searched for food to keep themselves alive.

I called for my lovers, butthey deceived me: My priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, While they sought them food to refresh their souls.

Commentary

Lamentations 1:19 (KJV) captures the profound despair of Jerusalem, personified as a grieving woman, during and after the Babylonian siege and destruction. The verse paints a vivid picture of betrayal, famine, and death that engulfed the city.

Context

The Book of Lamentations is a collection of poetic laments written in the aftermath of Jerusalem's devastating fall to Babylon in 586 BC. It expresses deep sorrow and grief over the destruction of the city, the temple, and the suffering of its people. In this chapter, Jerusalem speaks in the first person, detailing her overwhelming pain and desolation. Verse 19 highlights two major sources of her agony: the failed help from foreign allies and the tragic death of her own leaders due to the severe famine.

Key Themes

  • Betrayal and Deception: The phrase "I called for my lovers, but they deceived me" refers to Judah's reliance on political alliances with foreign nations (like Egypt) for protection, rather than trusting in God. These alliances ultimately proved futile and offered no salvation, leaving Jerusalem feeling abandoned and betrayed. This theme underscores the danger of misplaced trust and the consequences of forsaking God for broken cisterns.
  • Famine and Desperation: The verse powerfully conveys the horrors of the siege. "My priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls" describes the extreme famine that led to the death of even the religious and civic leaders. Their desperate search for food to survive highlights the utter collapse of society and the severity of divine judgment.
  • Loss of Leadership: The death of priests and elders signifies the complete breakdown of order and spiritual guidance within the city. Those who were meant to lead and intercede for the people perished alongside them, emphasizing the pervasive nature of the catastrophe.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Underlying the lament is the understanding that this suffering is a direct result of Judah's unfaithfulness and idolatry, a theme consistently found in prophetic books like Jeremiah.

Linguistic Insights

The term "lovers" (Hebrew: m'ahavai) is a poignant choice, often used in prophetic literature to denote illicit political alliances or even idolatrous relationships, implying a spiritual adultery against God. Their "deception" highlights the futility of relying on human strength or foreign powers instead of divine provision. The phrase "gave up the ghost" (Hebrew: yigveu) is a stark depiction of death by starvation, while "sought their meat to relieve their souls" vividly illustrates the desperate, life-sustaining quest for food, where "souls" (Hebrew: nephesh) refers to their very lives or appetites, indicating extreme hunger.

Related Scriptures

This verse serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and relying on worldly solutions. The historical pattern of Judah's seeking foreign alliances instead of God's protection is seen throughout the Old Testament, for example, in Isaiah 30:1-7. The severity of the famine was also prophesied as a consequence of disobedience in passages like Deuteronomy 28:48.

For us today, Lamentations 1:19 calls us to examine where our ultimate trust lies. Do we rely on human systems, wealth, or political powers for our security and well-being, or do we place our faith solely in God? The verse underscores that true security is found only in the Lord, and that misplaced trust can lead to profound disappointment and desolation. It also reminds us of the devastating impact of spiritual unfaithfulness, urging us to seek God's grace and repentance.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Lamentations 2:20

    Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, [and] children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?

  • Lamentations 1:2

    She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears [are] on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort [her]: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

  • Lamentations 1:11

    All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.

  • Job 19:13

    He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.

  • Job 19:19

    All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.

  • Lamentations 4:7

    Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing [was] of sapphire:

  • Lamentations 4:9

    [They that be] slain with the sword are better than [they that be] slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for [want of] the fruits of the field.
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