Lamentations 1:6

And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts [that] find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

And from the daughter {H1323} of Zion {H6726} all her beauty {H1926} is departed {H3318}: her princes {H8269} are become like harts {H354} that find {H4672} no pasture {H4829}, and they are gone {H3212} without strength {H3581} before {H6440} the pursuer {H7291}.

All splendor has departed from the daughter of Tziyon. Her princes have become like deer unable to find pasture, running on, exhausted, fleeing from the hunter.

All the splendor has departed from the Daughter of Zion. Her princes are like deer that find no pasture; they lack the strength to flee in the face of the hunter.

And from the daughter of Zion all her majesty is departed: Her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, And they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

Commentary

Lamentations 1:6 vividly portrays the utter devastation and humiliation of Jerusalem, personified as the "daughter of Zion," after its conquest and destruction by the Babylonian Empire. This verse is a poignant cry of sorrow, highlighting the city's lost grandeur and the helplessness of its leaders.

Context

The Book of Lamentations is a collection of five poetic laments, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, written in the aftermath of Jerusalem's fall in 586 BC. It serves as a funeral dirge for the once-glorious city, detailing the unimaginable suffering, starvation, and despair experienced by its inhabitants. Verse 6 specifically focuses on the tragic loss of Jerusalem's outward splendor and the pathetic state of its leadership, who were meant to protect and guide the people but are now utterly powerless before their enemies. This imagery reflects the fulfillment of prophetic warnings about the consequences of Israel's persistent idolatry and disobedience to God's covenant, as found in books like Jeremiah 25:9.

Key Themes

  • Loss of Glory and Beauty: The phrase "all her beauty is departed" speaks to the physical ruin of Jerusalem, including the destruction of the Temple and royal palace, but also signifies the departure of God's favor and protection, which was the true source of her glory. This reflects a profound spiritual and national decline.
  • Helpless Leadership: The comparison of "her princes" to "harts [that] find no pasture" paints a stark picture of leaders who are not only stripped of their authority and resources but are also weak, disoriented, and utterly incapable of resisting their pursuers. They are like starving, cornered animals, unable to flee or fight.
  • Consequences of Sin and Judgment: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the overarching narrative of Lamentations affirms that Jerusalem's suffering is a direct result of its rebellion against God. The "pursuer" (Babylon) is seen as an instrument of divine judgment, bringing about the promised curses for disobedience, as outlined in passages like Deuteronomy 28:48.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "daughter of Zion" (bath-Tzion in Hebrew) is a common poetic personification of Jerusalem, often used to express affection or, as here, profound sorrow over its condition. It emphasizes the city's identity and its unique relationship with God.
  • "Harts" (Hebrew: ayyalim) refers to male deer, typically known for their swiftness and agility. The imagery of them unable to find pasture and fleeing "without strength" powerfully conveys the reversal of their natural capabilities, symbolizing the complete emasculation and vulnerability of Jerusalem's once-powerful leaders.

Practical Application

Lamentations 1:6 serves as a powerful reminder that outward splendor, political strength, or material wealth are fleeting if not grounded in spiritual faithfulness and obedience to God. It cautions against pride and self-reliance, demonstrating that even a divinely chosen city can face severe consequences for persistent sin. For believers today, it underscores the importance of spiritual vigilance and the need for leaders, both in secular and religious spheres, to operate under God's wisdom and guidance, rather than relying solely on human strength or cunning. The verse also implicitly teaches that true security and beauty come from God's presence and favor, not from human accomplishments or material possessions.

Reflection

The lament over Jerusalem's lost beauty and its helpless leaders is a timeless echo of the pain that comes from departing from God's ways. It invites us to consider what we truly value and where we place our trust, reminding us that ultimately, our strength and security derive from the Lord alone. Even in the depths of despair, Lamentations eventually points towards God's enduring faithfulness, urging repentance and hope for future restoration, as beautifully expressed in Lamentations 3:22-23.

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

  • 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,

  • Jeremiah 14:5

    Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook [it], because there was no grass.

  • Jeremiah 14:6

    And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because [there was] no grass.

  • Jeremiah 52:7

    Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which [was] by the king's garden; (now the Chaldeans [were] by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain.

  • Jeremiah 52:8

    But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.

  • Joshua 7:12

    Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, [but] turned [their] backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

  • Joshua 7:13

    Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, [There is] an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.
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