Lamentations 2:1

KJV

¶ How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, [and] cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!

KJV (with Strong's)

How hath the Lord {H136} covered {H5743} the daughter {H1323} of Zion {H6726} with a cloud {H5743} in his anger {H639}, and cast down {H7993} from heaven {H8064} unto the earth {H776} the beauty {H8597} of Israel {H3478}, and remembered {H2142} not his footstool {H1916}{H7272} in the day {H3117} of his anger {H639}!

Complete Jewish Bible

How enveloped in darkness Adonai, in his anger, has made the daughter of Tziyon! He has thrown down from heaven to earth the splendor of Isra'el, forgotten his footstool [the sanctuary] on the day of his anger.

Berean Standard Bible

How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion with the cloud of His anger! He has cast the glory of Israel from heaven to earth. He has abandoned His footstool in the day of His anger.

American Standard Version

How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger! He hath cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, And hath not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Lamentations 2:1 opens with a profound and agonizing lament, expressing utter shock and grief over the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem. The prophet, traditionally Jeremiah, grapples with the devastating reality that the Lord Himself, in the intensity of His anger, has actively brought about this ruin. The verse portrays God as intentionally obscuring the glory of Zion, casting down the beauty of Israel from its exalted position, and seemingly disregarding His own sacred dwelling place, the Temple, in the day of His wrath. It sets a somber tone for the chapter, highlighting divine judgment as the direct cause of the nation's unparalleled suffering and humiliation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Lamentations 2 immediately follows chapter 1, which establishes the desolate state of Jerusalem, personified as a weeping widow. While chapter 1 focuses on the city's sorrow and isolation, chapter 2 shifts the emphasis to the divine agent of this suffering. Verse 1 serves as a stark opening statement, directly attributing the devastation to God's wrath. The rhetorical "How hath the Lord..." sets the tone of bewildered lament, a common feature in biblical laments, grappling with the incomprehensible nature of divine judgment. This chapter continues to detail the horrors of the siege and its aftermath, underscoring the severity of God's anger and the depth of Judah's suffering, a theme that persists until the pivot to hope in [Lamentations 3](/lamentations/3 "Lamentations 3 - The Pivot to Hope").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This verse is deeply rooted in the historical cataclysm of 586 BC, when the Neo-Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar, conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the First Temple, leveled the city walls, and exiled the majority of the Judean population. For ancient Israel, Jerusalem, and especially the Temple, was not merely a city or a building; it was the spiritual and political heart of the nation, the dwelling place of Yahweh, and a symbol of God's covenant presence and protection. The destruction of the Temple was an unimaginable theological crisis, challenging their understanding of God's faithfulness and their unique status as His chosen people. The "daughter of Zion" is a poetic personification of Jerusalem, while the "beauty of Israel" refers to its splendor, particularly the Temple, which was considered the glory of the nation and the world. The prophet's lament reflects the profound cultural and spiritual shock of witnessing God's own sanctuary being desecrated, not by foreign gods, but by God's own hand.
* **Key Themes:** Lamentations 2:1 introduces several critical themes that permeate the book. Firstly, **Divine Judgment and Anger** is paramount; the verse unequivocally states that it is "the Lord" who has acted in "his anger," emphasizing God's active and direct role in the catastrophe. This judgment is presented as a righteous response to Judah's persistent covenant unfaithfulness, idolatry, and moral corruption, fulfilling the warnings found in the [Mosaic Law](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). Secondly, the verse highlights **Profound Loss and Humiliation**, vividly portrayed by the "casting down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel." Jerusalem, once exalted and protected by God, is now utterly debased, its glory annihilated. This imagery underscores the complete reversal of fortune and the depth of national shame. Lastly, the phrase "and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger" introduces the agonizing theme of **God's Seeming Abandonment**. The "footstool" refers to the Temple or the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's earthly presence (cf. [1 Chronicles 28:2](/1_chronicles/28-2 "1 Chronicles 28:2 - David's reference to the Ark as God's footstool")). The prophet's distress stems from the perception that God, in His intense wrath, has momentarily disregarded His own sacred space and people, a terrifying withdrawal of divine protection.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lord (Hebrew, _ʼĂdônây'_):** From H136. This emphatic form of "Lord" (Adonai) is used here as a proper name for God, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty and authority. The prophet is not merely stating that some power caused the destruction, but specifically that the covenant God of Israel, the one who is Master and Owner, is the active agent of this judgment. This makes the lament all the more poignant, as it is the very God who chose and protected them who now brings devastation.
* **covered (Hebrew, _ʻûwb'_):** From H5743. This primitive root means "to be dense or dark, i.e., to becloud." It signifies an active and deliberate act of obscuring or enveloping, often with negative connotations. In this context, it implies that God intentionally shrouded Jerusalem in a cloud of His anger, a thick, dark veil that signifies judgment, withdrawal of light, and perhaps a terrifying manifestation of His presence akin to the cloud that once led Israel but now brings wrath. It is not a passive event but an intentional act of divine concealment and judgment.
* **remembered (Hebrew, _zâkar'_):** From H2142. The negation "remembered not" is crucial. In biblical thought, "remembering" is not merely recalling facts but involves active engagement, covenant faithfulness, and acting on behalf of someone. To say God "remembered not" His footstool (the Temple) implies a deliberate turning away, a suspension of His covenant obligations, or a profound disengagement from His sacred space in the intensity of His wrath. It signifies a terrifying, momentary disregard for His own dwelling and people, allowing their destruction to proceed without intervention.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger,"**: The verse opens with a rhetorical question, expressing profound grief and bewilderment. "How" conveys shock at the unthinkable: that the sovereign Lord (Adonai) would actively "cover" (obscure, envelop) His beloved city, "the daughter of Zion" (personified Jerusalem), with a "cloud in his anger." This cloud is a metaphor for the overwhelming, suffocating manifestation of divine wrath, blotting out the city's glory and bringing darkness.
* **"[and] cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel,"**: This clause continues to describe God's active role in the destruction. The phrase "cast down from heaven unto the earth" emphasizes the dramatic, absolute, and humiliating fall of Jerusalem. "The beauty of Israel" refers primarily to the magnificent Temple, the spiritual and architectural glory of the nation, which was considered the very dwelling place of God on earth. Its destruction is depicted as a cosmic fall, a descent from divine favor to utter desolation.
* **"and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!"**: This final clause highlights the most agonizing aspect of the lament: God's apparent abandonment. The "footstool" refers to the Temple or the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's earthly throne and presence. To say God "remembered not" implies a deliberate act of non-intervention, a terrifying withdrawal of divine protection and care for His own sacred space and people, allowing it to be utterly desecrated in the intense "day of his anger." This is not forgetfulness, but a conscious decision not to act on behalf of His covenant.

#### Literary Devices
Lamentations 2:1 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey the depth of the prophet's anguish and the severity of Jerusalem's destruction. The opening "How hath..." functions as a **rhetorical question**, expressing profound shock and grief rather than seeking an answer. It underscores the incomprehensibility of God's actions from a human perspective. **Personification** is evident in "the daughter of Zion," giving Jerusalem human qualities of vulnerability and suffering, making the city's plight more relatable and poignant. The phrase "covered... with a cloud in his anger" is a potent **metaphor**, where the "cloud" symbolizes the overwhelming and suffocating presence of divine wrath, obscuring the city's former glory. Similarly, "the beauty of Israel" is a **metonymy** for the Temple, representing the nation's pride and spiritual center. The imagery of "cast down from heaven unto the earth" employs **hyperbole** to emphasize the absolute and humiliating nature of Jerusalem's fall, suggesting a cosmic reversal of fortune. Finally, "his footstool" is a **symbol** for the Temple or the Ark, representing God's earthly dwelling, and the statement that God "remembered not" it is a profound expression of perceived divine abandonment, intensifying the sense of despair.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 2:1 profoundly articulates the theological truth of divine judgment as a direct consequence of covenant unfaithfulness. It challenges the simplistic notion that God's chosen people are immune to His wrath, demonstrating that God's justice is unwavering and applies even to those in covenant relationship with Him. The verse underscores the seriousness of sin and the devastating impact of persistent rebellion against God's commands. It also highlights the tension between God's covenant faithfulness and His righteous anger, forcing the lamenter to grapple with the seemingly contradictory nature of a God who both chooses and punishes. This lament, however, is not without purpose; it serves as a painful acknowledgment of sin and an essential precursor to the hope of restoration, reminding us that true repentance often begins with a clear-eyed recognition of divine justice.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Jeremiah 7:1-15](/jeremiah/7-1 "Jeremiah 7:1-15 - The Temple Sermon")
* [Psalm 99:5](/psalms/99-5 "Psalm 99:5 - Worship at God's Footstool")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 2:1 stands as a stark and sobering reminder of the gravity of sin and the reality of divine judgment. For believers today, it serves as a powerful call to humility and self-examination, urging us to consider whether our lives or communities are characterized by complacency, idolatry, or disobedience that might provoke God's righteous anger. While we live under the new covenant of grace, this verse underscores that God's character still includes holiness and justice, and that He takes sin seriously. It prompts us to cultivate a reverent fear of the Lord, recognizing His sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to righteousness. Furthermore, in times of personal or collective suffering, this lament gives voice to the profound pain of feeling abandoned by God, validating such honest expressions of grief while simultaneously pointing toward the ultimate hope found in His steadfast love and mercy, which are new every morning.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the prophet's shock at God's active role in judgment challenge or confirm your understanding of God's character?**
* **In what ways might we, as individuals or communities, be prone to the kind of spiritual complacency or disobedience that could lead to divine displeasure?**
* **How can we reconcile the severity of God's anger depicted here with His boundless love and mercy, particularly in our own lives?**
* **What does "remembered not his footstool" teach us about the potential consequences of taking God's presence or sacred things for granted?**

### FAQ

**What does "the daughter of Zion" mean in this context?**

Answer: "The daughter of Zion" is a poetic and personified reference to the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. It's a common biblical idiom used to evoke a sense of intimacy and affection, portraying the city as a beloved daughter. In Lamentations, this personification intensifies the tragedy, as the "daughter" is now suffering unimaginable devastation at the hands of her own Lord, highlighting the profound betrayal and loss felt by the prophet and the people. This imagery is used throughout the book to express the city's grief and desolation, such as in [Lamentations 1:1](/lamentations/1-1 "Lamentations 1:1 - Jerusalem as a Widow").

**Why would God "remember not his footstool"? Does God forget?**

Answer: In biblical language, "to remember" (Hebrew, _zâkar_) means more than just recalling information; it implies active engagement, covenant faithfulness, and acting on behalf of someone. Therefore, "remembered not" does not mean God literally forgot about His Temple or people in the way a human might forget. Instead, it signifies a deliberate act of non-intervention, a suspension of His usual protective care, and a profound disengagement from His sacred space in the intensity of His wrath. It indicates that God allowed His "footstool"—His earthly dwelling place, the Temple—to be destroyed as a consequence of His people's sin, demonstrating the severity of His judgment and the breaking of the covenant relationship due to their unfaithfulness. This concept is further explored in passages like [Psalm 78:59-60](/psalms/78-59 "Psalm 78:59-60 - God's Rejection of Shiloh").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Lamentations 2:1, with its raw depiction of divine judgment and the destruction of God's earthly dwelling, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The "cloud of anger" that covered Zion and the "casting down" of Israel's beauty foreshadow the ultimate manifestation of God's wrath against sin, which was fully poured out not on a city or a building, but upon the person of Jesus Christ. He, the true [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), became the recipient of the divine judgment that humanity deserved, bearing the full weight of God's holy anger on the cross (cf. [Romans 3:25](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25 - Propitiation through Christ")). Furthermore, the "footstool" of God, representing the Temple, finds its ultimate reality in Christ Himself. Jesus declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," speaking of [the temple of his body](/john/2-19 "John 2:19 - Jesus speaks of His Body as the Temple") (cf. [John 2:19-21](/john/2-19 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus and the Temple")). The physical Temple's destruction in Lamentations points to the passing of the old covenant system and the inauguration of a new, living Temple in Christ, through whom God's presence is now accessed not in a building, but by faith (cf. [Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Access to God through Christ")). Thus, while Lamentations laments God's seeming abandonment of His earthly sanctuary, the New Testament reveals that God's ultimate plan was to establish a perfect and eternal sanctuary in Christ, where true reconciliation and restoration are found, and where God's "remembering" of His covenant people is eternally secured through His Son.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 132:7

We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.

1 Chronicles 28:2

Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: [As for me], I [had] in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:

Joel 2:2

A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, [even] to the years of many generations.

Psalms 99:5

Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; [for] he [is] holy.

Luke 10:18

And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Ezekiel 30:18

At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.

Isaiah 14:12

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!