They say to their mothers, Where [is] corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom.
They say {H559} to their mothers {H517}, Where is corn {H1715} and wine {H3196}? when they swooned {H5848} as the wounded {H2491} in the streets {H7339} of the city {H5892}, when their soul {H5315} was poured out {H8210} into their mothers {H517}' bosom {H2436}.
They keep asking their mothers, "Where is something to eat or drink?"as they faint away in the streets of the city, gasping out their last breath in their mother's bosom.
They cry out to their mothers: “Where is the grain and wine?” as they faint like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their lives fade away in the arms of their mothers.
They say to their mothers, Where is grain and wine? When they swoon as the wounded in the streets of the city, When their soul is poured out into their mothers’ bosom.
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Ezekiel 30:24
And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh's arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded [man]. -
Isaiah 53:12
Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Lamentations 2:12 paints a harrowing picture of the extreme suffering endured by the inhabitants of Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege and its aftermath. This verse focuses on the most vulnerable: the children.
Context
The Book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, is a poetic lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC by the Babylonians. It graphically describes the devastation, famine, and despair that gripped the city as a consequence of Judah's persistent disobedience to God. Verse 12 specifically highlights the horrific impact of the siege-induced famine on the youngest generation, illustrating the depth of the national catastrophe that swept through the streets of the city.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The word "swooned" comes from the Hebrew verb 'alaph (עָלַף), meaning to faint, grow weak, or collapse, often due to hunger or distress. It conveys a profound physical and mental exhaustion. "When their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom" uses the powerful idiom shafach nephesh (שָׁפַךְ נֶפֶשׁ), literally "to pour out the soul." While it can sometimes refer to pouring out one's heart in prayer or grief, in this context, it unequivocally signifies death—the complete ebbing away of life, emphasizing the finality and utter helplessness of their demise.
Reflection and Application
Lamentations 2:12 serves as a stark reminder of the devastating human cost of war, siege, and famine, particularly on the most vulnerable. It calls us to:
- Empathize with Suffering: It evokes deep compassion for those experiencing extreme hardship, especially children in conflict zones or areas of severe deprivation today.
- Recognize Divine Justice: The verse, within its broader biblical context, reminds us of the serious consequences of turning away from God and the fulfillment of His warnings. It underscores that God's justice is real, even when it results in painful outcomes.
- Seek God's Mercy: Despite the grim reality, the Book of Lamentations also holds out hope for God's enduring mercies, as beautifully expressed in Lamentations 3:22-23, urging repentance and a return to Him.
This verse compels us to consider the gravity of sin and the profound suffering that can result when a people forsakes the Lord, while also stirring our hearts to prayer and action for those who suffer.