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?

Behold {H7200}, O LORD {H3068}, and consider {H5027} to whom thou hast done {H5953} this {H3541}. Shall the women {H802} eat {H398} their fruit {H6529}, and children {H5768} of a span long {H2949}? shall the priest {H3548} and the prophet {H5030} be slain {H2026} in the sanctuary {H4720} of the Lord {H136}?

ADONAI, look and see who it is you have thus tormented! Should women eat the fruit of their wombs, the children they have held in their hands? Should cohanim and prophets be slaughtered in the sanctuary of Adonai?

Look, O LORD, and consider: Whom have You ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the infants they have nurtured? Should priests and prophets be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord?

See, O Jehovah, and behold to whom thou hast done thus! Shall the women eat their fruit, the children that are dandled in the hands? Shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?

Context of Lamentations 2:20

Lamentations 2:20 is a raw and poignant cry of despair from the prophet Jeremiah, mourning the devastating consequences of the Babylonian siege and subsequent destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The book of Lamentations serves as an elegy, vividly depicting the unimaginable suffering, famine, and desecration that befell the city and its inhabitants, including the horrific destruction of the Temple and the city walls. This particular verse highlights the most extreme and shocking aspects of the suffering endured by God's people as a result of their persistent disobedience and breaking of the covenant.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Unimaginable Suffering and Desperation: The verse paints a horrifying picture of human suffering, asking if women should resort to cannibalism, consuming "their fruit" (their own children). This extreme imagery underscores the depth of the famine and siege's brutality, a stark fulfillment of divine warnings against disobedience.
  • Sacrilege and Profanity: The question, "shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?" emphasizes the utter desecration of holy persons and sacred space. Even those dedicated to God's service, and the very place of His presence, were not spared from the violence, signifying the complete breakdown of order and the severe nature of God's judgment.
  • Appeal to Divine Attention: The opening plea, "Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this," is a desperate appeal for God to witness the extent of the calamity. It's a plea for divine compassion and acknowledgment of the unparalleled misery, even as the prophet recognizes God's hand in the judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "children of a span long" (Hebrew: tephach or zereth) refers to infants or very young children, emphasizing their extreme vulnerability and the heinous nature of the acts described. A "span" is a unit of measure, typically about nine inches, indicating that these were babies or toddlers. This detail intensifies the horror of the famine-induced cannibalism, making the appeal to God even more urgent and heart-wrenching.

Related Scriptures

The chilling description of mothers eating their children due to extreme famine is a direct echo of specific curses prophesied in the Old Testament for Israel's disobedience. For instance, Deuteronomy 28:53 warns, "And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee." Similarly, Jeremiah 19:9 also foretells such dire consequences. The slaying of priests and prophets in the sanctuary highlights the profound judgment on those who had often led the people astray, or failed to intercede effectively, leading to the Temple's ultimate destruction.

Practical Application

Lamentations 2:20 serves as a powerful reminder of the severe consequences of persistent sin and rebellion against God. It illustrates the depth of divine judgment when a people turn away from His covenant. For believers today, this verse underscores the importance of repentance, obedience, and understanding the gravity of God's holiness and justice. While God's mercy is abundant, His justice is also real. It also highlights the profound human suffering that can result from societal and spiritual brokenness, prompting us to pray for and work towards righteousness and peace in our communities, remembering God's call to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 19:9

    And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.

  • Lamentations 4:10

    The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

  • Psalms 78:64

    Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.

  • Lamentations 4:13

    ¶ For the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,

  • Deuteronomy 9:26

    I prayed therefore unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

  • Exodus 32:11

    And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

  • 2 Kings 6:28

    And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.

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