Lamentations 4:11

The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.

The LORD {H3068} hath accomplished {H3615} his fury {H2534}; he hath poured out {H8210} his fierce {H2740} anger {H639}, and hath kindled {H3341} a fire {H784} in Zion {H6726}, and it hath devoured {H398} the foundations {H3247} thereof.

ADONAI has finished with his fury, he has poured out his blazing wrath; he kindled a fire in Tziyon that consumed its very foundations.

The LORD has exhausted His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has consumed her foundations.

Jehovah hath accomplished his wrath, he hath poured out his fierce anger; And he hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured the foundations thereof.

Commentary

Commentary on Lamentations 4:11 (KJV)

Lamentations 4:11 vividly portrays the catastrophic judgment that befell Jerusalem, known biblically as Zion. This verse serves as a stark reminder of God's righteous anger against persistent sin and disobedience, detailing the complete destruction of the city.

Historical and Cultural Context

The book of Lamentations is a poignant collection of poems mourning the fall of Jerusalem to the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 586 BC. Traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, the book reflects the deep sorrow and devastation experienced by the Jewish people after the siege and subsequent destruction of their beloved city and the sacred Temple. For centuries, Jerusalem, especially Zion, was considered inviolable due to God's presence there. However, the continuous rebellion and idolatry of Judah led to the fulfillment of prophecies warning of divine wrath, culminating in this devastating event. This verse encapsulates the climax of that judgment, where God's promised protection was withdrawn due to the people's covenant unfaithfulness.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Wrath: The verse emphatically states, "The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger." This underscores that the destruction was not merely a result of military conquest but a direct, intentional act of God's righteous judgment against sin. His anger (Hebrew: ḥēmâ and ʾap̄) is depicted as intense and consuming, fully executed.
  • Consequences of Sin: The devastation of Zion serves as a powerful illustration of the severe consequences of national disobedience and turning away from God's covenant. The people of Judah had repeatedly ignored warnings from prophets, leading to this ultimate calamity.
  • Total Devastation: The imagery of "kindled a fire in Zion" and it having "devoured the foundations thereof" signifies complete and utter destruction. It was not just a superficial damage but a total dismantling of the city's very structure, its stability, and everything it represented, including the Temple, which was the spiritual heart of Israel. This thoroughness of destruction is also mentioned in Jeremiah 52:13.
  • God's Sovereignty in Judgment: Even in this moment of profound desolation, the text asserts God's active role. He "accomplished" His fury, indicating that His will was done, and the judgment was precise and complete, not random or uncontrolled.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms for "fury" (ḥēmâ) and "fierce anger" (ʾap̄) are often used in contexts describing God's intense, burning indignation against evil and sin. The phrase "kindled a fire" (Hebrew: yiṣṣet-ʾēš) powerfully conveys the destructive force, with fire being a common biblical metaphor for divine judgment and purification. "Zion" (Hebrew: Ṣiyyôn) is more than just a geographical location; it symbolizes God's dwelling place, the spiritual heart of the nation, making its destruction all the more tragic and significant. The phrase "devoured the foundations thereof" (Hebrew: yišḥāṭ yĕsōdōt) emphasizes the thoroughness of the destruction, reaching the very core and stability of the city, leaving nothing untouched.

Practical Application

Lamentations 4:11 serves as a timeless warning about the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. While the New Covenant emphasizes God's grace and mercy through Christ, this verse reminds us that God is also a God of justice who holds all accountable. For believers today, it highlights the importance of:

  • Reverence for God's Holiness: Understanding that God is not to be trifled with and that His standards are unwavering.
  • Consequences of Unrepentance: Though we live under grace, persistent rebellion and unrepentance have serious spiritual and often temporal consequences.
  • Humility and Repentance: A call to examine our own lives and communities for areas of disobedience, leading to genuine repentance and a return to God's ways, recognizing that even the most sacred institutions are not immune to judgment if they depart from God's truth. This echoes the sentiment found in Romans 11:22, which speaks of God's goodness and severity.

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

  • Jeremiah 7:20

    Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.

  • Ezekiel 22:31

    Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

  • Jeremiah 17:27

    But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

  • Lamentations 2:17

    The LORD hath done [that] which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused [thine] enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.

  • Jeremiah 23:19

    Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

  • Jeremiah 23:20

    The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.

  • Jeremiah 15:1

    ¶ Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, [yet] my mind [could] not [be] toward this people: cast [them] out of my sight, and let them go forth.
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