Lamentations 4:18

They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.

They hunt {H6679} our steps {H6806}, that we cannot go {H3212} in our streets {H7339}: our end {H7093} is near {H7126}, our days {H3117} are fulfilled {H4390}; for our end {H7093} is come {H935}.

They keep dogging our steps, so that we can't go out in our streets. Our end is near, our time is up; yes, our end has come.

They stalked our every step, so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near, our time ran out, for our end had come!

They hunt our steps, so that we cannot go in our streets: Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.

Lamentations 4:18 powerfully articulates the profound despair and terror experienced by the inhabitants of Judah during the siege and subsequent fall of Jerusalem. It captures a moment of extreme vulnerability, where safety and freedom have completely vanished.

Context

The Book of Lamentations is a heart-wrenching poetic elegy, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, mourning the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple by the Babylonian empire in 586 BC. This chapter specifically details the harrowing conditions within the besieged city, including widespread famine, the suffering of its people, and the breakdown of order. Verse 18 reflects the chilling reality of being hunted and trapped, with no sanctuary even in their own streets. The repeated declaration of "our end is near" underscores the crushing certainty of their impending doom, a direct result of Judah's persistent sin and God's righteous judgment, as foretold in scriptures like Jeremiah 25:11.

Key Themes

  • Relentless Persecution: The phrase "They hunt our steps" vividly illustrates the constant threat and pursuit by their enemies, making ordinary life impossible and public spaces treacherous. This signifies a complete loss of security and the presence of overwhelming oppression.
  • Imminent Doom and Hopelessness: The stark repetition, "our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come," conveys an overwhelming sense of inevitability. It is a cry of utter despair, indicating that their national and personal existence is approaching a definitive, tragic conclusion.
  • Loss of Freedom and Safety: The inability to "go in our streets" highlights how the invasion shattered daily routines and turned once-familiar public areas into dangerous traps, signifying a total loss of normalcy and personal liberty.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb for "hunt" (ṣādû, צָדוּ) implies lying in wait, ambushing, or snaring. This choice of word emphasizes the deliberate, predatory nature of the oppressors, suggesting they were not merely pursuing but actively setting traps. The word for "end" (qēṣ, קֵץ), repeated three times for emphasis, signifies a definitive cessation or termination, reinforcing the absolute finality of their perceived situation.

Practical Application

While rooted in a specific historical tragedy, Lamentations 4:18 offers timeless insights for those facing severe adversity:

  • Acknowledging Despair: The Bible does not shy away from depicting the depths of human suffering and despair. This verse validates the very real feelings of hopelessness that can arise during times of intense crisis and oppression.
  • Consequences of Sin: The dire situation of Jerusalem serves as a potent reminder of the severe consequences that can follow persistent disobedience to God's commands and rejection of His warnings.
  • Finding Hope Beyond Circumstance: Although this verse focuses on immediate terror, the broader message of Lamentations, particularly in passages like Lamentations 3:22-23, points to God's enduring mercy and faithfulness. Even in the midst of judgment and despair, there is an invitation to turn back to God, who remains sovereign and compassionate.
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.

  • Amos 8:2

    And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.

  • Ezekiel 7:2

    Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.

  • Ezekiel 7:12

    The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath [is] upon all the multitude thereof.

  • Jeremiah 16:16

    Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

  • Lamentations 3:52

    Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.

  • Jeremiah 1:12

    Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

  • Ezekiel 12:22

    Son of man, what [is] that proverb [that] ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?

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