Lamentations 4:20

The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.

The breath {H7307} of our nostrils {H639}, the anointed {H4899} of the LORD {H3068}, was taken {H3920} in their pits {H7825}, of whom we said {H559}, Under his shadow {H6738} we shall live {H2421} among the heathen {H1471}.

ADONAI's anointed, our life-breath, was caught in their pits; though of him we had said, "Under his protection, we can live among the nations."

The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”

The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah, was taken in their pits; Of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.

Commentary

Commentary on Lamentations 4:20 (KJV)

Lamentations 4:20 is a poignant expression of grief and despair following the devastating fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 BC. The verse mourns the capture of King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, whose fate symbolized the complete collapse of the nation's hope and security.

Context of Lamentations 4:20

The Book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, is a series of poetic laments over the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of its people. Chapter 4 specifically details the suffering of the siege and the humiliation of the royal family. This verse reflects the profound shock and sorrow at the capture of their monarch, who was meant to be their protector.

Meaning of Lamentations 4:20

  • "The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD": This powerful phrase refers to King Zedekiah. "The breath of our nostrils" is an intimate, poetic expression signifying someone vital, essential, or dearly cherished, upon whom their very life or well-being seemed to depend. "The anointed of the LORD" translates the Hebrew word mashiaḥ (Messiah), which in this context refers to the king, who was consecrated with oil as a symbol of his divine appointment to rule over Israel. He was God's chosen representative on earth for his people.
  • "was taken in their pits": This graphically describes Zedekiah's capture. After Jerusalem fell, Zedekiah attempted to flee but was apprehended by the Babylonian forces in the plains of Jericho. "Pits" here can metaphorically refer to snares or traps, or literally to the defensive positions or ambushes set by the enemy. His capture marked the end of the Davidic monarchy in Judah.
  • "of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen": This reveals the people's misplaced hope and shattered expectations. They had believed that under the protection ("shadow") of their divinely appointed king, they would be safe and able to coexist even amidst surrounding hostile nations ("the heathen"). Zedekiah's capture unequivocally proved this hope to be futile, leaving them vulnerable and facing exile among the very nations they hoped to be shielded from.

Key Themes

  • Shattered Hope and Despair: The verse vividly portrays the profound disappointment and sorrow of a people who had placed their trust in human leadership for security, only to see that trust utterly betrayed by circumstances.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The fall of Jerusalem and the capture of its king were seen as divine judgment for the nation's persistent sin and turning away from God's covenant.
  • Misplaced Trust: It highlights the danger of relying on human institutions or leaders as ultimate sources of safety, rather than God alone. The people had hoped for peace and security under their king, but their ultimate protector was God.

Linguistic Insight

The term "anointed of the LORD" (Hebrew: mashiaḥ Yahweh) is significant. While in later theology, "Messiah" comes to refer specifically to the ultimate deliverer, Jesus Christ, in the Old Testament, it primarily designates kings, priests, and sometimes prophets who were set apart by God through anointing. Here, its application to Zedekiah underscores his royal authority and the divine sanction he was supposed to embody, making his capture even more tragic for the people's understanding of their God-given leadership.

Practical Application

Lamentations 4:20 serves as a timeless reminder that true and lasting security is not found in human leaders, political systems, or military might. While we are called to respect and pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2), our ultimate hope and trust must reside in God alone. When we place our ultimate reliance on anything or anyone other than the Lord, we risk profound disappointment when those human supports inevitably fail or are "taken in their pits." This verse encourages believers to fix their gaze on the unfailing sovereignty and protection of God.

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

  • Ezekiel 12:13

    My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon [to] the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.

  • Genesis 2:7

    And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

  • 2 Samuel 19:21

    But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?

  • Jeremiah 39:5

    But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him.

  • 2 Samuel 1:21

    Ye mountains of Gilboa, [let there be] no dew, neither [let there be] rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, [as though he had] not [been] anointed with oil.

  • Ezekiel 17:18

    Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these [things], he shall not escape.

  • 2 Samuel 1:14

    And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?
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