Lamentations 4:3

Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people [is become] cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

Even the sea monsters {H8577} draw out {H2502} the breast {H7699}, they give suck {H3243} to their young ones {H1482}: the daughter {H1323} of my people {H5971} is become cruel {H393}, like the ostriches {H3283} in the wilderness {H4057}.

Even jackals bare their breasts in order to nurse their young, but the daughters of my people have become as cruel as ostriches in the desert.

Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness.

Even the jackals draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: The daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

Lamentations 4:3 presents a stark and disturbing image, highlighting the extreme suffering and moral decay that gripped Jerusalem during its siege and destruction by the Babylonians. The prophet Jeremiah, the traditional author of Lamentations, uses powerful, unnatural comparisons to convey the depths of despair and cruelty witnessed.

Context

This verse is part of a lament over the catastrophic fall of Jerusalem and the subsequent famine and desolation. Chapter 4 specifically details the horrific conditions endured by the inhabitants, particularly the children and mothers. The city, once vibrant and holy, is now a scene of unimaginable suffering, where natural bonds and compassion have broken down under the pressure of starvation and siege. The phrase "daughter of my people" is a common poetic reference to the nation of Judah or the city of Jerusalem itself, personifying its anguish. This profound suffering is a direct consequence of the people's disobedience and God's divine judgment upon Jerusalem, as prophesied by Jeremiah throughout his ministry. The very fabric of society has unraveled, leading to actions that defy natural instinct, a theme powerfully echoed in Lamentations 2:19.

Key Themes

  • Unnatural Cruelty: The central theme is the shocking reversal of natural maternal instinct. Even wild or feared animals are depicted as nurturing their young, while the mothers in Jerusalem have become "cruel."
  • Extreme Desperation: The verse vividly portrays the dire consequences of famine and siege, pushing people to unimaginable acts. This desperation leads to a complete breakdown of human compassion and morality.
  • Divine Judgment and Consequences: The suffering is understood as a direct result of the nation's sin and God's righteous judgment, illustrating how far a people can fall when they abandon their covenant with God.
  • Breakdown of Order: The natural order of the world, where parents care for their young, is inverted, emphasizing the profound chaos and destruction that has engulfed Jerusalem.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Sea monsters" (Hebrew: tanninim): This term can refer to large marine creatures, serpents, or even land animals like jackals or wolves. The KJV translates it as "sea monsters," emphasizing creatures often perceived as wild or fearsome. The point is the stark contrast: even such creatures show maternal care, unlike the suffering people of Jerusalem. The imagery heightens the horror of the situation.
  • "Like the ostriches in the wilderness": Ostriches were commonly believed to be neglectful of their young, leaving their eggs in the sand and being "hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers" (Job 39:13-18). This comparison underscores the unnatural and appalling behavior of mothers abandoning or neglecting their children due to the famine, a behavior considered worse than that of animals.

Reflection & Application

Lamentations 4:3 serves as a sobering reminder of the depths of human depravity and suffering that can occur when a society is under extreme duress or has turned away from divine principles. It challenges us to consider:

  • The Value of Compassion: The verse highlights the preciousness of human compassion and maternal love, showing how their absence signifies a profound crisis. It calls believers to uphold these virtues, even in difficult times.
  • Consequences of Sin: The extreme conditions described are presented as the bitter fruit of Judah's long-standing rebellion against God. It serves as a warning about the severe consequences of persistent sin and disobedience.
  • Empathy for the Suffering: While grim, the passage also invites empathy for those who experience such unimaginable hardship, reminding us of the importance of mercy and humanity even in dire circumstances, a stark contrast to God's enduring mercies described in Lamentations 3:22-23.
  • The Importance of Justice: It underscores that God is just and that His warnings, when unheeded, can lead to severe judgment, yet even within judgment, there is an invitation to repentance and restoration.
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.

  • Ezekiel 5:10

    Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.

  • Luke 23:28

    But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

  • Luke 23:29

    For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed [are] the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

  • 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?

  • 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.

  • Leviticus 26:29

    And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.

  • 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.

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