Lamentations 4:3

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Lamentations 4:3 presents a profoundly disturbing image of Jerusalem's moral and social collapse during the Babylonian siege, employing a shocking comparison to underscore the depth of its suffering and the perversion of natural human instincts. The prophet laments that even wild creatures, such as formidable sea monsters, tenderly nurture their young, yet the "daughter of my people"—a poignant personification of Jerusalem's inhabitants—has become crueler than ostriches, neglecting or abandoning her children due to the extreme famine and desperation. This verse powerfully conveys the reversal of the natural order and the utter breakdown of human compassion under the immense weight of divine judgment and catastrophic hardship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Lamentations 4 vividly portrays the horrific consequences of Jerusalem's fall, focusing on the agonizing suffering endured by its inhabitants during the prolonged siege and subsequent famine. This chapter starkly contrasts the city's former glory and the dignity of its people with their present degradation, detailing the plight of children and mothers. Verse 3 immediately follows a heart-wrenching description of infants and young children perishing from hunger in the streets, and mothers being unable to provide sustenance (cf. [Lamentations 4:1-2](/lamentations/4-1-2 "Lamentations 4:1-2 - Children Perishing")). The comparison to animals serves as a rhetorical device to heighten the sense of unnaturalness and the profound moral and societal collapse that has occurred, setting the stage for further descriptions of the city's desperate state and the prophet's plea for divine intervention. It underscores the unprecedented nature of the catastrophe.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Lamentations is traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, written in the immediate aftermath of Jerusalem's devastating destruction by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian forces in 586 BC. The city had endured a brutal, prolonged siege, which led to unimaginable famine, widespread disease, and, as hinted at in [Lamentations 4:10](/lamentations/4-10 "Lamentations 4:10 - Mothers Eating Their Children"), instances of cannibalism. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the nurturing of offspring was considered a foundational aspect of natural order, societal stability, and divine blessing. The comparison to "sea monsters" (often large, fearsome, or wild creatures) and "ostriches" (commonly perceived as neglectful mothers, as explicitly stated in [Job 39:13-18](/job/39-13-18 "Job 39:13-18 - The Ostrich's Nature")) would have been particularly shocking and deeply unsettling to an audience that highly valued familial bonds and parental care. The verse thus highlights the unprecedented level of suffering that inverted even the most basic and universal instincts.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of [Lamentations](/lamentations/1 "The Book of Lamentations - A Cry of Sorrow and Hope"). It underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment**, as the extreme suffering and moral degradation are presented as a direct consequence of Judah's persistent covenant unfaithfulness and rebellion against God. The **Breakdown of Natural Order** is vividly portrayed, with human behavior sinking below that of wild animals, emphasizing the chaos, moral inversion, and societal decay resulting from the siege and God's disciplinary hand. It also highlights the theme of **Unimaginable Suffering and Desperation**, pushing people to acts of cruelty that defy natural maternal instincts and the very fabric of human compassion. This profound anguish serves as a lament over the loss of Jerusalem's former glory and the devastating impact of sin, contrasting sharply with the enduring compassion expected of God's people and the divine ideal for human relationships.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sea monsters (Hebrew, _tannîyn'_):** From H8577, this term refers to a marine or land monster, often translated as sea-serpent, jackal, dragon, or whale. In this context, it signifies large, formidable, or wild creatures. The point of the comparison is that even these untamed, often fearsome creatures exhibit natural maternal care, providing a stark and shocking contrast to the human mothers in Jerusalem. The prophet uses this image to emphasize the unnatural state of affairs, where basic animal instincts for nurturing surpass human compassion.
* **Cruel (Hebrew, _ʼakzâr'_):** From H393, meaning violent; by implication deadly; also (in a good sense) brave. Here, it denotes a harsh, unfeeling, or merciless disposition. The application of this term to "the daughter of my people" highlights the shocking reversal of natural affection and empathy. Driven by extreme duress and starvation, what should be a source of comfort and protection (a mother) is transformed into a source of neglect or harm, demonstrating a profound moral collapse.
* **Ostriches (Hebrew, _yâʻên'_):** From H3283, specifically referring to the ostrich, likely from its characteristic cry. Ostriches were commonly perceived in the ancient world as neglectful parents, known for leaving their eggs in the sand and being "hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers" ([Job 39:16](/job/39-16 "Job 39:16 - The Ostrich's Lack of Concern")). This comparison powerfully emphasizes the unnatural and appalling behavior of mothers in Jerusalem, driven by starvation to abandon or neglect their children—a behavior deemed worse than that of animals considered inherently uncaring.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones":** This initial clause establishes a baseline of natural, instinctive maternal care observed even in wild, untamed, or formidable creatures. It sets up a powerful and poignant contrast, emphasizing that nurturing and providing for offspring is a universal, fundamental instinct among living beings. The vivid imagery of "drawing out the breast" and "giving suck" highlights the intimate, life-sustaining, and compassionate act of nursing, underscoring its essential nature.
* **"the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness":** This second clause delivers the devastating and shocking blow, revealing the unnatural and horrific state of Jerusalem's inhabitants. "The daughter of my people" personifies the nation or city, which was once a source of life, blessing, and covenant faithfulness, but is now tragically transformed by suffering and sin. The comparison to "ostriches in the wilderness" underscores the perceived abandonment, lack of compassion, and moral degradation, suggesting that the extreme conditions have driven mothers to act in ways contrary to their deepest instincts—even more so than animals proverbially known for their neglectful parenting.

#### Literary Devices
Lamentations 4:3 is profoundly rich in literary devices, which amplify its emotional impact and convey the depth of the tragedy. The primary device is **Juxtaposition**, where the natural, nurturing behavior of "sea monsters" (representing large, wild creatures) is starkly contrasted with the "cruel" and unnatural behavior of "the daughter of my people." This jarring contrast highlights the extreme depth of human depravity and suffering caused by the siege. **Simile** is explicitly employed with the phrase "like the ostriches in the wilderness," drawing on a common ancient perception of ostriches as neglectful parents to underscore the appalling abandonment of children. This also functions as **Hyperbole**, exaggerating the cruelty by comparing it to an animal perceived as the epitome of parental neglect, thereby emphasizing the extreme and unthinkable nature of the human actions. Finally, **Personification** is evident in "the daughter of my people," which gives human characteristics and suffering to the city or nation of Judah, allowing the prophet to lament its profound moral decline and physical anguish as if it were a living, breathing entity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 4:3 serves as a profound theological statement on the devastating consequences of sin and the severity of divine judgment. It illustrates how protracted disobedience and a broken covenant relationship can lead to such societal collapse that even the most fundamental human instincts, like maternal care, are tragically perverted. The verse underscores God's justice and the principle that when a people persistently rejects His ways and covenant, the natural order can unravel, leading to unimaginable suffering and moral degradation. It forces a stark confrontation with the reality that sin not only affects one's spiritual standing before God but also has devastating, tangible impacts on human relationships, societal well-being, and even the most basic expressions of compassion. This grim reality stands in stark contrast to God's covenant promises of blessing for obedience and the ideal of a compassionate, righteous community, as outlined throughout the Torah and prophetic books.

* [Deuteronomy 28:53](/deuteronomy/28-53 "Deuteronomy 28:53 - Consequences of Disobedience and Cannibalism")
* [Jeremiah 19:9](/jeremiah/19-9 "Jeremiah 19:9 - Prophecy of Dire Famine and Cannibalism")
* [Ezekiel 5:10](/ezekiel/5-10 "Ezekiel 5:10 - The Horrors of Siege and Famine")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 4:3 is a chilling and deeply unsettling mirror, reflecting the depths of human suffering and moral degradation when a society is pushed to its absolute limits, often as a direct consequence of turning away from divine truth and covenant faithfulness. It compels us to confront the inherent fragility of human compassion and the profound impact of desperation on the human psyche. This verse serves as a stark warning about the societal and individual consequences of widespread sin, reminding us that a departure from God's righteous ways can lead to the unraveling of even the most basic and sacred human bonds. It calls us, therefore, to actively cultivate and fiercely defend compassion, especially towards the most vulnerable among us, and to recognize that true human flourishing and societal well-being are inextricably intertwined with spiritual health and adherence to God's immutable standards of justice and love. In a world still plagued by famine, conflict, and societal breakdown, this passage urges us to respond with profound empathy, unwavering justice, and a steadfast commitment to upholding human dignity, even when faced with overwhelming despair and seemingly insurmountable challenges.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the prophet's comparison of Jerusalem's mothers to "sea monsters" and "ostriches" challenge our understanding of human nature under extreme duress?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the societal consequences when a community abandons its moral and spiritual foundations and covenant obligations?**
* **In what practical ways can we, as individuals and communities, work to prevent the breakdown of compassion and care, even in challenging and desperate circumstances?**
* **How does the extreme suffering depicted here deepen our appreciation for God's enduring mercies and the call to repentance found elsewhere in Scripture, particularly in the face of such profound human failure?**

### FAQ
**Why are "sea monsters" depicted as nurturing in this verse?**

Answer: The term "sea monsters" (Hebrew: *tannîyn*, H8577) can refer to various large, often fearsome creatures, including marine animals, serpents, or even land animals like jackals or dragons. The point of the comparison is not to highlight a specific species' known nurturing habits, but rather to establish a baseline: even creatures perceived as wild, untamed, or formidable in nature still exhibit the basic, instinctive drive to care for their young. This serves as a powerful rhetorical device to emphasize the unnatural and shocking cruelty of the human mothers in Jerusalem. Unlike these wild beasts, the mothers had abandoned or neglected their children due to the extreme conditions of the siege and famine. The contrast heightens the horror of the situation, showing how far human behavior had fallen below even basic animal instinct.

**What was the ancient perception of ostriches that made them a suitable comparison for cruelty?**

Answer: In the ancient Near East, ostriches were commonly believed to be neglectful of their young. This perception is explicitly stated in [Job 39:13-18](/job/39-13-18 "Job 39:13-18 - The Ostrich's Nature"), which describes the ostrich as "hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers," leaving her eggs on the ground and showing no concern for their safety or survival. While modern ornithology might offer a more nuanced view of ostrich parenting, the ancient belief was widespread and served as a powerful cultural reference. Thus, comparing the mothers of Jerusalem to ostriches was a devastating indictment, implying that their actions—driven by starvation and desperation—were even more unnatural and devoid of maternal affection than those of an animal proverbially known for its lack of parental care. It underscored the profound moral and social collapse within the besieged city, where human behavior had become worse than that of creatures considered proverbially uncaring.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Lamentations 4:3, with its harrowing depiction of unimaginable suffering and the tragic breakdown of natural human bonds, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound reversal in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "daughter of my people," Jerusalem, experienced the bitter fruit of sin and rebellion against God, leading to a state where even maternal love was perverted and basic human compassion vanished. Yet, in Christ, we behold the perfect embodiment of divine love and boundless compassion, even in the face of immense suffering and rejection. He is the ultimate Good Shepherd who does not abandon His flock in their distress, but rather willingly lays down His life for them ([John 10:11](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life")). Where Jerusalem's mothers became "cruel" due to the curse of sin and the weight of judgment, Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), willingly endured the full weight of the curse on the cross, taking upon Himself humanity's rebellion and its horrific consequences. His sacrificial death not only redeems humanity from the just judgment of sin but also powerfully restores the brokenness of human relationships and instills a new spirit of self-sacrificial love and compassion within believers, enabling them to live out a love that surpasses natural instinct, empowered by the Holy Spirit poured into their hearts ([Romans 5:5](/romans/5-5 "God's Love Poured Out")). Thus, the despair of [Lamentations 4:3](/lamentations/4-3 "Lamentations 4:3 - Cruelty in Jerusalem"), a stark testament to humanity's fallenness, points forward to the transformative hope found in Christ, who restores, redeems, and makes all things new, including the very heart of humanity and the fabric of its relationships ([Revelation 21:5](/revelation/21-5 "Revelation 21:5 - Behold, I Am Making All Things New")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.