Lamentations 4:8

Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

Their visage {H8389} is blacker {H2821} than a coal {H7815}; they are not known {H5234} in the streets {H2351}: their skin {H5785} cleaveth {H6821} to their bones {H6106}; it is withered {H3001}, it is become like a stick {H6086}.

Now their faces are blacker than coal; in the streets they go unrecognized. Their skin has shriveled over their bones and become as dry as a stick.

But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.

Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: Their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

Context of Lamentations 4:8

Lamentations 4:8 is a poignant depiction of the severe suffering endured by the inhabitants of Jerusalem during and immediately after the Babylonian siege and destruction in 586 BC. The book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, serves as a funeral dirge, mourning the catastrophic fall of the city and its temple. This chapter specifically highlights the extreme physical degradation and social collapse that resulted from prolonged famine and disease during the siege, a direct consequence of Judah's persistent disobedience to God's covenant.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Extreme Physical Suffering: The verse paints a harrowing picture of starvation. "Their visage is blacker than a coal" describes the effects of extreme hunger, dirt, and perhaps exposure or disease, causing their faces to become dark and discolored. "Their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick" vividly portrays emaciation, where flesh has wasted away, leaving only skin clinging to skeletal frames.
  • Loss of Identity and Dignity: The phrase "they are not known in the streets" underscores the profound loss of human dignity and personal identity. These once familiar faces, perhaps noble or well-known, are now so disfigured by suffering that they are unrecognizable to their own community. This speaks to the complete breakdown of social order and human recognition.
  • Consequences of Sin: The horrific conditions described throughout Lamentations are presented as the fulfillment of divine warnings given to Israel regarding the consequences of covenant breaking. This suffering was a disciplinary judgment, serving as a stark reminder of the gravity of turning away from God. For a deeper understanding of these warnings, consider the curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28:48.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses strong, descriptive language to convey the depth of despair. The word "visage" (face) emphasizes the outward, visible signs of internal suffering. "Cleaveth" is an archaic but powerful word meaning "sticks fast to" or "adheres closely," emphasizing the lack of any intervening flesh. The comparison to "a stick" is a stark metaphor for skeletal thinness, leaving no room for misinterpretation of the severity of their starvation.

Practical Application and Reflection

Lamentations 4:8 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths:

  • The Gravity of Consequences: It illustrates the severe and often physical consequences that can arise from sustained rebellion against God's commands. While not every suffering is a direct punishment for sin, this passage highlights a historical instance of divine judgment.
  • Empathy for the Suffering: The graphic imagery compels us to feel empathy for those who experience extreme deprivation, whether due to war, famine, or other disasters. It calls believers to compassion and action for the vulnerable.
  • Spiritual Parallels: Just as physical starvation can lead to an unrecognizable state, spiritual neglect and sin can cause a person to become spiritually withered and unrecognizable to their true, God-given identity. It underscores the importance of spiritual nourishment and repentance.
  • Hope Amidst Despair: While this verse details profound suffering, the book of Lamentations also contains passages of hope and God's enduring mercy, reminding us that even in the darkest times, God's compassions never fail. Lamentations 3:22-23 offers a powerful counterpoint to the despair found in this verse.
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.

  • Psalms 102:3

    For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

  • Psalms 102:5

    By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

  • Lamentations 5:10

    Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.

  • Job 30:30

    My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.

  • Psalms 119:83

    ¶ For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; [yet] do I not forget thy statutes.

  • Job 19:20

    My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

  • Job 2:12

    And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

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