Lamentations 2:22

Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in the day of the LORD'S anger none escaped nor remained: those that I have swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed.

Thou hast called {H7121} as in a solemn {H4150} day {H3117} my terrors {H4032} round about {H5439}, so that in the day {H3117} of the LORD'S {H3068} anger {H639} none escaped {H6412} nor remained {H8300}: those that I have swaddled {H2946} and brought up {H7235} hath mine enemy {H341} consumed {H3615}.

You have summoned my terrors from every direction, as on a festival day. On the day of ADONAI's anger, not one escaped; not one survived -the children I held in my arms and raised, my enemy has destroyed.

You summoned my attackers on every side, as for the day of an appointed feast. In the day of the LORD’s anger no one escaped or survived; my enemy has destroyed those I nurtured and reared.

Thou hast called, as in the day of a solemn assembly, my terrors on every side; And there was none that escaped or remained in the day of Jehovah’s anger: Those that I have dandled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed.

Commentary

Lamentations 2:22 is a profound and sorrowful cry from the prophet Jeremiah, personifying Jerusalem or the nation of Judah, as they lament the devastating consequences of God's judgment. This verse encapsulates the utter despair and desolation experienced during the Babylonian siege and subsequent destruction of Jerusalem.

Context

The Book of Lamentations is a series of poetic laments mourning the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC and the exile of its people. Chapter 2 specifically details the horrific suffering inflicted upon the city by God's hand due to Judah's persistent sin and idolatry. The prophet paints a vivid picture of the siege's brutality, emphasizing that the suffering is not random but a direct result of the Lord's anger and a fulfillment of prophetic warnings. The city, once vibrant and holy, is now a desolate wasteland, its inhabitants facing starvation, violence, and captivity. This verse, coming at the end of the chapter, summarizes the totality of the catastrophe.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Anger: The verse highlights the severity of God's wrath ("the LORD'S anger") poured out upon His people. This judgment was so complete that "none escaped nor remained," underscoring the thoroughness of divine justice when covenant obligations are repeatedly violated. This aligns with the broader prophetic theme of the Day of the Lord, a time of reckoning for sin.
  • Total Desolation: The imagery of "terrors round about" called as if for a "solemn day" (a tragic inversion of a joyful festival) emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the destruction. The city was surrounded by enemies, and its inhabitants were consumed.
  • Loss of the Innocent: The most heartbreaking part of the verse describes the fate of the children: "those that I have swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed." This speaks to the tragic loss of the younger generation, the future of the nation, who suffered immensely during the siege and exile. It underscores the profound sorrow and the depth of the national tragedy.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "solemn day" translates the Hebrew word mo'ed (מוֹעֵד), which typically refers to an appointed time, often for a sacred festival or assembly. Here, it is used with chilling irony: God has appointed a time for terror and destruction, not for celebration. The word "consumed" (Hebrew: tamam) implies utter termination, completion, or destruction, emphasizing the finality of the enemy's actions against the children.

Practical Application

Lamentations 2:22 serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of persistent disobedience to God. While we live under the new covenant of grace, the principles of God's holiness and justice remain. This verse encourages us to:

  • Take Sin Seriously: It underscores that sin has grave consequences, not just for individuals but for communities.
  • Seek God's Mercy: Despite the severity of judgment, Lamentations also contains glimmers of hope in God's faithfulness and mercy (Lamentations 3:22-23). This verse, while painful, should drive us to repentance and reliance on God's grace.
  • Understand the Value of Life: The lament over the "swaddled and brought up" children highlights the preciousness of every life and the deep tragedy of violence and loss, particularly of the innocent.
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Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 6:25 (5 votes)

    Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy [and] fear [is] on every side.

  • Psalms 31:13 (4 votes)

    For I have heard the slander of many: fear [was] on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

  • Isaiah 24:17 (3 votes)

    Fear, and the pit, and the snare, [are] upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

  • Isaiah 24:18 (3 votes)

    And it shall come to pass, [that] he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.

  • Jeremiah 16:2 (3 votes)

    Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.

  • Jeremiah 16:4 (3 votes)

    They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; [but] they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.

  • Amos 9:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.