Lamentations 1 6

Lamentations 1:6 kjv

And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

Lamentations 1:6 nkjv

And from the daughter of Zion All her splendor has departed. Her princes have become like deer That find no pasture, That flee without strength Before the pursuer.

Lamentations 1:6 niv

All the splendor has departed from Daughter Zion. Her princes are like deer that find no pasture; in weakness they have fled before the pursuer.

Lamentations 1:6 esv

From the daughter of Zion all her majesty has departed. Her princes have become like deer that find no pasture; they fled without strength before the pursuer.

Lamentations 1:6 nlt

All the majesty of beautiful Jerusalem
has been stripped away.
Her princes are like starving deer
searching for pasture.
They are too weak to run
from the pursuing enemy.

Lamentations 1 verses

Lamentations 1 6 Meaning

Lamentations 1:6 vividly depicts the complete desolation and humiliation of Jerusalem, personified as the "Daughter of Zion," following its destruction. Its former grandeur and dignity have vanished entirely. The leaders, who were meant to protect and guide, are reduced to helpless, starved deer, fleeing without strength before their captors, utterly incapable of resisting the enemy.

Lamentations 1 6 Context

Lamentations 1 opens with Jerusalem personified as a grieving widow, sitting solitary and desolate. The entire chapter, in an acrostic structure, describes the utter ruin of the city after the Babylonian destruction in 586 BCE. Verse 6 focuses on specific aspects of this downfall: the departure of her majesty and the failure of her leadership. The context highlights that Jerusalem, once a queen among cities (Lam 1:1), proud in her splendor, has been stripped bare due to her profound sins and unfaithfulness to God. The loss of her splendor and the helplessness of her princes underscore the severity of God's judgment, delivered through the hands of the foreign pursuers, the Babylonians. This situation was a profound reversal of all previous expectations for Zion as God's secure dwelling place, a direct consequence of Judah's idolatry and moral corruption, indicating that even divine protection has boundaries related to covenant faithfulness.

Lamentations 1 6 Word analysis

• And from the daughter of Zion (וּמִבַּת־צִיּוֹן֙, u-mib-bat-Tziyon): "Daughter of Zion" is a poetic and intimate personification of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. "Zion" (צִיּוֹן) refers to the fortified hill in Jerusalem, often encompassing the entire city, particularly in its theological significance as God's dwelling place. The preposition "from" emphasizes the departure away from this central location.
• all her splendor (כָל־הֲדָרָ֔הּ, kol-hadarah): "Splendor" (hadar, הָדָר) signifies majesty, glory, beauty, honor, and even ornament. It implies both visible magnificence (e.g., Temple adornments, royal garments, prosperous city) and intangible dignity or revered status. Its loss represents total degradation and public shame, akin to Eze 10-11 where God's kabod (glory) departs.
• has departed (יָצָ֣א, yatza): A forceful verb indicating a complete withdrawal or exit. It is not merely diminished but fully gone, symbolizing an absolute abandonment and stripping away of honor.
• Her princes (שָׂרֶ֗יהָ, sarèyha): Refers to the leaders, officials, and nobles. They were the supposed strength, wisdom, and protection of the people.
• are like deer (כְּאַיָּל֙, k'ayyal): "Deer" (ayyal, אַיָּל) or stags are typically majestic but also naturally timid and swift creatures, highly vulnerable when deprived of sustenance or pursued. This simile contrasts sharply with the expected strength and leadership, highlighting their complete change in status from rulers to victims.
• that find no pasture (לֹא־מָצְא֣וּ מִרְעֶ֔ה, lo-matz'u mir'eh): "Pasture" (mir'eh, מִרְעֶה) refers to grazing land or sustenance. The absence signifies deprivation, weakness, and an inability to sustain themselves or, by extension, lead and provide for others. This indicates not only their personal starvation but also the failure of their role as "shepherds" of the people (Eze 34:2).
• And they have fled (וַיֵּלְכוּ, vayyelkhu): Describes rapid, panicked movement away from danger. This flight contrasts with any heroic resistance, emphasizing their fear and disorganization.
• without strength (בְלֹא־כֹ֙חַ֙, b'lo-khoach): "Strength" (koach, כֹּחַ) denotes physical, military, or governing power. Its complete absence signifies utter feebleness, impotence, and inability to defend or resist. They are depleted and exhausted, both physically and spiritually.
• before the pursuer (לִפְנֵי־רוֹדֵֽף, lifney-rodeph): "Pursuer" (rodef, רוֹדֵף) specifically indicates the enemy (Babylonian army) actively chasing and harassing the fleeing inhabitants. The image is one of utter subjugation where the victims are hounded relentlessly with no means of escape or counteraction.

Lamentations 1 6 Bonus section

• The term "Daughter of Zion" often carries a sense of intimacy and affection, yet here it is used to underscore the depth of her current disgrace. The beloved daughter is now exposed and shamed.
• The description of "princes like deer" echoes passages like Isaiah 51:20, where the "sons" (Israelites) are described as a "wild ox in a net," full of the "fury of the Lord." Both illustrate utter paralysis and vulnerability under divine judgment.
• The theological implication is crucial: Zion's perceived invincibility and the majesty of its Temple were ultimately reliant on God's covenant with His people. When that covenant was broken by pervasive sin, God himself withdrew His blessing and protection, allowing His glory (splendor) to depart and her leaders to become utterly ineffective.
• This verse can be viewed as a polemic against the false security or misguided trust in mere institutions (the Temple, the city of Jerusalem) without righteous living. It unequivocally proves that divine favor is not guaranteed apart from obedience.

Lamentations 1 6 Commentary

Lamentations 1:6 paints a profound picture of a divinely orchestrated judgment, moving from external manifestation to internal vulnerability. The departure of Zion's "splendor" signifies the ultimate desecration of what was once considered holy and inviolable, demonstrating that even the visible glory and perceived security of God's city were contingent upon covenant faithfulness. This splendor was not just material wealth, but God's protective presence and blessing, symbolized by the Shekinah glory departing from the Temple in Ezekiel. The city is utterly stripped of its honor.

The shift in imagery to leaders as "deer without pasture" is poignant. Instead of strong, wise shepherds who provide and protect (Psa 23:1), they are helpless animals, unable to find sustenance or defend themselves. This reflects the reality of leadership during and after Jerusalem's fall: demoralized, displaced, and utterly powerless to save their people or even themselves. Their flight "without strength" before the "pursuer" seals the narrative of defeat and helplessness. There is no defiance, no resistance, only weak, desperate evasion. This serves as a stark warning: disobedience brings a profound reversal of status, from sovereignty to subservience, from glory to humiliation, and from leadership to utter vulnerability. The scene encapsulates the complete collapse of human defenses against divine wrath executed through enemy hands.