Lamentations 1 9

Lamentations 1:9 kjv

Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.

Lamentations 1:9 nkjv

Her uncleanness is in her skirts; She did not consider her destiny; Therefore her collapse was awesome; She had no comforter. "O LORD, behold my affliction, For the enemy is exalted!"

Lamentations 1:9 niv

Her filthiness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future. Her fall was astounding; there was none to comfort her. "Look, LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed."

Lamentations 1:9 esv

Her uncleanness was in her skirts; she took no thought of her future; therefore her fall is terrible; she has no comforter. "O LORD, behold my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!"

Lamentations 1:9 nlt

She defiled herself with immorality
and gave no thought to her future.
Now she lies in the gutter
with no one to lift her out.
"LORD, see my misery," she cries.
"The enemy has triumphed."

Lamentations 1 verses

Lamentations 1 9 Meaning

Lamentations 1:9 profoundly articulates the self-inflicted downfall of Jerusalem. It declares that her moral and spiritual impurity was inherent and pervasive, symbolized by "her uncleanness in her skirts." Furthermore, she suffered this catastrophic judgment because she willfully neglected to consider the inevitable consequences of her sin, demonstrating spiritual blindness to God's warnings. As a result of this deep-seated iniquity and lack of foresight, her descent into destruction was utterly devastating and astonishing. The verse concludes by highlighting her complete isolation and desolation in suffering, having "no comforter," emphasizing the comprehensive nature of her affliction and the absence of any solace.

Lamentations 1 9 Context

Lamentations Chapter 1 sets the scene for the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction by Babylon in 586 BCE. The city, once magnificent and populous, is personified as a desolate widow, a queen now enslaved, weeping bitterly in the night. The prophet Jeremiah, or another inspired author, details her suffering, shame, and betrayal by her allies, emphasizing that her overwhelming affliction is a direct consequence of her multitudinous sins. She remembers her past prosperity and the dreadful reversal of her fortunes. Verse 9 is a pivotal confession and realization by Jerusalem (the 'Daughter of Zion') herself that her inner spiritual defilement and neglect of God's ways led to this astounding and solitary downfall. This self-admission underscores the justice of God's judgment and the depth of her despair, having no one to offer solace. The lament is set against the backdrop of God's righteous anger and the fulfilling of covenant curses due to Israel's idolatry, spiritual harlotry, and persistent disobedience to His Law.

Word Analysis

• "Her uncleanness" (טֻמְאָתָהּ, ṭum'āṯāh): Derived from the root ṭ-m-' (to be unclean, defiled). This term primarily signifies ritual impurity, but in prophetic contexts, it extends to moral and spiritual defilement, particularly associated with idolatry and spiritual harlotry against Yahweh. It highlights an inherent, internal state of defilement that Jerusalem had accumulated.
• "was in her skirts" (בְּשׁוּלֶיהָ, bĕšûleyhā): "Skirts" (שׁוּל, šûl) refers to the flowing hem or train of a garment. Symbolically, a defiled skirt suggests open disgrace and exposure (Jer 13:22, Nah 3:5), implying that Jerusalem's moral impurity was not hidden but had become a manifest and shameful aspect of her identity, exposed for all to see. It might also suggest deeply ingrained corruption.
• "she considered not" (לֹא זָכְרָה, lō' zāḵərāh): Literally, "she did not remember" or "she did not call to mind." This signifies a profound negligence or willful ignorance. It is not merely a forgetfulness but a deliberate failure to pay attention to, learn from, or foresee the consequences of her actions or God's prior warnings (Deut 32:29). This denotes spiritual blindness and an inability or unwillingness to connect cause (sin) with effect (judgment).
• "her end" (אַחֲרִיתָהּ, ʾaḥărîṯāh): This Hebrew word means "after-part, outcome, end, latter end, destiny, future." In this context, it refers to the grim consequences and ultimate ruin that would befall Jerusalem as a result of her persistent disobedience. It emphasizes the dreadful outcome that she failed to anticipate, despite repeated prophetic warnings.
• "therefore" (וַתֵּרֶד, wattērred, implicitly by sequential action and outcome): The conjunction waw connecting the clauses here implies direct consequence.
• "she came down" (וַתֵּרֶד, wattērred): From the verb יָרַד (yarad), meaning "to go down, descend, fall." It graphically depicts Jerusalem's precipitous fall from its position of glory and security into ruin and destruction.
• "wonderfully" (פְּלָאִים, pĕlāʾîm): From the root פָּלָא (pala'), meaning "to be wonderful, astonishing, extraordinary." In this context, pĕlāʾîm does not imply something good or miraculous but rather an event of astonishing and terrible magnitude – a stunning, overwhelming, and utterly dreadful catastrophe that filled onlookers with horror and awe. It points to the spectacular nature of God's judgment.
• "she had no comforter" (אֵין מְנַחֵם לָהּ, ʾêin mĕnaḥēm lāh): "No one comforting her." This signifies absolute desolation and abandonment. Jerusalem is left without any source of consolation, human or divine. It underscores the severity of God's judgment and the completeness of her isolation, even from her supposed allies (Lam 1:2).

Words-group analysis:

• "Her uncleanness was in her skirts": This phrase metaphorically portrays Jerusalem's deep-seated and publicly visible sin. Her spiritual defilement was not merely external but an ingrained characteristic, publicly exposed as a sign of her shame, like the unveiled skirts of a disgraced woman. This implies that the sin was inherent to her character, leading to an undeniable outward manifestation of impurity.
• "she considered not her end": This highlights the moral and spiritual blindness that characterized Jerusalem's behavior. It was a conscious rejection of divine counsel and a failure to heed the warnings regarding the severe consequences of rebellion against God. This spiritual short-sightedness prevented her from repentance and avoidance of disaster.
• "therefore she came down wonderfully": This powerful statement directly links her profound sin and lack of foresight to a spectacular and terrible judgment. The term "wonderfully" intensifies the shock and awe of her destruction, not in a positive sense, but in depicting an unprecedented and awe-inspiring catastrophe wrought by divine justice. Her fall was not ordinary but an extraordinary act of judgment.
• "she had no comforter": This concluding phrase vividly paints a picture of complete and utter desolation. The absence of a "comforter" underscores Jerusalem's extreme isolation and the comprehensive nature of her suffering. It implies that God Himself had withdrawn His consolation, and no human aid could fill that void, signifying the profound loneliness of judgment.

Lamentations 1 9 Bonus section

The lament, through the personification of Jerusalem as a violated and abandoned woman, intensifies the emotional impact of her suffering. The depth of her uncleanness, being "in her skirts," suggests an intimate defilement, deeply rooted and now fully revealed, signifying public shame and divine retribution for what was done secretly. The use of "wonderfully" (פְּלָאִים) emphasizes that God's judgment against Judah was not merely punitive but a spectacular display of His sovereign power and justice, serving as a fearful example to all nations. This verse starkly contrasts God's character as a deliverer and comforter for the obedient (Ps 23:4, Isa 51:12) with His role as judge for the rebellious. The ultimate isolation—"no comforter"—speaks to the deepest anguish when even human sympathy or the comforting presence of God is withdrawn as a part of divine discipline, illustrating that a covenant people could experience a withdrawal of God's favor if they persisted in sin and rejected His love.

Lamentations 1 9 Commentary

Lamentations 1:9 encapsulates the core themes of the book: Jerusalem's profound sin, her blindness to its consequences, the resultant catastrophic divine judgment, and her utter desolation. The city's "uncleanness in her skirts" signifies the pervasiveness and public exposure of her moral and spiritual defilement, notably idolatry and disobedience. This impurity was not superficial but deeply woven into her being, ultimately exposed to her shame. Her failure to "consider her end" reveals a dangerous spiritual shortsightedness or willful ignorance, as she persistently refused to acknowledge God's warnings and the inevitable outcome of her rebellion. Consequently, God's judgment caused her to "come down wonderfully," meaning her collapse was stunning, devastating, and truly astonishing in its scale and severity, a testament to the powerful hand of a just God. The ultimate consequence, "she had no comforter," portrays absolute abandonment. In her lowest point, surrounded by ruin and devoid of solace, Jerusalem experienced the ultimate consequence of spiritual forsaking. This verse serves as a sober warning: unconfessed and persistent sin, coupled with a refusal to heed divine wisdom, leads to overwhelming judgment and an isolated, comfortless downfall.For example, for those who continually pursue worldly pleasures without considering the ultimate destination of their spiritual path. This can be neglecting moral duties and thinking the consequences won't reach them, until crisis strikes and they are left alone. The verse reminds us of the critical need for spiritual introspection, taking God's warnings seriously, and understanding the profound, isolating consequences of sustained rebellion against His commands.