Lamentations 2:12 kjv
They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom.
Lamentations 2:12 nkjv
They say to their mothers, "Where is grain and wine?" As they swoon like the wounded In the streets of the city, As their life is poured out In their mothers' bosom.
Lamentations 2:12 niv
They say to their mothers, "Where is bread and wine?" as they faint like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their lives ebb away in their mothers' arms.
Lamentations 2:12 esv
They cry to their mothers, "Where is bread and wine?" as they faint like a wounded man in the streets of the city, as their life is poured out on their mothers' bosom.
Lamentations 2:12 nlt
They cry out to their mothers,
"We need food and drink!"
Their lives ebb away in the streets
like the life of a warrior wounded in battle.
They gasp for life
as they collapse in their mothers' arms.
Lamentations 2 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lamentations 2:11 | My eyes overflow, my soul is poured out; my spirit faints within me because of the ruin... | Lamentations 2:11 |
| Jeremiah 9:1 | Oh, that my head were water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night... | Jeremiah 9:1 |
| Hosea 9:12 | But if I do find a child for them, I will not give birth to them or beget them, for I kno... | Hosea 9:12 |
| Ezekiel 16:30 | How desperate you are for lovers! | Ezekiel 16:30 |
| Psalm 73:16 | When I tried to understand this, it was oppressive to me | Psalm 73:16 |
| Matthew 11:29 | Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you wi... | Matthew 11:29 |
| Luke 1:53 | He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. | Luke 1:53 |
| Galatians 4:19 | My dear children, for whom I am again in the agony of childbirth until Christ is formed... | Galatians 4:19 |
| Revelation 6:8 | I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades w... | Revelation 6:8 |
| Lamentations 1:16 | This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me; no one... | Lamentations 1:16 |
| Isaiah 1:22 | Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water. | Isaiah 1:22 |
| Jeremiah 5:3 | LORD, are not your eyes on the truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you cru... | Jeremiah 5:3 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | Through the greed of her prophets her children lie hungry in the streets. | Lamentations 4:4 |
| Jeremiah 31:15 | This is what the LORD says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, wailing and bitter weeping—Ra... | Jeremiah 31:15 |
| Deuteronomy 32:23 | I will heap disaster upon them and spend my arrows on them. | Deuteronomy 32:23 |
| Job 21:34 | How then can you console me with meaningless words? Your answers are given in mock... | Job 21:34 |
| Psalm 35:10 | All my bones will exclaim, "Who can compare with you, LORD? You rescue the poor from t... | Psalm 35:10 |
| Psalm 69:21 | They gave me poison for food and vinegar for my thirst. | Psalm 69:21 |
| Lamentations 4:1 | How the gold has lost its luster, the fine gold has become dull! The stones of the s... | Lamentations 4:1 |
| Isaiah 51:20 | Your sons have fainted, they lie sprawled in the street, like antelope caught in a ne... | Isaiah 51:20 |
| Amos 8:14 | They swear by the sin of Samaria, saying, “By the living of Dan and the ways of Be... | Amos 8:14 |
| Micah 6:14 | You will eat, but you will not be satisfied. | Micah 6:14 |
| Isaiah 65:11 | But you are those who abandon the LORD and forget his holy mountain... | Isaiah 65:11 |
Lamentations 2 verses
Lamentations 2 12 Meaning
The people of Jerusalem are dismayed, as their young children, who should be playing, lie weak and helpless at the entrance of every street. They are starving and appear as if they have drunk a deadly poison.
Lamentations 2 12 Context
Lamentations chapter 2 describes the devastating consequences of God's wrath upon Jerusalem due to its sinfulness. The prophet Jeremiah is lamenting the destruction of the city, the desecration of the Temple, and the suffering of its people, particularly the vulnerable. This verse paints a picture of profound despair and loss, highlighting the dire state of the city's children.
Lamentations 2 12 Word Analysis
When: This signifies the time of the described events, during the siege and destruction of Jerusalem.
I (or "My"): Refers to the prophet Jeremiah, the author of Lamentations, speaking in personal anguish.
little ones: The Hebrew word is "elem," referring to young children or adolescents. This highlights the vulnerability and innocence of those suffering.
that opened their mouths: This could imply helplessness, a cry for sustenance that goes unanswered. The mouths of babes are often seen as open to receive.
for drink: The Hebrew word "shoqeh" signifies giving drink. It emphasizes their thirst and their desperate need for basic nourishment, which is denied.
The daughters: Refers to the young girls of Jerusalem.
of Zion: Refers to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, personified as the city's daughter.
against: This preposition indicates the direction of their gaze or their condition in relation to the city's plight.
wine: The Hebrew word "yayin" is used. It evokes a sense of perversion; that instead of nourishing wine, they are presented with or experiencing a deadly substance.
pressers or faint: The Hebrew word is "dama" which can mean to cease, fail, or faint. It emphasizes their weakness and the crushing circumstances. This word carries a sense of succumbing to weakness or desolation. The Septuagint also renders this with terms related to fainting or dying.
Phrase Group Analysis:
- "when my little ones opened their mouths for drink": This vividly portrays the hunger and thirst of the children. Their mouths are open, signifying their expectation and need, but nothing comes.
- "the daughters of Zion against wine": This phrase is potent. "Against wine" suggests opposition or perversion of what should be life-giving and joyous. Instead of celebratory wine, they are faced with a situation as if they have "drunk poison." This implies that the very essence of life and normalcy is corrupted by the catastrophe.
Lamentations 2 12 Bonus Section
The image of children "drinking poison" serves as a metaphor for the complete devastation and spiritual contamination of Jerusalem. What should sustain and nourish them (symbolized by wine) has become destructive, reflecting the city's own corrupted state under God's judgment. This verse, therefore, speaks not only to physical deprivation but also to a pervasive spiritual sickness that has befallen the nation. It highlights how sin corrupts all aspects of life, even affecting the innocent. The prophet’s observation of the children represents the deepest despair, as the future generation is utterly lost and destroyed.
Lamentations 2 12 Commentary
This verse is a stark portrayal of extreme suffering, emphasizing the most vulnerable. The children of Jerusalem are depicted as so starved and weakened that they appear as if they have consumed poison. Their desperate state is a direct consequence of the city's destruction and the failure of its provision. It underscores the complete collapse of society and the parental failure to nurture, as children lie helplessly at the entrance of every street. The contrast between the expected joyous innocence of childhood and their agonizing reality is deeply poignant.