Lamentations 2:16 kjv
All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.
Lamentations 2:16 nkjv
All your enemies have opened their mouth against you; They hiss and gnash their teeth. They say, "We have swallowed her up! Surely this is the day we have waited for; We have found it, we have seen it!"
Lamentations 2:16 niv
All your enemies open their mouths wide against you; they scoff and gnash their teeth and say, "We have swallowed her up. This is the day we have waited for; we have lived to see it."
Lamentations 2:16 esv
All your enemies rail against you; they hiss, they gnash their teeth, they cry: "We have swallowed her! Ah, this is the day we longed for; now we have it; we see it!"
Lamentations 2:16 nlt
All your enemies mock you.
They scoff and snarl and say,
"We have destroyed her at last!
We have long waited for this day,
and it is finally here!"
Lamentations 2 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lam 2:16 | All that pass by clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their head at the destruction of the daughter of Jerusalem. | Mockery and scorn of enemies |
| Lam 3:46 | All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. | Enemies speaking against God's people |
| Psa 22:7 | All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head. | Shared suffering and mockery |
| Isa 37:22 | Because thou hast cried unto me against Sennacherib king of Assyria. | Prayer in distress |
| Jer 18:16 | To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head. | Divine judgment leading to desolation |
| Nah 3:7 | And it shall come to pass, that all that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? where shall I seek comforters for thee? | Destruction and desolation |
| Job 16:10 | They have gaped upon me with their mouth, they have smitten me upon the cheek with the reproaches of the enemy. | Reproaches and physical assaults |
| Lam 1:12 | Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow... | Divine invitation to witness suffering |
| Jer 49:3 | O inhabitant of Bethshemesh, that dwellest among the daughter of the Egyptians, the shame of Egypt shall not cover thee. | Shame and desolation |
| Ps 44:14 | Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scoffing and a derision to them that are round about us. | Reproach among neighbours |
| Ezek 26:2 | Because Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste. | Enmity and gloating |
| Mark 15:29 | And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days... | Jesus mocked during crucifixion |
| Luke 23:35 | And the people stood looking on. And their rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. | Rulers mocking Jesus |
| Ps 113:5 | Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, | God's exalted position |
| Zech 11:3 | Howl, O shepherd and governor; because thy bravery is not yours, the great winter is at your door! | Judgment on shepherds |
| Isa 5:20 | Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! | Misunderstanding and perversion |
| Job 30:1 | But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose father I did not think worthy to set with the dogs of my flock. | Humiliation and scorn |
| Lam 3:45 | Thou hast made us as the offscouring of the world, and refuse of all things. | Utter degradation |
| Jer 22:18 | Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory! | Lack of mourning for a wicked ruler |
| Ps 2:12 | Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. | Divine judgment for rebellion |
Lamentations 2 verses
Lamentations 2 16 Meaning
This verse expresses Jerusalem's extreme distress, likening its enemies to animals devouring it. The people's pleas are likened to animal cries, highlighting their suffering and lack of hope for relief.
Lamentations 2 16 Context
Lamentations chapter 2 vividly describes the utter devastation of Jerusalem by its enemies, highlighting the siege, destruction, and suffering of its inhabitants. This specific verse focuses on the response of the surrounding nations to Jerusalem's downfall, emphasizing their mockery and exultation at the city's ruin. The prophet Jeremiah laments the consequences of Judah's sin and unfaithfulness to God.
Lamentations 2 16 Word Analysis
- "All": Indicates totality, encompassing all who witness the destruction.
- "that pass by": Refers to those traversing the vicinity of Jerusalem, observing the ruins.
- "clap their hands": A gesture of rejoicing, triumph, or scorn directed at the fallen city.
- "at you": Directly addressing Jerusalem (the "daughter of Jerusalem").
- "they hiss": Imitating a snake's sound, conveying contempt, malice, and derision.
- "and wag their head": Another gesture signifying scorn, mockery, and disbelief at the extent of destruction.
- "at the destruction": Specifically targets the act of demolition and ruin.
- "of the daughter of Jerusalem": A personification of Jerusalem, representing its people and its entire being.
Lamentations 2 16 Bonus Section
The phrase "daughter of Jerusalem" is a common poetic device in Hebrew literature used to personify the city, emphasizing its vulnerability and collective identity, much like a child. The actions described (clapping, hissing, wagging head) were universally understood gestures of mockery and triumph in the ancient Near East. This imagery resonates with how the world often responds to the perceived failures or downfall of those who profess to follow God, echoing the universal human tendency to scorn the humbled. The enemies' reactions here demonstrate a lack of empathy and a fulfillment of God's word concerning the nations that oppressing His people (Deut 30:7).
Lamentations 2 16 Commentary
The enemies of Jerusalem respond to its catastrophic destruction with unrestrained derision. The physical acts of clapping hands, hissing, and head-wagging are vivid expressions of their gloating and contempt. This verse underscores the severe consequence of spiritual and national unfaithfulness, which leads to not only God's judgment but also the scorn of the world. It reflects a deep spiritual and political isolation experienced by the city.