Lamentations 2:22 kjv
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.
Lamentations 2:22 nkjv
"You have invited as to a feast day The terrors that surround me. In the day of the LORD's anger There was no refugee or survivor. Those whom I have borne and brought up My enemies have destroyed."
Lamentations 2:22 niv
"As you summon to a feast day, so you summoned against me terrors on every side. In the day of the LORD's anger no one escaped or survived; those I cared for and reared my enemy has destroyed."
Lamentations 2:22 esv
You summoned as if to a festival day my terrors on every side, and on the day of the anger of the LORD no one escaped or survived; those whom I held and raised my enemy destroyed.
Lamentations 2:22 nlt
"You have invited terrors from all around,
as though you were calling them to a day of feasting.
In the day of the LORD's anger,
no one has escaped or survived.
The enemy has killed all the children
whom I carried and raised."
Lamentations 2 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lamentations 2:22 | "...you alone have made him who had no helper to pass by." | Lamentations 1:14 (Similar judgment) |
| Isaiah 3:1-7 | Prophecy of Jerusalem's judgment and removal of support | Isaiah 3:1-7 (Consequences of sin) |
| Jeremiah 8:19-20 | Lament over destruction, lack of healing | Jeremiah 8:19-20 (Seeking help in vain) |
| Jeremiah 24:8-10 | Judgment upon the wicked, scattering them | Jeremiah 24:8-10 (Repayment for deeds) |
| Jeremiah 30:14 | Jeremiah laments no healing or solace for Jerusalem | Jeremiah 30:14 (Remedy absent) |
| Jeremiah 52:17-23 | Account of Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem's defenses | Jeremiah 52:17-23 (Physical destruction) |
| Ezekiel 30:14-19 | Judgment upon Egypt, God's enemy | Ezekiel 30:14-19 (God's sovereign hand) |
| Amos 2:14-16 | God's judgment on Israel, preventing escape | Amos 2:14-16 (Inability to flee) |
| Micah 2:3 | God planning disaster against Israel | Micah 2:3 (Divine plotting) |
| Matthew 11:21-23 | Woes pronounced on Chorazin and Bethsaida for rejecting Christ | Matthew 11:21-23 (Similar judgment language) |
| Luke 13:34-35 | Jesus laments over Jerusalem's impending destruction | Luke 13:34-35 (Jesus' empathy and prophecy) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:20 | Wisdom of the world is foolishness to God | 1 Corinthians 1:20 (God's superior wisdom) |
| Revelation 18:7-8 | Babylon's downfall and complete destruction | Revelation 18:7-8 (Judgment on sinful city) |
| Psalm 37:1-2 | The wicked are cut off | Psalm 37:1-2 (Contrast with righteous) |
| Psalm 73:17-19 | Reflection on the downfall of the wicked | Psalm 73:17-19 (Sorrow for them) |
| Psalm 90:3 | God turns man to dust | Psalm 90:3 (Power over life) |
| Psalm 107:17-20 | God's chastening for sin | Psalm 107:17-20 (Sin leading to suffering) |
| Proverbs 1:26 | God laughs at the calamity of the wicked | Proverbs 1:26 (God's sovereignty in judgment) |
| Jeremiah 1:16 | God declares judgment and punishment | Jeremiah 1:16 (God's authoritative decree) |
| Jeremiah 14:8 | God's anger causing devastation | Jeremiah 14:8 (Source of destruction) |
Lamentations 2 verses
Lamentations 2 22 Meaning
This verse describes God's complete judgment upon Jerusalem, signifying its utter desolation and the demise of its protectors. It portrays a scene where God actively causes the downfall, leaving no source of help or protection.
Lamentations 2 22 Context
This verse appears in chapter 2 of Lamentations, a poetic lament by Jeremiah over the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians. Chapter 2 focuses specifically on the causes and consequences of God's wrath. The destruction is depicted as a direct act of God, stemming from Israel's sin. This verse concludes the chapter by summarizing the totality of God's judgment, emphasizing that the enemies, though instruments, are ultimately fulfilling God's decree.
Lamentations 2 22 Word Analysis
- וְאַתָּה (wə’atāh): "And you." Connects this statement to the preceding verse, intensifying the personal accusation against the enemy, but also underscoring that God is the ultimate actor.
- כִּי (kî): "For" or "because." Indicates the reason or cause for what was stated in the previous verses – God's judgment.
- מֵאִתְּךָ (mê’ithəkā): "From you" or "from your presence." Refers to God. The judgment originates from God's sovereign will and action.
- עָשִׂיתָ (‘āsîtā): "you have done" or "you have made." Active verb in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action, emphasizing God's decisive role in bringing about the destruction.
- מְגִרְסֵא (məgîrəsehā): "those who had no helper" or "those who were without support." The feminine plural adjective modifying a masculine plural noun. It refers to the people or entities who were utterly without assistance.
- כְּחִילֶק (kəḥîləq): "like Chiles." This word is likely a scribal or textual variant, and not an accepted Hebrew word. Some translations interpret it differently based on potential word roots or emendations. If taken from roots related to "cleaving" or "cutting," it could imply fragmentation or scattering. Other scholarly proposals suggest it could be related to the people of Kehilah. However, many modern critical texts do not include this word or render it differently. For instance, many scholars emend it to כְּחִילּוּ (kəḥîllû) meaning "their utter ruin" or "their overthrow." Given the context, it speaks to the completeness of their vulnerability.
- מְגוּרָשֶׁת (məgūrāsheṯ): "who had no helper" or "made to pass by" (referring to expulsion/flight). The Qal passive participle. Here, combined with "had no helper" (
ayinōzer), it strongly suggests complete abandonment and isolation. - עוֹבֵר (‘ōḇēr): "passing by." Indicates a transit or movement. Combined with "made," it suggests God orchestrated the passing away or expulsion of those without aid.
Words Group Analysis:
- "you alone have made him who had no helper to pass by": This phrase emphasizes God's sole responsibility for this devastating outcome. The "him" likely refers to Jerusalem or its people in their utter vulnerability, left without any human or divine (in the sense of covenantal faithfulness from their perspective) intercession or assistance. The active verbs portray God as the direct agent of their downfall.
Lamentations 2 22 Bonus Section
The "him who had no helper" can be seen as personifying Jerusalem or its plight, stripping away any vestiges of its former strength or alliances. The concept of God "making someone pass by" without help speaks to divine sovereignty, even in the midst of historical conflict where human armies are the instruments of destruction. The enemy acts, but God ordains the context and the outcome. This theme of God using foreign powers for discipline is common throughout the Old Testament, illustrating His control over nations and history for the purpose of chastening His people.
Lamentations 2 22 Commentary
The verse paints a stark picture of divine abandonment and the efficacy of God's judgment. God's action is absolute; He ensures that no help is available. This is not an accidental downfall but a divinely orchestrated event. The language used underscores the totality of the devastation, leaving no room for hope or escape for those targeted. It signifies a complete removal of support systems, both earthly and perceived divine protection.