Lamentations 2:9 kjv
Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD.
Lamentations 2:9 nkjv
Her gates have sunk into the ground; He has destroyed and broken her bars. Her king and her princes are among the nations; The Law is no more, And her prophets find no vision from the LORD.
Lamentations 2:9 niv
Her gates have sunk into the ground; their bars he has broken and destroyed. Her king and her princes are exiled among the nations, the law is no more, and her prophets no longer find visions from the LORD.
Lamentations 2:9 esv
Her gates have sunk into the ground; he has ruined and broken her bars; her king and princes are among the nations; the law is no more, and her prophets find no vision from the LORD.
Lamentations 2:9 nlt
Jerusalem's gates have sunk into the ground.
He has smashed their locks and bars.
Her kings and princes have been exiled to distant lands;
her law has ceased to exist.
Her prophets receive
no more visions from the LORD.
Lamentations 2 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lam 2:9 | Its officials gone, priests imprisoned, no instruction from the Lord. | Lamentations |
| Psa 74:3-8 | Enemy desecrated the sanctuary and tore down its fortifications. | Psalms |
| Isa 3:1-8 | Judgment on leaders and the lack of guidance. | Isaiah |
| Jer 2:8 | Priests did not ask, "Where is the Lord?" | Jeremiah |
| Jer 5:31 | Prophets prophesy falsely, priests rule by their own means. | Jeremiah |
| Jer 7:25-26 | Repeated rejection of God's word leading to exile. | Jeremiah |
| Jer 13:13 | Babylon will be conquered; leaders will be imprisoned. | Jeremiah |
| Jer 22:24-27 | Coniah's downfall and lack of heir. | Jeremiah |
| Jer 23:9-12 | Prophets and priests are corrupt and have profaned the sanctuary. | Jeremiah |
| Jer 44:4 | God's messengers repeatedly warned, but they would not listen. | Jeremiah |
| Lam 1:1-2 | Zion has no comforter; its inhabitants are desolate. | Lamentations |
| Lam 1:14-16 | The Lord has trodden them as in a winepress. | Lamentations |
| Lam 2:2-7 | God's wrath on Zion, covering it with a cloud. | Lamentations |
| Lam 2:10 | Elders of Zion sit in silence, mourning. | Lamentations |
| Lam 4:1-2 | Zion's gold has lost its luster. | Lamentations |
| Lam 4:11 | The Lord has fulfilled His fury. | Lamentations |
| Lam 5:12-13 | Rulers are taken away, priests are treated with contempt. | Lamentations |
| Lam 5:16 | The crown has fallen from our head. | Lamentations |
| Eze 7:26 | Ruin upon ruin, confusion upon confusion. | Ezekiel |
| Eze 14:21-23 | God's judgment is just; remnant preserved. | Ezekiel |
| Hos 4:6 | My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. | Hosea |
| Joel 1:13-14 | Priests and Levites mourning and lamenting. | Joel |
| Zeph 3:3-4 | Princes and judges are unjust. | Zephaniah |
| Zec 11:1-3 | Lebanon's pride is laid waste. | Zechariah |
| Matt 21:43 | The kingdom of God will be taken away from you. | Matthew |
| Luke 19:41-44 | Jesus weeps over Jerusalem and its destruction. | Luke |
| Acts 5:1-10 | Ananias and Sapphira struck dead for lying to the Spirit. | Acts |
| Rev 18:7 | Babylon the Great falls into ruin. | Revelation |
Lamentations 2 verses
Lamentations 2 9 Meaning
The gates of Zion are ruined, and its gates are shattered. Its officials are gone, and its priests are imprisoned. There is no instruction from the Lord. The elders are no longer at the city gates; the young men are no longer among the city's defenders.
Lamentations 2 9 Context
Lamentations chapter 2 describes the devastating consequences of God's judgment upon Jerusalem and the people of Judah due to their sin and disobedience. Verse 9 specifically details the complete breakdown of leadership and divine guidance within the city. The historical context is the Babylonian conquest, the destruction of the Temple, and the ensuing exile. The original audience, survivors of the siege and exiles, are confronted with the grim reality of their city's ruin and the absence of divine instruction, underscoring the severity of their transgression.
Lamentations 2 9 Word Analysis
'are ruined' (chathath): Literally signifies being crushed, broken, or put to utter confusion and terror. It points to a comprehensive destruction.
'gates' (shaar): Represent not only the physical entrances but also the places of assembly, governance, and justice. Their ruin signifies the loss of security, order, and civic life.
'shattered' (nispa·qū): Implies being broken apart, dispersed, and made ineffective, highlighting a complete disintegration of defenses and systems.
'officials' (saraiy·hem): Refers to the rulers, leaders, and princes of the city, those who held positions of authority and responsibility.
'gone' (he·na·chū): Indicates they have been removed, forsaken, or have fled, emphasizing the absence of leadership.
'priests' (co·han·nei·hem): Refers to the Levitical Priesthood, responsible for the religious services and mediation between God and the people.
'imprisoned' (chelaq·qa·dū): Signifies being bound, confined, or taken captive, showing the loss of their public function and freedom.
'no instruction' (en-masah·hō·ver): Denotes a complete absence of divine direction or teaching from God.
'from the Lord' (mi·yee·vuh): Explicitly attributes the silence of guidance to God Himself, implying a removal of His presence and communication due to their unfaithfulness.
'elders' (ze·qe·nei·yuh): Refers to the respected, experienced leaders and counselors of the city, whose wisdom and presence at the gates normally ensured order.
'city gates' (she·ʿa·rei·yah): The points of administration and public deliberation.
'young men' (ye·leh): Represents the youthful strength and defense force of the city.
'defenders' (netza·reh·yuh): Those responsible for guarding and protecting the city.
Group Analysis: Loss of Authority and Divine Guidance: The verse vividly paints a picture of collapsed authority and spiritual destitution. The dismantling of gates, imprisonment of officials and priests, and the complete cessation of divine instruction signify a nation stripped of its defenses, its leaders, and its access to God's word and wisdom. The silence from the Lord is a consequence of the people's sin.
Lamentations 2 9 Bonus Section
The lament of Jeremiah, who served as a prophet during this era, resonates deeply with the sentiments in Lamentations 2:9. Jeremiah's prophecies frequently highlight the corruption of priests and leaders and their failure to heed God's word, leading to destruction. The New Testament echoes the concept of a broken spiritual system when Jesus laments over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-42), foretelling its desolation. The absence of "instruction from the Lord" speaks to a fundamental brokenness of the relationship between God and His people due to sin, a theme prevalent throughout the Old and New Testaments. The sealing of divine communication is often a consequence of persistent disobedience, as seen in passages concerning God's judgment.
Lamentations 2 9 Commentary
This verse marks the apex of Zion's downfall. The physical and structural ruin of the city's gates, the centers of power and commerce, parallels the total collapse of its leadership – its officials and priests. Their removal, through death, capture, or abandonment, leaves a void. Most tragically, there is no "instruction from the Lord." This isn't merely the absence of new prophecies, but the absence of God's guiding presence and His revealed word as a source of comfort, direction, or hope in their crisis. The silence from heaven amplifies the despair of the fallen guards and elders, reflecting a nation severed from its divine covenant and lifeline.