Lamentations 4:13 kjv
For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,
Lamentations 4:13 nkjv
Because of the sins of her prophets And the iniquities of her priests, Who shed in her midst The blood of the just.
Lamentations 4:13 niv
But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous.
Lamentations 4:13 esv
This was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed in the midst of her the blood of the righteous.
Lamentations 4:13 nlt
Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets
and the sins of her priests,
who defiled the city
by shedding innocent blood.
Lamentations 4 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lamentations 4:13 | For the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed in the midst... | Lamentations 1:8, 2:14 |
| Lamentations 4:13 | Who shed in the midst of her the blood of the righteous. | 2 Kings 21:16, Jeremiah 2:30 |
| Lamentations 4:13 | The righteous: signifying innocence and justice being punished. | Genesis 4:8, Psalm 106:38 |
| Lamentations 4:13 | Led astray: highlighting deception and misguided leadership. | Isaiah 9:16, Jeremiah 23:13 |
| Lamentations 4:13 | No sanctuary found: illustrating total loss of divine protection and refuge. | Lamentations 1:6, Psalm 46:1 |
| Lamentations 4:13 | Scattered by his hand: indicating divine judgment and dispersal. | Deuteronomy 28:64 |
| Isaiah 1:23 | Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and chases... | Isaiah 5:11, Micah 3:11 |
| Micah 3:11 | Her chiefs judge for a bribe, her priests teach for pay, and her prophets practice... | Proverbs 15:27, 1 Timothy 3:3 |
| Jeremiah 5:31 | The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own means; and my people... | Jeremiah 2:8, 14:14 |
| Jeremiah 23:21, 22 | "I did not send these prophets, but they ran. I did not speak to them, but they prophesied." | Jeremiah 27:9, Ezekiel 13:6 |
| Matthew 23:37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent... | Luke 13:34, Acts 7:52 |
| Acts 7:51, 52 | "You stiff-necked people! With uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy... | Nehemiah 9:16, Romans 2:29 |
| Revelation 18:24 | And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who were slain on... | Matthew 23:35, Luke 11:50 |
| Psalm 11:5 | The LORD tests the righteous, and his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves... | Proverbs 16:11 |
| Ezekiel 22:26 | Her priests have violated my laws and defiled my holy things. They have made no distinc... | Leviticus 10:10, 11 |
| 1 Peter 4:17 | For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us,... | Luke 12:48, 1 Corinthians 11:32 |
| Amos 8:4 | Hear this, you who trample on the needy, and who oppress the poor of the land, | Psalm 58:1, Amos 4:1 |
| Zechariah 11:5 | Whose putters kill them and hold themselves guiltless, and whose sellers say, 'Blesse... | Jeremiah 15:10 |
| 1 Timothy 6:10 | For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this greedy desir... | Matthew 13:22 |
| Galatians 5:4 | You are severed from Christ, you who seek to be justified by law; you have fallen a... | Romans 9:31-33 |
Lamentations 4 verses
Lamentations 4 13 Meaning
This verse speaks of the widespread corruption and moral decay within the leadership and the people of Jerusalem during its destruction. It highlights how the prophetic voice was silenced and truth was disregarded, leading to judgment.
Lamentations 4 13 Context
Chapter 4 of Lamentations vividly depicts the devastation of Jerusalem, focusing on the suffering of its people and the causes of God's judgment. Verse 13 specifically addresses the spiritual and moral failings of the prophets and priests who contributed to the city's downfall. It explains that their unrighteous actions, including shedding innocent blood and corrupt leadership, alienated them from God's protection, ultimately leading to their dispersion. The overall context is one of mourning and divine retribution for sin.
Lamentations 4 13 Word Analysis
כִּי (ki) - "For" or "Because." This conjunction introduces the reason or cause for the preceding state of affairs described in the chapter.
חֲטָא–וֹת (chăṭā–wōṯ) - "Sins." This is the plural of חֵטְא (ḥēṭʼēʼ), meaning transgression, offense against God.
נְבִיאֶ–הָ (nĕḇī–ʼĕhâ) - "Her prophets." From נָבִיא (nāḇīʼ), a spokesperson, often one inspired by God, but here referring to false or corrupt prophets.
וַעֲוֹנ–וֹת (waʿăwōn–ōṯ) - "And iniquities." From עָוֹן (ʿāwōn), signifying guilt, depravity, or perversity. The "wa-" is the conjunction "and."
כֹּהֲנֶ–יהָ (kohănĕ–yhâ) - "Her priests." From כֹּהֵן (kohēn), a religious official authorized to perform sacred rites.
אֲשֶׁר (ʼăšĕr) - "Who" or "Which." A relative pronoun introducing a subordinate clause.
שְׁפְכוּ (šəfəḵū) - "They shed." The perfect tense of שָׁפַךְ (šāfāḵ), to pour out, spill, or shed.
בְּקִרְבָּ–הּ (bəqirbā–h) - "In her midst." A prepositional phrase indicating the location.
דַּם (ḏam) - "Blood." The literal fluid, but often used metaphorically for violence, life, or guilt.
צַדִּיק (ṣaddīq) - "The righteous." From צָדַק (ṣāḏaq), to be right, just, or righteous. Refers to innocent persons.
Prophets and Priests: The verse singles out these leadership roles as culpable. This reflects a recurring theme in the Old Testament where spiritual leaders are held accountable for their actions and their influence on the people.
Shedding Blood of the Righteous: This specific act highlights severe injustice and violence against innocent people, pointing to systemic corruption and the disregard for divine law.
In Her Midst: This emphasizes that the corruption and shedding of blood were not isolated incidents but permeated the very fabric of the city's life and its spiritual center.
Lamentations 4 13 Bonus Section
The phrase "shed in the midst of her the blood of the righteous" strongly evokes earlier instances of injustice in Israel's history, such as the bloodshed attributed to King Manasseh (2 Kings 21:16), which the prophets consistently condemned. The lament of the prophet here is not just for the physical destruction but for the profound moral and spiritual bankruptcy that invited such destruction. It underscores that external calamities are often the consequence of internal corruption, especially among those who should be models of godliness. This concept finds a New Testament parallel in Jesus' own lamentations over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37-38), where He rebukes the religious leaders for their role in the persecution of prophets, culminating in their rejection of the Messiah, the ultimate "righteous one."
Lamentations 4 13 Commentary
This verse indicts the spiritual and moral failure of Jerusalem's leadership. The prophets, who should have spoken truth and guided the people, and the priests, who should have upheld God's law, were instead complicit in or responsible for the shedding of innocent blood. This signifies not only literal violence but also the corruption of justice and truth by those in positions of spiritual authority. Their wickedness brought about God's judgment, resulting in the destruction and scattering of the city and its people. It serves as a stark warning against leadership that abandms righteousness and the people's well-being, illustrating the consequences when the custodians of God's truth betray their sacred trust.