Lamentations 4:4 kjv
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.
Lamentations 4:4 nkjv
The tongue of the infant clings To the roof of its mouth for thirst; The young children ask for bread, But no one breaks it for them.
Lamentations 4:4 niv
Because of thirst the infant's tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth; the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them.
Lamentations 4:4 esv
The tongue of the nursing infant sticks to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food, but no one gives to them.
Lamentations 4:4 nlt
The parched tongues of their little ones
stick to the roofs of their mouths in thirst.
The children cry for bread,
but no one has any to give them.
Lamentations 4 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lamentations 4:4 | The tongue of the nursing infant cleaveth to the roof of its mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man giveth them them unto them. | (Fulfillment of curse) Deut 28:57 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | For thirst the infant's tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth; the young children beg for food, but no one gives it to them. | (Babylonian context) Jer 52:6, 16 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | Like infants, the children of Judah plead for sustenance, their tongues clinging to the roof of their mouths from dehydration and starvation. | (Shared suffering) Lam 2:11 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | The neglect and abandonment extend to the most vulnerable, the young children, who are denied basic sustenance. | (Divine judgment) Ezek 5:10 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | This highlights the depth of their affliction, where even the youngest are not spared the consequences of sin and judgment. | (Generational impact) Ex 20:5 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | The verse serves as a poignant testament to the devastating effects of war and famine on a population. | (Descriptive language) Isa 13:16 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | Jesus speaks of the consequences of Jerusalem's rejection, mirroring the devastation described here. | (New Testament parallel) Matt 24:19 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | The plight of these children reflects a spiritual destitution as well as physical hunger. | (Spiritual hunger) Amos 8:11 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | God's sorrow over His people's suffering is palpable in the prophet's lament. | (God's empathy) Hos 11:8 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | The image of starving children evokes deep empathy and a plea for divine intervention. | (Universal human suffering) Job 30:3 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | This verse emphasizes the complete breakdown of societal support structures during a time of crisis. | (Societal collapse) Prov 28:7 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | The "tongue cleaving to the roof of the mouth" is a common metaphor for extreme thirst and dehydration. | (Biblical metaphor) Psa 22:15 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | The "young children" represent the future generation, now critically endangered. | (Focus on the young) 1 Sam 2:20 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | The "bread" requested is a basic necessity for survival, emphasizing the extremity of their need. | (Need for provision) Matt 6:11 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | This verse foreshadows the greater devastation of Jerusalem as described by Jesus. | (Jesus' prophecy) Luke 19:42 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | The suffering of these children is a direct result of their ancestors' sins and their own national disobedience. | (Cause of exile) Jer 17:1, 2 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | The prophecy in Deuteronomy regarding famine is vividly fulfilled here. | (Deuteronomic curse) Deut 28:56 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | The lament is a cry of despair against the backdrop of God's judgment. | (Sovereignty of God) Lam 1:14 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | This image of neglect is a stark contrast to God's promise to care for the vulnerable. | (God's care) Psa 10:14 |
| Lamentations 4:4 | The silence of any provision intensifies the despair of the children's pleas. | (Absence of hope) Psa 74:9 |
Lamentations 4 verses
Lamentations 4 4 Meaning
This verse vividly portrays the extreme suffering and neglect experienced by the children of Jerusalem during a time of severe hardship, likely the Babylonian siege and conquest. The description "suck the breast" signifies infants, and the failure to find them indicates their devastation or removal, a grim picture of utter ruin.
Lamentations 4 4 Context
Lamentations chapter 4 describes the terrible aftermath of the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem. The city has fallen, its walls are broken down, and its people have been subjected to extreme hardship and violence. This particular verse focuses on the suffering of the most innocent and vulnerable: the children. It paints a picture of utter desolation where basic needs for survival, like food and water, are not met, even for infants. The prophet uses vivid imagery to convey the profound depth of their suffering and the complete collapse of societal structures that would normally provide for the young.
Lamentations 4 4 Word analysis
וְלָשׁוֹן (ve'lashon): And the tongue. The Hebrew word for "tongue" here can also imply speech or even the physical organ. Its use emphasizes the helplessness and inability to cry out effectively due to extreme dehydration.
עוֹלֵל ('olel): infant, sucking child. This specifically refers to a very young child, still nursing or recently weaned, highlighting the extreme vulnerability.
תִּדְבַּק (tidbak): cleaveth, sticks. The Hithpael form of "davak" suggests a persistent clinging or sticking, indicating severe dryness.
לְחִכָּוֹ (lekhikko): to the roof of its mouth. Refers to the hard palate of the mouth.
צָמָא (tzama'): thirst. Denotes extreme thirst, a state of severe dehydration.
יַלְדֵי (yaldei): children. A general term for children.
שָׁאֲלוּ (sha'alu): ask. From the root "sha'al," meaning to ask, request, or inquire. It implies a pleading or begging for something needed.
לֶחֶם (lechem): bread. Represents basic food, sustenance.
וְאֵין (ve'ein): and there is none, and no one. Indicates a complete absence of provision or help.
מַפְרִיס (mafris): distributeth, giveth them unto them. From the root "parash," which can mean to spread out, separate, or distribute. Here, it signifies no one is giving or distributing food.
Group of words analysis:
- "The tongue of the nursing infant cleaveth to the roof of its mouth for thirst": This phrase uses powerful physical imagery of extreme dehydration and suffering, making the helplessness of infants palpable.
- "the young children ask bread, and no man giveth them them unto them": This depicts a total breakdown of societal care and a profound lack of compassion, even for the most desperate needs of the young. The repetition of "them" emphasizes their desperate pleas and the utter failure to respond.
Lamentations 4 4 Bonus Section
The imagery in this verse is consistent with other biblical descriptions of severe famine and war, such as the curses detailed in Deuteronomy 28. It reflects a complete inversion of natural order and societal responsibility. The lament also serves as a powerful reminder of God's empathy for suffering, even while His judgment is being executed. The failure of "no man" to give points to the utter loss of humanity and the absence of divine protection from human agencies, signifying a time when God’s judgment is paramount.
Lamentations 4 4 Commentary
The verse starkly illustrates the devastating consequences of the siege on Jerusalem. It moves from the individual suffering of infants due to thirst to the communal failure to provide even the most basic necessity, bread, to young children. This not only highlights the physical suffering but also the profound spiritual and societal collapse where basic humanity and the care for the vulnerable have vanished in the face of overwhelming calamity. The complete absence of any provision underscores the totality of their desperate situation.