Lamentations 4 6

Lamentations 4:6 kjv

For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

Lamentations 4:6 nkjv

The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people Is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown in a moment, With no hand to help her!

Lamentations 4:6 niv

The punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment without a hand turned to help her.

Lamentations 4:6 esv

For the chastisement of the daughter of my people has been greater than the punishment of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and no hands were wrung for her.

Lamentations 4:6 nlt

The guilt of my people
is greater than that of Sodom,
where utter disaster struck in a moment
and no hand offered help.

Lamentations 4 verses

Lamentations 4 6 Meaning

The people of Jerusalem were once purified, but now, due to their sin, they are judged and brought low, becoming insignificant in the eyes of those who pass by. Their former splendor and closeness to God are gone, replaced by a state of ruin and scorn.

Lamentations 4 6 Context

This verse is part of a lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of its people during the Babylonian conquest. Chapter 4 contrasts the former glory of Zion with its current desolation. Verse 6 specifically attributes the ruin and humiliation to the people's own iniquity and sin, which have resulted in divine judgment. The prophet likens their former prosperity and favored state to being "fed" or "satisfied" from the "}$. of the kingdom," highlighting what they have lost due to their transgression.

Lamentations 4 6 Word analysis

• For (Hebrew: מִבְּעֶת - miḇ‘eṯ) - Literally "from the time of" or "from the origin of."

• the punishment (Hebrew: עֹנֶשׁ - ʿōneš) - This signifies penalty, chastisement, or retribution for wrongdoing. It implies a consequence that is deserved due to sin.

• of the iniquity (Hebrew: עֲוֹן - ʿāwôn) - Refers to guilt, crookedness, perversity, or wrongdoing. It points to the moral corruption and deviation from God's path.

• of my people (Hebrew: עַמִּי - ʿammî) - Indicates the chosen people of God, Israel. The prophet uses this term even in their fallen state, showing a persistent, albeit broken, relationship.

• More than the sin (Hebrew: מִחוֹטְאָה - miḥōṭʾāh) - This comparison is significant. It suggests that the severity of the punishment is linked not just to the sin itself, but perhaps to the depth of its ingrained nature, its pervasiveness, or the persistent culpability attached to it.

• of the sin of Sodom (Hebrew: חַטַּאת־סְדֹם - ḥaṭṭaʾṯ-səḏōm) - Sodom is the archetypal city known for its extreme wickedness, particularly sexual immorality and inhospitality. The comparison implies that Jerusalem's sins, though different in manifestation, reached a level of depravity comparable to or exceeding that of Sodom.

• That (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר - ʾăšer) - A relative pronoun introducing the consequence or the specific characteristic of Sodom's sin.

• was overturned (Hebrew: נֶהְפְּכָה - nehp̄əkāh) - The root הָפַךְ (hāp̄aḵ) means to turn over, overturn, subvert. Here it implies sudden, catastrophic destruction and upheaval, referencing God's judgment upon Sodom.

• in the land (Hebrew: בָּאָרֶץ - bāʾāreṣ) - Refers to the land of Canaan or the general geographic context.

• in order that (Hebrew: לְמַעַן - ləmaʿan) - Introduces the purpose or reason for the overturning.

• they might not be found (Hebrew: לְבִלְתִּי הִמָּצֵא - ləḇilṯî himmāṣēʾ) - Emphasizes the complete obliteration and destruction, so that no trace of Sodom and Gomorrah remained.

• Group Analysis - "The punishment of the iniquity of my people": This phrase succinctly links divine judgment directly to the people's accumulated wrongdoing and moral corruption. It underscores the concept of a covenantal consequence where sin brings disaster.

• Group Analysis - "More than the sin of Sodom": This comparison elevates Jerusalem's transgressions. While Sodom's sin was notoriously destructive and universally condemned, the prophet suggests Israel's spiritual adultery, betrayal of the covenant, and perhaps even their social injustices, merited an even greater or more devastating consequence in God's eyes, likely due to their privileged position as God's chosen people who should have known better.

• Group Analysis - "That was overturned, in the land, in order that they might not be found": This entire clause refers back to Sodom, describing the utter destruction. It serves as a severe analogy for what has befallen Jerusalem, implying a similar finality or depth of judgment in its ruin, even though Jerusalem is not utterly annihilated but exists in a state of profound humiliation.

Lamentations 4 6 Bonus section

The lament in Lamentations uses vivid imagery and comparisons to convey the depth of Jerusalem's suffering and the reason behind it. The comparison to Sodom is powerful because Sodom represents an extreme example of divine judgment reserved for egregious sin. By placing Jerusalem's sin on a comparable, if not exceeding, level, the prophet highlights the gravity of their apostasy and its consequences. The concept of inherited guilt or collective responsibility for sin, often seen in the Old Testament, is implicitly present here as the "iniquity of my people" leads to their collective suffering. This underscores the importance of righteousness at both the individual and community levels within God's covenant people. The judgment on Sodom, recorded in Genesis 19, serves as a precedent for God's righteousness in dealing with widespread wickedness, a theme echoed in many other parts of Scripture.

Lamentations 4 6 Commentary

The verse asserts that Jerusalem's current dire state is a direct consequence of its sin and the accumulated guilt of its people. This guilt is so profound that the prophet compares it unfavorably with the notorious sins of Sodom. While Sodom was destroyed for its gross iniquity, the people of Judah, having been recipients of God's covenantal love and instruction, bear a heavier burden of responsibility. Their sins led to the devastation of their city and nation, a humbling that left them vulnerable to scorn. The phrase "more than the sin of Sodom" does not necessarily mean the sins themselves were qualitatively identical but that the depth of spiritual defection and the breach of covenant warranted a judgment equally or more severe than that meted out to Sodom, resulting in their profound downfall and insignificance. This serves as a stark warning against presuming on covenant status without maintaining covenant faithfulness.