Lamentations 5 11

Lamentations 5:11 kjv

They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.

Lamentations 5:11 nkjv

They ravished the women in Zion, The maidens in the cities of Judah.

Lamentations 5:11 niv

Women have been violated in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah.

Lamentations 5:11 esv

Women are raped in Zion, young women in the towns of Judah.

Lamentations 5:11 nlt

Our enemies rape the women in Jerusalem
and the young girls in all the towns of Judah.

Lamentations 5 verses

Lamentations 5 11 Meaning

Lamentations 5:11 graphically depicts the horrific acts of sexual violence committed against the women and young women of Jerusalem and the cities of Judah during the Babylonian conquest. It portrays the deep humiliation and utter devastation experienced by the covenant people, where the most vulnerable were subjected to unspeakable atrocities by the invading forces. This verse underscores the complete breakdown of order and the profound suffering that resulted from Judah's unfaithfulness and God's resultant judgment.

Lamentations 5 11 Context

Lamentations 5 serves as the final and concluding lamentation of the book, differing from the preceding acrostic chapters by presenting a collective plea and prayer to the Lord from the perspective of the devastated people. The entire chapter reflects a communal cry of anguish, listing various forms of suffering endured after the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile. It details the daily hardships, the loss of inheritance, hunger, slavery, the persecution of the weak, and widespread despair. Verse 11 specifically highlights the moral degradation and physical atrocities committed by the conquering Babylonians, illustrating the complete vulnerability and violation experienced by the people. This act of "ravishing" the women and maids was not just an individual sin but a deliberate act of humiliation against the entire community, striking at the core of family honor and future generations, reinforcing the profound depth of Judah's judgment and its impact.

Lamentations 5 11 Word analysis

• They (הכניעו – hikni'u): While not a direct Hebrew pronoun "they," the verb's third-person plural perfect tense "they caused to submit/humble" implies the aggressors. This highlights the agency of the enemy (Babylonian soldiers) in carrying out these acts.
• ravished (הכניעו – hikni'u): From the root כָּנַע (kana’), meaning "to humble," "to subdue," or "to bring low." In the Hiphil stem, it means "to cause to submit" or "to make low." In the brutal context of wartime violence against women and "maids" (virgins), this verb powerfully conveys sexual violation, forceful subjugation, and deep humiliation, going beyond mere physical control to profound moral and spiritual degradation. It signifies a forceful overpowering, stripping dignity, and destroying innocence.
• the women (נָשִׁים – nashim): Refers to married women, adults. This indicates widespread assault on women of all marital statuses, including those who might have previously had a protected status within their homes.
• in Zion (בְּצִיּוֹן֙ – b'Tsiyon): Zion refers specifically to Jerusalem, particularly the fortress or capital. This emphasizes that even in the heart of the sacred city, the very place of God's dwelling, these abhorrent acts occurred. It underlines the extent of the desecration and divine judgment.
• and the maids (וּבְתוּלֹת֙ – uv'tulot): From the Hebrew word בְּתוּלָה (betulah), meaning "virgin" or "unmarried young woman." This highlights the particular tragedy of those who were supposed to be protected and preserve their purity for marriage. The violation of virgins was considered a profound dishonor to a family and a community, extinguishing hope for future generations and signifying ultimate shame.
• in the cities of Judah (בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָֽה – b'arey Yehudah): Refers to the provincial towns and communities outside Jerusalem but within the territory of Judah. This indicates that the atrocities were not confined to the capital but spread throughout the land, illustrating the complete sweep of the judgment and the pervasive suffering.

Words-group analysis:

• They ravished: This phrase immediately brings forth the brutality of the conquest. It highlights the power imbalance and the horrific abuse inflicted by the invaders on the defenseless. It is an act of dehumanization and defilement.
• the women in Zion: The specific mention of "women in Zion" conveys the desecration of the sacred space itself. Jerusalem, meant to be holy, became a site of extreme defilement, underscoring the depth of God's wrath and the fulfillment of covenant curses that promised such suffering for disobedience.
• and the maids in the cities of Judah: The inclusion of "maids" or virgins accentuates the cruelty and lack of mercy. The assault on virgins was particularly grievous, signaling not only personal destruction but also a symbolic attack on the purity, future, and very fabric of the community. It depicts a systematic assault on Judah's physical and moral well-being. This pair ("women" and "maids") shows the pervasive nature of the violence across all ages of women.

Lamentations 5 11 Bonus section

The complete vulnerability described in this verse is a significant aspect of the covenant curses outlined in Deut 28, where siege and foreign occupation lead to unthinkable horrors, including sexual violence against women. The systematic nature implied by "in Zion and in the cities of Judah" indicates a deliberate policy or consequence of war, not isolated incidents. Furthermore, the violation of women, particularly virgins, directly impacts the continuity of a people, as it threatens family lines and the future population, symbolizing the near-total destruction and hopelessness felt by the survivors. This also points to the biblical understanding that such profound suffering serves as a powerful call to repentance and a recognition of divine justice at work.

Lamentations 5 11 Commentary

Lamentations 5:11 stands as a stark and painful testimony to the profound consequences of national sin and God's resultant judgment. It paints a picture of utter societal collapse where even the most basic protections of human dignity were shattered. The "ravishing" of women, especially virgins, by the conquerors represents the pinnacle of humiliation and despair for the community. Such acts were not merely incidental brutalities of war but calculated degradations intended to demoralize and destroy the honor of the vanquished. This verse is a visceral reminder that the wages of sin include not only spiritual separation from God but also the horrific breaking of human relationships and physical suffering, as the Lord allowed external forces to bring about the curses prophesied for covenant disobedience. It exposes the depths of human depravity unleashed without divine restraint or moral conscience.