Lamentations 5 14

Lamentations 5:14 kjv

The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick.

Lamentations 5:14 nkjv

The elders have ceased gathering at the gate, And the young men from their music.

Lamentations 5:14 niv

The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.

Lamentations 5:14 esv

The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music.

Lamentations 5:14 nlt

The elders no longer sit in the city gates;
the young men no longer dance and sing.

Lamentations 5 verses

Lamentations 5 14 Meaning

Lamentations 5:14 describes a scene of profound desolation and societal breakdown in Jerusalem following the Babylonian conquest. It portrays the complete cessation of public and communal life. The absence of elders from the city gate signifies the collapse of civic order, justice, and wise leadership. Simultaneously, the silence of young men, no longer making music, illustrates the eradication of joy, vitality, and normal social activity. The verse poignantly conveys the depth of national mourning, loss of hope, and the shattered state of a once vibrant society under divine judgment.

Lamentations 5 14 Context

Lamentations Chapter 5 is a collective prayer and plea for mercy, serving as the climactic expression of Judah's anguish following the utter destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. It transitions from individual laments and direct address to Jerusalem or God into a more communal "we" and "us" cry, detailing the hardships endured by the survivors. The chapter catalogues various aspects of the people's suffering, including slavery, hunger, fear, lack of protection, shame, and the pervasive breakdown of their societal and spiritual fabric. Lamentations 5:14 specifically highlights a severe consequence of this judgment: the collapse of both leadership and the vibrancy of daily life, emphasizing the profundity of their despair and the depth of the loss that extended to all generations and societal roles. It's a stark portrayal of a community completely stripped of its structure, joy, and hope, directly resulting from God's righteous judgment against their persistent sin and covenant infidelity.

Lamentations 5 14 Word analysis

• The elders (זְקֵנִים - zᵊqēnîm): This plural Hebrew noun refers to older, venerable men. In ancient Israelite society, elders held significant authority and respect. They served as civic leaders, judges, and wise counselors, responsible for upholding justice, administering law, and maintaining social order within the community. Their presence was a symbol of wisdom, stability, and societal well-being.
• have ceased (שָׁבָתוּ - šāḇātû): From the root šābat, meaning "to cease," "rest," or "stop." This word carries a strong sense of definitive ending, implying that their public roles are not merely paused but have completely stopped, reflecting a breakdown of the entire societal mechanism. The same root is used for the Sabbath (a cessation of work), but here it implies an unwanted and tragic cessation of vital communal functions.
• from the gate (מִשַּׁעַר - miššaʿar): The "gate" of an ancient Near Eastern city was not just an entrance but the central hub of public life. It was the place where legal cases were tried, judgments were rendered, business transactions were conducted, important announcements were made, and community discussions took place. It was the seat of governance and justice. The absence of elders from this crucial location signifies the utter collapse of law, order, and effective leadership.
• The young men (בַּחוּרִים - baḥûrîm): This plural Hebrew noun refers to youths, vibrant and strong men in the prime of their lives. Young men represented the future, strength, and energy of the community. They were often associated with revelry, joy, social gatherings, and the perpetuation of cultural life.
• from their music (מִנְגִינָתָם - mingīnātām): From negīnah, meaning "music," "song," or "playing (of an instrument)." Music, singing, and dancing were integral to communal life, symbolizing joy, celebration, social interaction, and even worship (Praise to God often accompanied by instruments). Its cessation indicates the total absence of merriment, happiness, and normal social activities. The silence speaks volumes about the pervasive grief, loss of hope, and suppression of life-affirming expression among the youth.

Words-group analysis:

• The elders have ceased from the gate: This phrase encapsulates the demise of civic and judicial order. It paints a picture of societal decay where wisdom and authority are no longer present to govern or guide the community. This signifies more than just an empty gate; it reflects the deep wounds inflicted upon the legal and moral foundations of society, leading to lawlessness and injustice. The social covenant that once held them together is broken.
• The young men from their music: This phrase depicts the loss of future, joy, and cultural vitality. It signifies the death of hope and the inability for normal life to proceed. When the youth, typically the most vibrant and boisterous segment of society, are silenced, it highlights the crushing weight of sorrow and oppression that affects every demographic. Their silence represents not just a lack of entertainment, but a profound spiritual and emotional death.

Lamentations 5 14 Bonus section

The two pairs in Lamentations 5:14 — elders and young men, and gate activities and music — represent a comprehensive snapshot of a healthy, functioning society. Their absence indicates that no segment of the population and no area of public life is untouched by the calamity. The gate, being the symbolic place of covenant enforcement and communal well-being, now stands desolate. This stark imagery is meant to impress upon the reader the severity of the devastation, emphasizing that the judgment upon Judah was total and permeated every aspect of their existence. It's a contrast to the restored Israel envisioned by later prophets (e.g., Zech 8:4-5), where old and young flourish together in their customary places and activities, demonstrating the antithesis of the judgment depicted in Lamentations.

Lamentations 5 14 Commentary

Lamentations 5:14 paints a vivid and heart-rending picture of a society completely dismantled by divine judgment. The two parallel statements encapsulate a total collapse on both the governmental/judicial level and the social/cultural level. The cessation of elders from the gate signifies that wisdom, justice, and effective governance have vanished, leading to chaos and oppression. The very institutions meant to uphold truth and order are derelict, leaving the people vulnerable and without recourse. This implies not merely physical absence, but a breakdown of the moral fabric. Simultaneously, the silencing of music from the young men points to the obliteration of joy, hope, and the normal pulse of life. There is no more revelry, no celebration, only the heavy burden of sorrow and despair. The vitality and future promise embodied by the youth have been quenched. This verse powerfully conveys that the judgment was so thorough it affected every demographic and every aspect of human life, from public administration to private expressions of joy. It highlights the devastating consequences of national sin and rebellion against God, where a once-thriving nation is reduced to a barren, silent landscape of desolation. It serves as a potent reminder of the fragility of human order and the severity of God's holy wrath when His covenant is consistently broken.