Lamentations 4:6

Lamentations 4:6 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (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.
• English Standard Version (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.
• New King James Version (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!

Context of Lamentations 4:6

4The tongue of the infant clings To the roof of its mouth because of thirst; The little ones ask for food, But no one gives it to them. 5Those who feasted on delicacies Are perishing in the streets; Those reared in purple [as nobles] Embrace ash heaps. For the [punishment of the] wickedness of the daughter of my people [Jerusalem] Is greater than the [punishment for the] sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown in a moment, And no hands were turned toward her [to offer help]. 7Her princes were purer than snow, They were whiter than milk [in appearance]; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, Their polishing was like lapis lazuli (sapphire). 8Their appearance is [now] blacker than soot [because of the prolonged famine]; They are not recognized in the streets; Their skin clings to their bones; It is withered, and it has become [dry] like wood.

Lamentations 4:6 word by word

וַיִּגְדַּל֙ עֲוֹ֣ן בַּת־עַמִּ֔י מֵֽחַטַּ֖את סְדֹ֑ם הַֽהֲפוּכָ֣ה כְמוֹ־רָ֔גַע וְלֹא־חָ֥לוּ בָ֖הּ יָדָֽיִם׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For the punishment of the iniquityעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: punishmentH5771
• of the daughterבַּתbath · daughterH1323
• of my peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• is greaterגָּדַלgâdal · to magnifyH1431
• than the punishmentחַטָּאתchaţţâ'âh chaţţâ'th · sin: punishmentH2403
• of the sin of Sodomסְדֹםsedôm · SodomH5467
• that was overthrownהָפַךְhâphak · to overturnH2015
• as in a momentרֶ֫גַעrega‛ · momentH7281
• and no handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• stayedחוּלchûl chîyl · to twist: trembleH2342

Cross-references for Lamentations 4:6

• Isaiah 1:9If the Lord of hosts Had not left us a few survivors, We would be like Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah.
• Ezekiel 16:48As I live,” says the Lord God, “Sodom, your sister and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done.
• Matthew 11:23And you, Capernaum, are you to be exalted to heaven [for your apathy and unresponsiveness]? You will descend to Hades (the realm of the dead); for if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
• Luke 10:12I tell you, it will be more bearable in that day [of judgment] for Sodom than for that city.
• Luke 12:47And that servant who knew his master’s will, and yet did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will be beaten with many lashes [of the whip],
• Lamentations 4:9Those killed with the sword Are more fortunate than those killed with hunger; For the hungry pine and ebb away, For the lack of the fruits of the field.
• Genesis 19:25and He overthrew (demolished, ended) those cities, and the entire valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and whatever grew on the ground.
• Daniel 9:12And He has carried out completely His [threatening] words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers [the kings, princes, and judges] who ruled us, to bring on us a great tragedy; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything [so dreadful] like that which [He commanded and] was done to Jerusalem.
• Matthew 24:21For at that time there will be a great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again].

Commentaries on Lamentations 4:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6For the punishment - He thinks the punishment of Jerusalem far greater than that of Sodom. That was destroyed in a moment while all her inhabitants were in health and strength; Jerusalem fell by the most lingering calamities; her men partly destroyed by the sword, and partly by the famine. Instead of no hands stayed on her, Blayney translates, "Nor were hands weakened in her." Perhaps the meaning is, "Sodom was destroyed in a moment without any human…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Rather, “For” the iniquity “of the daughter of my people was greater than” the sin “of Sodom.” The prophet deduces this conclusion from the greatness of Judah‘s misery (compare Jeremiah 30:11; see also Luke 13:1-5). No hands stayed on her - Or, “no hands were round about her.” Sodom‘s sufferings in dying were brief: there were no starving children, no mothers cooking their offspring for food.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-22Although God’s people still experience his judgment, they will soon experience restoration.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. greater than ... Sodom--(Mt 11:23). No prophets had been sent to Sodom, as there had been to Judea; therefore the punishment of the latter was heavier than that of the former. overthrown ... in a moment--whereas the Jews had to endure the protracted and manifold hardships of a siege. no hands stayed on her--No hostile force, as the Chaldeans in the case of Jerusalem, continually pressed on her before her overthrow. Jeremiah thus shows the greater…Read the comment

Topics related to Lamentations 4:6

• Famine
• Sin
• Sodom

In the dictionaries

• Sodom
• Comparable
• Dim
• Poetry
• Acrostic
• Alphabet
• Lamentations, Book of
• Moment
• Poetry, Hebrew
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Lamentations 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings