Lamentations 5:18

Lamentations 5:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.
• New International Version (NIV)for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Because of Mount Zion which is desolate, With foxes walking about on it.

Context of Lamentations 5:18

16And we have no king in Jerusalem any longer. We have sinned, so it will be very bad for us. 17So our bodies feel ill and we feel ill deep inside us. Our eyes are very tired and we cannot hope for good things any longer. We are so sad because they destroyed Zion's walls and buildings. Wild animals walk on them now. 19But you, Lord, will be king for ever. You will always rule us. 20Tell us why you have forgotten us. Tell us why you have left us alone for so long.

Lamentations 5:18 word by word

עַ֤ל הַר־צִיּוֹן֙ שֶׁשָּׁמֵ֔ם שׁוּעָלִ֖ים הִלְּכוּ־בֽוֹ׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Because of the mountainהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
• of Zionצִיּוֹןtsîyôn · ZionH6726
• which is desolateשָׁמֵםshâmêm · be desolate: destroyedH8074
• the foxesשׁוּעָלshû‛âl shû‛âl · foxH7776
• walkהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980

Cross-references for Lamentations 5:18

• Lamentations 2:8The Lord decided to destroy the strong walls of Zion. He carefully broke away each stone. It causes us to weep when we look at those walls. He destroyed them all. He destroyed the inside walls and he destroyed the strong outside walls.
• 1 Kings 9:7Then I will remove the Israelite people from the land that I have given to them. I will turn away from this temple that I have made a special place for people to worship me. People from all the other nations will insult the Israelites and they will laugh at them.
• Psalms 74:2Remember that we are your people. Long ago you chose us for yourself. You rescued us from being slaves, so that we could be your special nation of people. So please think about us, as well as your home on Mount Zion.
• Jeremiah 17:3They also worship their false gods on the mountains and in the fields. So I will cause enemies to take all your valuable things. They will take your riches for themselves. That will be the price that you pay for your sins. You have done evil things everywhere in the land.
• Jeremiah 26:9You should not say that you have the Lord's authority to prophesy such terrible things! You cannot say that this temple will become like Shiloh. You cannot say that this city will become a heap of stones where nobody lives!’ The whole crowd of people pushed together around Jeremiah in the yard of the temple.
• Jeremiah 52:13Nebuzaradan destroyed the Lord's temple, the king's palace and all the other houses in Jerusalem. He burned them all with fire, so that he destroyed every important building in the city.
• Micah 3:12Because of how you live, Zion will be like a field that a farmer has dug. Jerusalem will become a heap of stones. Trees will cover the hill where the temple is now.
• Isaiah 32:13Weep because of what has happened to my people's land. Only thorn bushes and weeds grow there. Weep because there are no longer any happy homes. There are no more parties in the city.
• Jeremiah 9:11The Lord replied, ‘I will make Jerusalem a heap of stones. Only wild animals will live there. I will destroy the towns of Judah so that nobody can live in them.’

Commentaries on Lamentations 5:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18The foxes walk upon it - Foxes are very numerous in Palestine, see on Judges 15:4; (note). It was usual among the Hebrews to consider all desolated land to be the resort of wild beasts; which is, in fact, the case every where when the inhabitants are removed from a country.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18The foxes - Or, jackals. As these animals live among ruins, and shun the presence of man, it shows that Zion is laid waste and deserted.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-22Verses 17-22 The people of God express deep concern for the ruins of the temple, more than for any other of their calamities. But whatever changes there are on earth, God is still the same, and remains for ever wise and holy, just and good; with Him there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. They earnestly pray to God for mercy and grace; Turn us to thee, O Lord. God never leaves any till they first leave him; if he turns them to him in a way of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18patrolled by foxes: Compare Isaiah 13:22; 34:13; Jeremiah 9:11; 10:22; Malachi 1:3.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. foxes--They frequent desolate places where they can freely and fearlessly roam.Read the comment

Topics related to Lamentations 5:18

• Patriotism

In the dictionaries

• Crown
• Persecution
• Acrostic
• Captivity
• Fox
• Lamentations, Book of
• Poetry, Hebrew

Commentaries on Lamentations 5

• 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