Lamentations 4:2

Lamentations 4:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
• New International Version (NIV)How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!
• English Standard Version (ESV)The precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold, how they are regarded as earthen pots, the work of a potter's hands!
• New King James Version (NKJV)The precious sons of Zion, Valuable as fine gold, How they are regarded as clay pots, The work of the hands of the potter!

Context of Lamentations 4:2

1How dulled is the gold, how tarnished the fine gold. The sacred gems are poured out at the corner of every street. The precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in gold— alas! now they are treated like clay jars, the work of a potter’s hands! 3Even jackals offer their breast to nurse their young. The daughter of my people has become cruel, like ostriches in the desert. 4The nursing infant’s tongue clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst. Little children ask for bread, but no one gives it t0 them.

Lamentations 4:2 word by word

בְּנֵ֤י צִיּוֹן֙ הַיְקָרִ֔ים הַמְסֻלָּאִ֖ים בַּפָּ֑ז אֵיכָ֤ה נֶחְשְׁבוּ֙ לְנִבְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶשׂ מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י יוֹצֵֽר׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The preciousיָקָרyâqâr · preciousH3368
• sonsבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Zionצִיּוֹןtsîyôn · ZionH6726
• comparableסָלָאsâlâ' · to weighH5537
• to fine goldפַּזpâz · pure goldH6337
• how are they esteemedחָשַׁבchâshab · to devise: countH2803
• as earthenחֶ֫רֶשׂchereώ · earthenwareH2789
• pitchersנֵ֫בֶלnebel nêbel · bagH5035
• the workמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deed: workH4639
• of the handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• of the potterיָצַרyâtsar · to form: potterH3335

Cross-references for Lamentations 4:2

• Isaiah 51:18There is none to guide her among all the sons she has borne, nor is there one to take her by the hand among all the sons she has raised.
• Zechariah 9:13I will bend Judah as my bow and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion against your sons, O Greece. I will wield you like a warrior’s sword.
• Lamentations 2:21On the ground in the streets lie both young and old. My maidens and my young men have fallen by the sword. You slew them in the day of Your anger. You slaughtered them without pity.
• Lamentations 5:12Princes are hung up by their hands; elders are dishonored.
• Isaiah 30:14Its collapse is like smashing a clay jar, so ruthlessly shattered that a shard will not be found among the pieces to take fire from the hearth or scoop water from the cistern.”
• Jeremiah 19:11and say to them, thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot: ‘Even so I will shatter this people and this city, as one shatters a potter’s jar, which can never be made whole again. So they will be burying in Topheth, for there will be no other place to bury.’”
• Jeremiah 22:28Is this man Coniah a despised, shattered pot— a jar with no delight in it? Why are he and his seed cast out into the land they do not know?
• Romans 9:21Does the potter have no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honor and another for common use?
• 2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, so that the surpassing greatness of the power may be from God and not from ourselves.
• 2 Timothy 2:20Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay—some for honor and some for common use.

Commentaries on Lamentations 4:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The precious sons of Zion - The Jewish priests and Jewish believers. Comparable to fine gold - Who were of the pure standard of holiness; holy, because God who called them is holy; but now esteemed no better than earthen pitchers - vessels of dishonor in comparison of what they once were.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2The precious sons of Zion - The whole nation was consecrated to God, and formed “a kingdom of priests” Exodus 19:6: in this respect, a type of the Christian Church 1 Peter 2:5. Comparable to fine gold - literally, “weighed with” solid gold, and so equal to their weight in it. With this is contrasted the hollow pitcher easily broken, and made of materials of no intrinsic value.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. 22. comparable to ... gold--(Job 28:16, 19). earthen pitchers--(Is 30:14; Jr 19:11). Gimel.Read the comment

Topics related to Lamentations 4:2

• Art
• Pitcher
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• Comparable
• Dim
• Poetry
• Pottery
• Acrostic
• Alphabet
• Earthen Vessels
• Esteem
• Fine
• Gold

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