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 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. 5Those who used to eat delicacies are desolate in the streets. Those who were brought up in purple embrace trash heaps. For the iniquities of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, yet no hands turned to her. 7Purer than snow were her princes, whiter than milk, their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphire. 8Their form has become darker than soot! They are not recognized in the street. Their skin has shriveled on their bones, withered like a tree.

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 1:9Unless Adonai-Tzva’ot had left us a small remnant, we would have been as Sodom, we would have been as Gomorrah.
• Ezekiel 16:48“As I live”—it is a declaration of Adonai—“your sister Sodom with her daughters have not done as you have done, you and your daughters.
• Matthew 11:23And you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will go down to Sheol! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
• Luke 10:12I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.
• Luke 12:47“That slave who knew his master’s will but did not prepare or act according to his desire will be harshly whipped.
• Lamentations 4:9Better are those slain by the sword than those struck down by famine— they waste away, racked with pain, for lack of fruits of the field.
• Genesis 19:25So He demolished these cities and the whole surrounding area, all the inhabitants of the cities and the vegetation of the ground.
• Daniel 9:12So He has confirmed His words that he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled over us by bringing on us a great calamity. Under the whole heaven nothing like this has ever been done to Jerusalem!
• Matthew 24:21For then there will be great trouble, such as has not happened since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.

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