Lamentations 4:1
How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
Lamentations 4:1 in other translations
| BSB | How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner. |
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| WEB | How the gold has become dim! The most pure gold has changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street. |
| ASV | How is the gold become dim! how is the most pure gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street. |
| YLT | How is the gold become dim, Changed the best--the pure gold? Poured out are stones of the sanctuary At the head of all out-places. |
| DARBY | How is the gold become dim! the most pure gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary poured out at the top of all the streets! |
| BBE | How dark has the gold become! how changed the best gold! the stones of the holy place are dropping out at the top of every street. |
| Webster | How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street. |
What does Lamentations 4:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
CHAPTER (ELEGY) 4
La 4:1-22. The Sad Capture of Jerusalem, the Hope of Restoration, and the Retribution Awaiting Idumea for Joining Babylon against Judea.
Aleph. 1. gold--the splendid adornment of the temple [Calvin] (La 1:10; 1Ki 6:22; Jr 52:19); or, the principal men of Judea [Grotius] (La 4:2). stones of ... sanctuary--the gems on the breastplate of the high priest; or, metaphorically, the priests and Levites. Beth.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
The present deplorable sate of the nation is now contrasted with its ancient prosperity, Lam 4:1-12; and the unhappy change ascribed, in a great degree, to the profligacy of the priests and prophets, Lam 4:13-16. The national calamities are tenderly lamented, Lam 4:17-20. The ruin of the Edomites also, who had insulted the Jews in their distress, is ironically predicted, Lam 4:21. See Psa 137:7, and Oba 1:10-12. The chapter closes with a gracious promise of deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, Lam 4:22. Verse 1 How is the gold become dim - The prophet contrasts, in various affecting instances, the wretched circumstances of the Jewish nation, with the flourishing state of their affairs in former times. Here they are compared to gold, זהב zahab, native gold from the mine, which, contrary to its nature, is become dim, is tarnished; and even the fine, the sterling gold, כתם kethem, that which was stamped to make it current, is changed or adulterated, so as to be no longer passable. This might be applied to the temple, but particularly to the fallen priests and apostate prophets. The stones of the sanctuary - אבני קדש abney kodesh, the holy stones; the Jewish godly men, who were even then the living stones of which God built his Church.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Lamentations 4:1-12
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Lamentations 4:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Lamentations 4:1
- Ezekiel 7:19-22
They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity. As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them. And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it. My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.
- Lamentations 2:19
Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.
- Isaiah 1:21
How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
- 2 Kings 25:9-10
And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man’s house burnt he with fire. And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.
- Jeremiah 52:13
And burned the house of the Lord, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire:
- Matthew 24:2
And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
- Isaiah 14:12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
- Mark 13:2
And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
- Luke 21:5-6
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Lamentations 4:1
How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
- Lamentations 4:2
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
Lamentations 4:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | ¡CÓMO se ha oscurecido el oro! ¡ Cómo el buen oro se ha demudado! Las piedras del santuario están esparcidas por las encrucijadas de todas las calles. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | *Comment l’or est-il devenu obscur, et l’or fin a-t-il été changé! Comment les pierres du lieu saint sont-elles répandues au coin de toutes les rues! |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wie ward verdunkelt das Gold, verändert das gute, feine Gold! wie wurden verschüttet die Steine des Heiligtums an allen Straßenecken! |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Quomodo obscuratum est aurum, mutatus est color optimus! dispersi sunt lapides sanctuarii in capite omnium platearum! |