Bible/Lamentations/4

Lamentations 4:7

4:6 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. punishment of the iniquity: or, iniquity
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:

KJV

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Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.

Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:

Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:

4:8 Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick. blacker: Heb. darker than blackness

What does Lamentations 4:7 mean?

Lamentations 4:7 is a verse in the book of Lamentations, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include נָזִיר (nâzîyr), זָכַךְ (zâkak), שֶׁלֶג (sheleg). It connects to 23 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Her
Nazaritesנָזִירnâzîyr/naw-zeer'/H5139separate, i.e. consecrated (as prince, a Nazirite); hence (figuratively from the latter) an unpruned vine (like an unshorn Nazirite)
were
purerזָכַךְzâkak/zaw-kak'/H2141to be transparent or clean (phys. or morally)
than
snow,שֶׁלֶגsheleg/sheh'-leg/H7950snow (probably from its whiteness)
they
were
whiterצָחַחtsâchach/tsaw-khakh'/H6705to glare, i.e. be dazzling white
than
milk,חָלָבchâlâb/khaw-lawb'/H2461milk (as the richness of kine)
they
were
more
ruddyאָדַםʼâdam/aw-dam'/H119flush or turn rosy
in
bodyעֶצֶםʻetsem/eh'tsem/H6106a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.) selfsame
than
rubies,פָּנִיןpânîyn/paw-neen'/H6443probably a pearl (as round)
their
polishingגִּזְרָהgizrâh/ghiz-raw'/H1508the figure or person (as if cut out); also an inclosure (as separated)
was
of
sapphire:סַפִּירçappîyr/sap-peer'/H5601a gem (perhaps used for scratching other substances), probably the sapphire

Commentary on Lamentations 4:7

HENRY_FULL · Lamentations 4:7
erence >ver. 5, 6 ), and assures himself that God, who sent him, would stand by him and bear him out against all opposition, ver. 7-9 . III. The message that is sent is life and death, good and evil, the blessing and the curse, comfort to desponding saints and terror to presuming sinners, ver. 10, 11 . Now all this seems to have a double reference, 1. To the unbelieving Jews in Babylon, who quarrelled with God for his dealings with them, and to the prophet Isaiah, who, though dead long before the captivity, yet, prophesying so plainly and fully of it, saw fit to produce his credentials, to justify what he had said. 2. To the unbelieving Jews in our Saviour's time, whose own fault it was that they were rejected, Christ having preached much to them, and suffered much from them, and being herein borne up by a divine power. The "contents" of this chapter, in our Bibles, give this sense of it, very concisely, thus:—"Christ shows that the dereliction of the Jews is not to be imputed to him, by his ability to save, by his obedience in that work, and by his confidence in divine assistance." The prophet concludes with an exhortation to trust in God and not in ourselves. Expostulations with Israel. ( b. c. 706.) 1 Thus saith the Lord , Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away. 2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 18:14

Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Exodus 7:18

And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.

Exodus 7:21

And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

Exodus 14:21

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

Exodus 14:29

But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

Numbers 11:23

And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

Joshua 3:16

That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

2 Chronicles 32:15

Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?

Proverbs 1:24

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

Jeremiah 5:1Jeremiah 7:13Jeremiah 8:6Jeremiah 35:15Daniel 3:15Daniel 3:29Daniel 6:20Daniel 6:27Hosea 11:2Hosea 11:7Nahum 1:4Mark 4:39John 1:11John 3:19

Topics

FamineMilkNazariteNazaritesPrecious StonesRubySnow

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Lamentations 4:7.

Isaiah 1:18

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Job 9:30

If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

Frequently asked questions

What does Lamentations 4:7 say?

Lamentations 4:7 (King James Version) reads: "Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:"

Is Lamentations 4:7 in the Old or New Testament?

Lamentations 4:7 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Lamentations.

Reflect

As you read Lamentations 4:7, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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4:6Read all of Lamentations 44:8