This verse from Baruch 4:9 is part of a lamenting personification of Jerusalem, speaking after its destruction and the exile of its people. Let's break it down:
"For she saw the wrath that is come upon you from God..." This refers to Jerusalem (the "she") witnessing the destruction, suffering, and exile that has befallen its people (the "you") as a consequence of their sins against God. It acknowledges that the suffering is a divine punishment.
"...and said, Hearken, you women that dwell about Sion..." "Sion" is another name for Jerusalem. The speaker, personified Jerusalem, is calling out to the women in the surrounding areas. Women are often associated with mourning and lamenting, so their attention is particularly sought for this message of grief.
"...for God has brought upon me great mourning;" Jerusalem is explaining why she is calling out. She is experiencing immense sorrow and grief because of the devastation God has brought upon her. This "mourning" encompasses the loss of life, the destruction of the city, and the exile of its inhabitants.
In essence, the verse means:
Jerusalem, witnessing the devastation brought upon its people as a divine punishment, cries out to the women around it, sharing its profound grief and explaining that God has caused this great mourning to fall upon the city.
Significance and Context:
Repentance and Lesson: The Book of Baruch is a call for repentance and a reflection on the reasons for the exile. This verse contributes to that theme by highlighting the devastating consequences of disobedience and the need to turn back to God.
Personification: The personification of Jerusalem is a common literary device in the Old Testament, allowing for a more emotional and relatable portrayal of the city's suffering.
Lament: The verse is part of a larger lamentation, a genre of literature expressing deep sorrow and regret.
It's important to remember that Baruch is considered deuterocanonical scripture, meaning it's included in the Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but not in the Hebrew Bible or Protestant Old Testament.
This verse from Baruch 4:9 is part of a lamenting personification of Jerusalem, speaking after its destruction and the exile of its people. Let's break it down:
"For she saw the wrath that is come upon you from God..." This refers to Jerusalem (the "she") witnessing the destruction, suffering, and exile that has befallen its people (the "you") as a consequence of their sins against God. It acknowledges that the suffering is a divine punishment.
"...and said, Hearken, you women that dwell about Sion..." "Sion" is another name for Jerusalem. The speaker, personified Jerusalem, is calling out to the women in the surrounding areas. Women are often associated with mourning and lamenting, so their attention is particularly sought for this message of grief.
"...for God has brought upon me great mourning;" Jerusalem is explaining why she is calling out. She is experiencing immense sorrow and grief because of the devastation God has brought upon her. This "mourning" encompasses the loss of life, the destruction of the city, and the exile of its inhabitants.
In essence, the verse means:
Jerusalem, witnessing the devastation brought upon its people as a divine punishment, cries out to the women around it, sharing its profound grief and explaining that God has caused this great mourning to fall upon the city.
Significance and Context:
Repentance and Lesson: The Book of Baruch is a call for repentance and a reflection on the reasons for the exile. This verse contributes to that theme by highlighting the devastating consequences of disobedience and the need to turn back to God.
Personification: The personification of Jerusalem is a common literary device in the Old Testament, allowing for a more emotional and relatable portrayal of the city's suffering.
Lament: The verse is part of a larger lamentation, a genre of literature expressing deep sorrow and regret.
It's important to remember that Baruch is considered deuterocanonical scripture, meaning it's included in the Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but not in the Hebrew Bible or Protestant Old Testament.