Lamentations 1:17 - Zion spreads out her hands. There is no one to comfort her. Yahweh has commanded concerning Jacob, that those who are around him should be his adversaries. Jerusalem is among them as an unclean thing.
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What does "Lamentations 1:17" mean?
Lamentations 1:17 is a powerful and poignant verse expressing the deep sorrow and desolation of Jerusalem after its destruction by the Babylonians. Let's break down the meaning:
"Zion spreads out her hands." This is a gesture of helplessness and supplication. "Zion" is a common term for Jerusalem and, by extension, the nation of Judah. Spreading out the hands was a posture of prayer, begging for help, or acknowledging defeat. It conveys a sense of utter powerlessness and vulnerability.
"There is no one to comfort her." This highlights the isolation and abandonment felt by Jerusalem. She is not only defeated but also bereft of any solace or support from allies, neighbors, or even her own people. It emphasizes the depth of her suffering.
"Yahweh has commanded concerning Jacob, that those who are around him should be his adversaries." This is a crucial statement about the perceived cause of Jerusalem's suffering. "Jacob" refers to the descendants of Jacob, that is, the Israelites. This verse asserts that God himself has ordained or permitted the surrounding nations to become enemies. This implies that Jerusalem's suffering is not simply a random act of violence but a consequence of God's judgment, likely due to the people's sins and disobedience. This is a core theme in Lamentations - the suffering is understood as a result of divine justice.
"Jerusalem is among them as an unclean thing." This depicts Jerusalem as being rejected, defiled, and treated as something impure or ceremonially unclean. It further amplifies the sense of shame, degradation, and alienation experienced by the city. The once holy city is now regarded with disgust, perhaps even by its own remaining inhabitants or neighboring peoples. The term "unclean" could also refer to the destruction and death within the city.
In summary, Lamentations 1:17 portrays Jerusalem as utterly devastated, isolated, and helpless. The verse attributes the city's suffering to God's judgment, which has turned its neighbors into enemies and rendered Jerusalem a despised and unclean entity. It highlights the profound sense of abandonment and the understanding that the suffering is a consequence of their own wrongdoing, meted out by God.
The verse reflects the theological problem of theodicy: How can a just God allow such suffering? Lamentations wrestles with this question throughout the book.
Lamentations 1:17 - Zion spreads out her hands. There is no one to comfort her. Yahweh has commanded concerning Jacob, that those who are around him should be his adversaries. Jerusalem is among them as an unclean thing.
What does "Lamentations 1:17" mean?
Lamentations 1:17 is a powerful and poignant verse expressing the deep sorrow and desolation of Jerusalem after its destruction by the Babylonians. Let's break down the meaning:
"Zion spreads out her hands." This is a gesture of helplessness and supplication. "Zion" is a common term for Jerusalem and, by extension, the nation of Judah. Spreading out the hands was a posture of prayer, begging for help, or acknowledging defeat. It conveys a sense of utter powerlessness and vulnerability.
"There is no one to comfort her." This highlights the isolation and abandonment felt by Jerusalem. She is not only defeated but also bereft of any solace or support from allies, neighbors, or even her own people. It emphasizes the depth of her suffering.
"Yahweh has commanded concerning Jacob, that those who are around him should be his adversaries." This is a crucial statement about the perceived cause of Jerusalem's suffering. "Jacob" refers to the descendants of Jacob, that is, the Israelites. This verse asserts that God himself has ordained or permitted the surrounding nations to become enemies. This implies that Jerusalem's suffering is not simply a random act of violence but a consequence of God's judgment, likely due to the people's sins and disobedience. This is a core theme in Lamentations - the suffering is understood as a result of divine justice.
"Jerusalem is among them as an unclean thing." This depicts Jerusalem as being rejected, defiled, and treated as something impure or ceremonially unclean. It further amplifies the sense of shame, degradation, and alienation experienced by the city. The once holy city is now regarded with disgust, perhaps even by its own remaining inhabitants or neighboring peoples. The term "unclean" could also refer to the destruction and death within the city.
In summary, Lamentations 1:17 portrays Jerusalem as utterly devastated, isolated, and helpless. The verse attributes the city's suffering to God's judgment, which has turned its neighbors into enemies and rendered Jerusalem a despised and unclean entity. It highlights the profound sense of abandonment and the understanding that the suffering is a consequence of their own wrongdoing, meted out by God.
The verse reflects the theological problem of theodicy: How can a just God allow such suffering? Lamentations wrestles with this question throughout the book.