Lamentations 4:18 - They hunt our steps, so that we can’t go in our streets. Our end is near. Our days are fulfilled, for our end has come.

Generated Verse: Lamentations 4:18

What does "Lamentations 4:18" mean?


Lamentations 4:18, "They hunt our steps, so that we can’t go in our streets. Our end is near. Our days are fulfilled, for our end has come," is a powerful expression of despair and hopelessness during the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Let's break down its meaning:

"They hunt our steps, so that we can’t go in our streets:" This vividly depicts the complete lack of freedom and safety. The enemy (the Babylonians) is actively pursuing the people, preventing them from moving freely within their own city. Every step is monitored and dangerous. Public life has ceased; people are confined and terrified. The streets, once a place of community and commerce, are now controlled by the enemy.

"Our end is near. Our days are fulfilled, for our end has come:" This expresses a sense of imminent doom and completion of suffering. "Our end is near" conveys the feeling that the destruction and captivity are unavoidable and close at hand. "Our days are fulfilled" suggests that their time of suffering has reached its limit, the cup of iniquity is full, and punishment is due. "For our end has come" is a stark statement that the expected catastrophe is upon them. There is no escape; they are at the brink of destruction.

In essence, this verse captures the following:

Oppression and Fear: The people are living under constant surveillance and threat from a hostile force.
Loss of Freedom: They are unable to move freely and safely in their own city, a symbol of their loss of autonomy and sovereignty.
Despair and Imminent Doom: They feel that their destruction is certain and unavoidable, that their time is up.
Divine Judgment (implied): While not explicitly stated, the verse implies that this "end" is a consequence of their own sins and disobedience, a divine judgment being carried out.

The verse is part of a larger lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of its people. It is a poignant expression of the utter devastation and hopelessness experienced during this tragic period in Jewish history.

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