Reprinted with permission of the author from the jewish way. Lamentations an old testament book lamenting the desolation of judah after the destruction of jerusalem in 586 bc. The book of lamentations does not explicitly identify its author. The term lamentations is from a greek verb meaning to cry aloud. The greek word was transliterated from the hebrew word ekah, which appears as the first word of 1. The book contains five poems of 22 verses each, except for chapter 3 which contains 66 verses. Lamentations 2 bible commentary matthew henry concise. Lamentations free bible commentary in easy english. The book of lamentations is sandwiched between the books of ezekiel and jeremiah. A consensus of jewish tradition attributes authorship of this book to the prophet jeremiah. Lamentations can be described as the continuing narrative of the book of jeremiah, where for 51 chapters the prophet predicted jerusalems downfall, while the 52nd chapter records the terrible defeat of the holy city when nebuchadnezzar, the mighty king of babylon burned the city and the sanctuary. The lamentations are the expression of a heart full of love for the earthly people of jehovah, a people punished for their sins by loosing their kingdom, their land, their city and their sanctuary. Lamentations definition and meaning collins english dictionary.
It waxes and wanes, goes away, and returns again unexpectedly. The catastrophe of conquest and exile has shaken judahs survivors after babylons 587bc obliteration of jerusalem. Jun 30, 2016 the book itself is a collection of five funeral poems offered on behalf of jerusalem after its destruction by babylon. In the book that bears his name, jeremiah had predicted the calamity in chapters 129. Each verse of the first four chapters begins with successive letters of the hebrew alphabet, chapter 3 having three lines for each letter.
Lamentations is one of the more poetic offerings in the bible. The book of lamentations as it applies to america by ralph. Apr 20, 2016 you have to see that there is a lot more at stake here than at first glance. We call this book lamentations because it is a collection of sad poems. Lamentations synonyms, lamentations pronunciation, lamentations translation, english dictionary definition of lamentations. The elegy bewails jerusalem, once teeming with life and now sitting abandoned and alone like a solitary widow. You have to see that there is a lot more at stake here than at first glance. It is the lamentations of jeremiah as he wept over the city of jerusalem following its desolation and captivity by nebuchadnezzar. In the english bible lamentations is placed between the prophetic books of jeremiah and ezekiel. The later titling of the book of lamentations relates to and stems from the septuagint, an early greek translation of the hebrew old testament, wherein chosen was a greek word meaning lament.
Book of lamentations definition of book of lamentations by. This unusual book properly follows the book of jeremiah the prophet and priest because it was written by him. The title to the book in greek is qrhnoi threnos meaning lament. The title to the book in the latin vulgate was a transliteration for the title lament threni and was subtitled id est lamentationes jeremiae prophatae which became the basis for our english title lamentations. Lamentations definition of lamentations by the free dictionary. In the hebrew bible it appears in the ketuvim writings, beside the song of songs, book of ruth, ecclesiastes and the book of esther the megilot or five scrolls, although there is no set order. If you cant handle the themes and trajectories of lamentations then you cant handle the gospel. Dictionary entry details book of lamentations noun sense 1. The people who lived in jerusalem did not obey god. Lamentations definition, the act of lamenting or expressing grief. She that was a princess among the provinces has become a vassal. In the hebrew scriptures it appears in the third division, called the writings, in a section called the festival scrolls megilloth between ruth and ecclesiastes the book of lamentations is read aloud in the synagogues on the 9th of ab in july or august on the roman calendar, a jewish national.
Some view the last chapter of jeremiah as an introduction to lamentations. Book of lamentations noun the noun book of lamentations has 1 sense 1. The tradition is that the prophet jeremiah wrote lamentations. The hebrew exclamation ekah how, which expresses dismay, used in 1. Book of lamentations overview insight for living ministries. This is the only way to make ourselves easy under our burdens. Lamentations, book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. It was written soon after the fall of jerusalem in 586 b. The book of lamentations is a reflection by the prophet jeremiah on the destruction of jerusalem and the temple in 586 bc, with the subsequent babylonian exile. At the time of a loved ones death, perhaps a surprising death that turns life for the mourners on its ear, perhaps this whole book will resonate. Summary of the book of lamentations bible survey gotquestions. Lamentations 1 bible commentary matthew henry concise.
Watch our overview video on the book of lamentations, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The talmud the babylonian talmud, tractate bava batra 15a states that it was written by the prophet jeremiah, who lived at the time of. Regardless of who wrote it, the historical events of lamentations overlap significantly with those of jeremiah. The name implies that the topic is expressing grief over something to lament. The book itself is a collection of five funeral poems offered on behalf of jerusalem after its destruction by babylon. And, where necessary, tweak your theology by the bible 2 tim. Every thread in this book is divinely stitched to calvary. The book is a theological and prophetic response to the destruction of the first temple beit hamikdash, in jerusalem, in 586 b. Lament 1 jerusalems plight the prophet bewails it 111 the city. Lamentation meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. While the author of lamentations remains nameless within the book, strong. Lamentation definition of lamentation by merriamwebster.
Sep 10, 2019 the later titling of the book of lamentations relates to and stems from the septuagint, an early greek translation of the hebrew old testament, wherein chosen was a greek word meaning lament. Lamentations begins with the hebrew word eicha how, and the book is known in hebrew as megillat eicha the scroll of eicha. Book of lamentations read, study bible verses online. A sad representation is here made of the state of gods church, of jacob and israel. The stones of the sanctuary are scattered at the head of every street. Lamentations features six major themes, all linked with the concept of suffering. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
Lamentations definition of lamentations by the free. Summary of the book of lamentations the story of the. The term threnoi is the plural form of a greek term meaning to cry aloud, which is indicative of the anguished nature of the book. Jeremiah, also known as the weeping prophet writes this after the destruction of jerusalem by the babylonians. The basic theme of the book is a lament over the terrible woes which have befallen sinful judah and the destruction of the holy city and the temple of god. The septuagint the greek translation of the old testament gives this prefix. Each chapter, however, does not stand on its own, but falls into a series making the book one complete, progressive thought. The book of lamentations is read aloud in the synagogues on the 9th of ab in july or august on the roman calendar, a jewish national holiday that commemorates the destruction of jerusalem and the temple by the babylonians in 587586 b. Lamentations, book of definition and meaning bible. The author of lamentations is not named within the book, but there are internal and. Lamentation definition is an expression of sorrow, mourning, or regret.
Book of lamentations an old testament book lamenting the desolation of judah after the destruction of jerusalem in 586 bc. Crying aloud accurately describes this book, which consists of five melancholy poems of mourning over the utter destruction of jerusalem and the temple by the babylonians. This view is highly likely considering the author was a witness of the babylonians destroying jerusalem. Book of lamentations synonyms, book of lamentations pronunciation, book of lamentations translation, english dictionary definition of book of lamentations. The key event in lamentations, as in jeremiah, is the capture and destruction of jerusalem by babylon in 586 b. The book of lamentations has been billed as a natural supplement to the book of jeremiah. Called in the hebrew canon ekhah, meaning how, being the formula for the commencement of a song of wailing. Lamentations, used with a singular verb a book of the bible, traditionally ascribed to jeremiah.
Jewish tradition tells us that lamentations was written by jeremiah, though no author is identified in the book itself. How like a widow she has become, she that was great among the nations. Lamentations 3 commentary spurgeons verse expositions. The deserted city how lonely sits the city that once was full of people.
Lamentations definition and meaning collins english. God wanted his people to take care of jerusalem and the special house in it. Enduring word bible commentary lamentations chapter 4. This summary of the book of lamentations provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of lamentations. The book of lamentations is book of sorrowful songs or poems. She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks. In the hebrew old testament the book is entitled ekah, meaning how or alas, taken from the first verse. Lamentations 1 nrsv the deserted city how lonely sits. The description shows the miseries of the jewish nation. For this explanation comes the title in the english versions.
Lamentations relates closely to the book of jeremiah, describing the anguish over jerusalems receiving gods judgment for unrepentant sins. The precious sons of zion, valuable as fine gold, how they are regarded as clay pots. Lamentations describes the funeral of a cityjerusalem. Also called eicha, the book of lamentations which is in the writingsketuvim section of the tanakhhebrew bible is an intricate set of dirges and descriptions of jerusalem under siege and of the destruction of the first temple. An old testament book lamenting the desolation of judah after the destruction of jerusalem in 586 bc. Enduring word bible commentary lamentations chapter 1. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the lord. Feb 28, 2012 lamentations is one of the more poetic offerings in the bible. The septuagint calls it threnoi ieremiou, lamentations of jeremiah.
566 107 4 367 1201 1220 1513 1124 1686 800 1660 1336 687 994 992 1044 478 1625 1206 840 128 717 1552 1248 970 1279 270 383 916 515 1452 319 864 1108 660 619 991 655 438 519 1240 950 606