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Selected Verse: Lamentations 1:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
La 1:1	Strong Concordance	How doth the city [05892] sit [03427] solitary [0910], that was full [07227] of people [05971]! how is she become as a widow [0490]! she that was great [07227] among the nations [01471], and princess [08282] among the provinces [04082], how is she become tributary [04522]!
	King James	How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
(Lam. 1:1-22) how is she . . . widow! she that was great, &c.--English Version is according to the accents. But the members of each sentence are better balanced in antithesis, thus, "how is she that was great among the nations become as a widow! (how) she who was princess among the provinces (that is, she who ruled over the surrounding provinces from the Nile to the Euphrates, Gen 15:18; Kg1 4:21; Ch2 9:26; Ezr 4:20) become tributary!" [MAURER]. sit--on the ground; the posture of mourners (Lam 2:10; Ezr 9:3). The coin struck on the taking of Jerusalem by Titus, representing Judea as a female sitting solitary under a palm tree, with the inscription, JudÃ&brvbr;a Capta, singularly corresponds to the image here; the language therefore must be prophetical of her state subsequent to Titus, as well as referring retrospectively to her Babylonian captivity.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

(Lam. 1:1-22)

how is she . . . widow! she that was great, &c.--English Version is according to the accents. But the members of each sentence are better balanced in antithesis, thus, "how is she that was great among the nations become as a widow! (how) she who was princess among the provinces (that is, she who ruled over the surrounding provinces from the Nile to the Euphrates, Gen 15:18; Kg1 4:21; Ch2 9:26; Ezr 4:20) become tributary!" [MAURER].

sit--on the ground; the posture of mourners (Lam 2:10; Ezr 9:3). The coin struck on the taking of Jerusalem by Titus, representing Judea as a female sitting solitary under a palm tree, with the inscription, JudÃ&brvbr;a Capta, singularly corresponds to the image here; the language therefore must be prophetical of her state subsequent to Titus, as well as referring retrospectively to her Babylonian captivity.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
In these two verses is the same sad image as appears in the well-known medal of Titus, struck to celebrate his triumph over Jerusalem. A woman sits weeping beneath a palm-tree, and below is the legend "Judaea capta." Translate Lam 1:1 : How sitteth solitary the city that was full of people: She is become as a widow that was great among the nations: A princess among provinces she is become a vassal. Tributary - In the sense of personal labor Jos 16:10.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Doleful consideration and description of the dishonour that has befallen Jerusalem. In these verses the prophet, in the name of the godly, pours out his heart before the Lord. The dreadful turn that things have taken is briefly declared in Lam 1:1 in two clauses, which set forth the fall of Jerusalem from its former glory into the depths of disgrace and misery, in such a way that the verse contains the subject unfolded in the description that follows. We have deviated from the Masoretic pointing, and arranged the verse into three members, as in the succeeding verses, which nearly throughout form tristichs, and have been divided into two halves by means of the Athnach; but we agree with the remark of Gerlach, "that, according to the sense, היתה למס and not היתה כּאלמנה is the proper antithesis to רבּתי בגּוים." איכה is here, as in Lam 2:1; Lam 4:1-2, an expression of complaint mingled with astonishment; so in Jer 48:17; Isa 1:21. "She sits solitary" (cf. Jer 15:17) is intensified by "she has become like a widow." Her sitting alone is a token of deep sorrow (cf. Neh 1:4), and, as applied to a city, is a figure of desolation; cf. Isa 27:10. Here, however, the former reference is the main one; for Jerusalem is personified as a woman, and, with regard to its numerous population, is viewed as the mother of a great multitude of children. רבּתי is a form of the construct state, lengthened by Yod compaginis, found thrice in this verse, and also in Isa 1:21, elegiac composition; such forms are used, in general, only in poetry that preserves and affects the antique style, and reproduces its peculiar ring. (Note: On the different views regarding the origin and meaning of this Yod compaginis, cf. Fr. W. M. Philippi, Wesen u. Ursprung des Status constr. im Hebr. S. 96ff. This writer (S. 152ff.) takes it to be the remnant of a primitive Semitic noun-inflexion, which has been preserved only in a number of composite proper names of ancient origin e.g., מלכּיחדק, etc.]; in the words אב, אח, and חם, in which it has become fused with the third radical into a long vowel; and elsewhere only between two words standing in the construct relation see Ges. 90; Ewald, 211.) According to the twofold meaning of רב (Much and Great), רבּתי in the first clause designates the multiplicity, multitude of the population; in the second, the greatness or dignity of the position that Jerusalem assumed among the nations, corresponding to the שׂרתי במּדינות, "a princess among the provinces." מדינה, from דּין (properly, the circuit of judgment or jurisdiction), is the technical expression for the provinces of the empires in Asia (cf. Est 1:1, Est 1:22, etc.), and hence, after the exile, was sued of Judah, Ezr 2:1; Neh 7:6, and in Kg1 20:17 of the districts in the kingdom of Israel. Here, however, המּדינות are not the circuits or districts of Judah (Thenius), but the provinces of the heathen nations rendered subject to the kingdom of Israel under David and Solomon (corresponding to הגּויים), as in Ecc 2:8. Jerusalem was formerly a princess among the provinces, during the flourishing period of the Jewish kingdom under David and Solomon. The writer keeps this time before his mind, in order to depict the contrast between the past and present. The city that once ruled over nations and provinces has now become but dependent on others. מס (the derivation of which is disputed) does not mean soccage or tribute, but the one who gives soccage service, a soccager; see on Exo 1:11 and Kg1 4:6. The words, "The princess has become a soccager," signify nothing more than, "She who once ruled over peoples and countries has now fallen into abject servitude," and are not (with Thenius) to be held as "referring to the fact that the remnant that has been left behind, or those also of the former inhabitants of the city who have returned home, have been set to harder labour by the conquerors." When we find the same writer inferring from this, that these words presuppose a state of matters in which the country round Jerusalem has been for some time previously under the oppression of Chaldean officers, and moreover holding the opinion that the words "how she sits..." could only have been written by one who had for a considerable period been looking on Jerusalem in its desolate condition, we can only wonder at such an utter want of power to understand poetic language.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

Doleful consideration and description of the dishonour that has befallen Jerusalem. In these verses the prophet, in the name of the godly, pours out his heart before the Lord. The dreadful turn that things have taken is briefly declared in Lam 1:1 in two clauses, which set forth the fall of Jerusalem from its former glory into the depths of disgrace and misery, in such a way that the verse contains the subject unfolded in the description that follows. We have deviated from the Masoretic pointing, and arranged the verse into three members, as in the succeeding verses, which nearly throughout form tristichs, and have been divided into two halves by means of the Athnach; but we agree with the remark of Gerlach, "that, according to the sense, היתה למס and not היתה כּאלמנה is the proper antithesis to רבּתי בגּוים." איכה is here, as in Lam 2:1; Lam 4:1-2, an expression of complaint mingled with astonishment; so in Jer 48:17; Isa 1:21. "She sits solitary" (cf. Jer 15:17) is intensified by "she has become like a widow." Her sitting alone is a token of deep sorrow (cf. Neh 1:4), and, as applied to a city, is a figure of desolation; cf. Isa 27:10. Here, however, the former reference is the main one; for Jerusalem is personified as a woman, and, with regard to its numerous population, is viewed as the mother of a great multitude of children. רבּתי is a form of the construct state, lengthened by Yod compaginis, found thrice in this verse, and also in Isa 1:21, elegiac composition; such forms are used, in general, only in poetry that preserves and affects the antique style, and reproduces its peculiar ring.

(Note: On the different views regarding the origin and meaning of this Yod compaginis, cf. Fr. W. M. Philippi, Wesen u. Ursprung des Status constr. im Hebr. S. 96ff. This writer (S. 152ff.) takes it to be the remnant of a primitive Semitic noun-inflexion, which has been preserved only in a number of composite proper names of ancient origin e.g., מלכּיחדק, etc.]; in the words אב, אח, and חם, in which it has become fused with the third radical into a long vowel; and elsewhere only between two words standing in the construct relation see Ges. 90; Ewald, 211.)

According to the twofold meaning of רב (Much and Great), רבּתי in the first clause designates the multiplicity, multitude of the population; in the second, the greatness or dignity of the position that Jerusalem assumed among the nations, corresponding to the שׂרתי במּדינות, "a princess among the provinces." מדינה, from דּין (properly, the circuit of judgment or jurisdiction), is the technical expression for the provinces of the empires in Asia (cf. Est 1:1, Est 1:22, etc.), and hence, after the exile, was sued of Judah, Ezr 2:1; Neh 7:6, and in Kg1 20:17 of the districts in the kingdom of Israel. Here, however, המּדינות are not the circuits or districts of Judah (Thenius), but the provinces of the heathen nations rendered subject to the kingdom of Israel under David and Solomon (corresponding to הגּויים), as in Ecc 2:8. Jerusalem was formerly a princess among the provinces, during the flourishing period of the Jewish kingdom under David and Solomon. The writer keeps this time before his mind, in order to depict the contrast between the past and present. The city that once ruled over nations and provinces has now become but dependent on others. מס (the derivation of which is disputed) does not mean soccage or tribute, but the one who gives soccage service, a soccager; see on Exo 1:11 and Kg1 4:6. The words, "The princess has become a soccager," signify nothing more than, "She who once ruled over peoples and countries has now fallen into abject servitude," and are not (with Thenius) to be held as "referring to the fact that the remnant that has been left behind, or those also of the former inhabitants of the city who have returned home, have been set to harder labour by the conquerors." When we find the same writer inferring from this, that these words presuppose a state of matters in which the country round Jerusalem has been for some time previously under the oppression of Chaldean officers, and moreover holding the opinion that the words "how she sits..." could only have been written by one who had for a considerable period been looking on Jerusalem in its desolate condition, we can only wonder at such an utter want of power to understand poetic language.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
A widow - She that had a king, or rather a God, that was an husband to her, now was forsaken of God, and her king taken from her.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
How doth the city sit solitary - Sitting down, with the elbow on the knee, and the head supported by the hand, without any company, unless an oppressor near, - all these were signs of mourning and distress. The coin struck by Vespasian on the capture of Jerusalem, on the obverse of which there is a palm-tree, the emblem of Judea, and under it a woman, the emblem of Jerusalem, sitting, leaning as before described, with the legend Judea capta, illustrates this expression as well as that in Isa 47:1. See the note on Isa 3:26 (note), where the subject is farther explained. Become as a widow - Having lost her king. Cities are commonly described as the mothers of their inhabitants, the kings as husbands, and the princes as children. When therefore they are bereaved of these, they are represented as widows, and childless. The Hindoo widow, as well as the Jewish, is considered the most destitute and wretched of all human beings. She has her hair cut short, throws off all ornaments, eats the coarsest food, fasts often, and is all but an outcast in the family of her late husband. Is she become tributary! - Having no longer the political form of a nation; and the remnant that is left paying tribute to a foreign and heathen conqueror.

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³ And when I heard [08085] this thing [01697], I rent [07167] my garment [0899] and my mantle [04598], and plucked off [04803] the hair [08181] of my head [07218] and of my beard [02206], and sat down [03427] astonied [08074].

¹⁰ The elders [02205] of the daughter [01323] of Zion [06726] sit [03427] upon the ground [0776], and keep silence [01826]: they have cast up [05927] dust [06083] upon their heads [07218]; they have girded [02296] themselves with sackcloth [08242]: the virgins [01330] of Jerusalem [03389] hang down [03381] their heads [07218] to the ground [0776].

²⁰ There have been [01934] mighty [08624] kings [04430] also over [05922] Jerusalem [03390], which have ruled [07990] over all [03606] countries beyond [05675] the river [05103]; and toll [04061], tribute [01093], and custom [01983], was paid [03052] unto them.

²⁶ And he reigned [04910] over all the kings [04428] from the river [05104] even unto the land [0776] of the Philistines [06430], and to the border [01366] of Egypt [04714].

²¹ And Solomon [08010] reigned [04910] over all kingdoms [04467] from the river [05104] unto the land [0776] of the Philistines [06430], and unto the border [01366] of Egypt [04714]: they brought [05066] presents [04503], and served [05647] Solomon [08010] all the days [03117] of his life [02416].

¹⁸ In the same [01931] day [03117] the LORD [03068] made [03772] a covenant [01285] with Abram [087], saying [0559], Unto thy seed [02233] have I given [05414] this land [0776], from the river [05104] of Egypt [04714] unto the great [01419] river [05104], the river [05104] Euphrates [06578]:

¹⁰ And they drave not out [03423] the Canaanites [03669] that dwelt [03427] in Gezer [01507]: but the Canaanites [03669] dwell [03427] among [07130] the Ephraimites [0669] unto this day [03117], and serve [05647] under tribute [04522].

¹ How doth the city [05892] sit [03427] solitary [0910], that was full [07227] of people [05971]! how is she become as a widow [0490]! she that was great [07227] among the nations [01471], and princess [08282] among the provinces [04082], how is she become tributary [04522]!

⁶ And Ahishar [0301] was over the household [01004]: and Adoniram [0141] the son [01121] of Abda [05653] was over the tribute [04522].

¹¹ Therefore they did set [07760] over them taskmasters [04522] [08269] to afflict [06031] them with their burdens [05450]. And they built [01129] for Pharaoh [06547] treasure [04543] cities [05892], Pithom [06619] and Raamses [07486].

⁸ I gathered [03664] me also silver [03701] and gold [02091], and the peculiar treasure [05459] of kings [04428] and of the provinces [04082]: I gat [06213] me men singers [07891] and women singers [07891], and the delights [08588] of the sons [01121] of men [0120], as musical instruments [07705] [07705], and that of all sorts.

¹⁷ And the young men [05288] of the princes [08269] of the provinces [04082] went out [03318] first [07223]; and Benhadad [01130] sent out [07971], and they told [05046] him, saying [0559], There are men [0582] come out [03318] of Samaria [08111].

⁶ These are the children [01121] of the province [04082], that went up [05927] out of the captivity [07628], of those that had been carried away [01473], whom Nebuchadnezzar [05019] the king [04428] of Babylon [0894] had carried away [01540], and came again [07725] to Jerusalem [03389] and to Judah [03063], every one [0376] unto his city [05892];

¹ Now these are the children [01121] of the province [04082] that went up [05927] out of the captivity [07628], of those which had been carried away [01473], whom Nebuchadnezzar [05019] the king [04428] of Babylon [0894] had carried away [01540] unto Babylon [0894], and came again [07725] unto Jerusalem [03389] and Judah [03063], every one [0376] unto his city [05892];

²² For he sent [07971] letters [05612] into all the king's [04428] provinces [04082], into every province [04082] according to the writing [03791] thereof, and to every people [05971] after their language [03956], that every man [0376] should bear rule [08323] in his own house [01004], and that it should be published [01696] according to the language [03956] of every people [05971].

¹ Now it came to pass in the days [03117] of Ahasuerus [0325], (this is Ahasuerus [0325] which reigned [04427], from India [01912] even unto Ethiopia [03568], over an hundred [03967] and seven [07651] and twenty [06242] provinces [04082]:)

²¹ How is the faithful [0539] city [07151] become an harlot [02181] ! it was full [04392] of judgment [04941]; righteousness [06664] lodged [03885] in it; but now murderers [07523].

¹⁰ Yet the defenced [01219] city [05892] shall be desolate [0910], and the habitation [05116] forsaken [07971], and left [05800] like a wilderness [04057]: there shall the calf [05695] feed [07462], and there shall he lie down [07257], and consume [03615] the branches [05585] thereof.

⁴ And it came to pass, when I heard [08085] these words [01697], that I sat down [03427] and wept [01058], and mourned [056] certain days [03117], and fasted [06684], and prayed [06419] before [06440] the God [0430] of heaven [08064],

¹⁷ I sat [03427] not in the assembly [05475] of the mockers [07832], nor rejoiced [05937]; I sat [03427] alone [0910] because [06440] of thy hand [03027]: for thou hast filled [04390] me with indignation [02195].

²¹ How is the faithful [0539] city [07151] become an harlot [02181] ! it was full [04392] of judgment [04941]; righteousness [06664] lodged [03885] in it; but now murderers [07523].

¹⁷ All ye that are about [05439] him, bemoan [05110] him; and all ye that know [03045] his name [08034], say [0559], How is the strong [05797] staff [04294] broken [07665], and the beautiful [08597] rod [04731]!

¹ How is the gold [02091] become dim [06004] ! how is the most [02896] fine gold [03800] changed [08132] ! the stones [068] of the sanctuary [06944] are poured out [08210] in the top [07218] of every street [02351].
² The precious [03368] sons [01121] of Zion [06726], comparable [05537] to fine gold [06337], how are they esteemed [02803] as earthen [02789] pitchers [05035], the work [04639] of the hands [03027] of the potter [03335] !

¹ How hath the Lord [0136] covered [05743] the daughter [01323] of Zion [06726] with a cloud [05743] in his anger [0639], and cast down [07993] from heaven [08064] unto the earth [0776] the beauty [08597] of Israel [03478], and remembered [02142] not his footstool [01916] [07272] in the day [03117] of his anger [0639]!

²⁶ And her gates [06607] shall lament [0578] and mourn [056]; and she being desolate [05352] shall sit [03427] upon the ground [0776].

¹ Come down [03381], and sit [03427] in the dust [06083], O virgin [01330] daughter [01323] of Babylon [0894], sit [03427] on the ground [0776]: there is no throne [03678], O daughter [01323] of the Chaldeans [03778]: for thou shalt no more [03254] be called [07121] tender [07390] and delicate [06028].