Keraia
Lamentations 1

Lamentations 1:4

How Lonely Lies the City! · Lamentations 1:1–22
Read Lamentations 1

Translations

Modern
The roads to Zion mourn, because no one comes to her appointed feasts. All her gates are deserted; her priests groan, her maidens grieve, and she herself is bitter with anguish.
Traditional
The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
Literal
The paths to Zion are mourning no one is coming to the appointed feast, and all her gates are desolate; her priests are groaning, her virgins are grieving, and it is bitter for her.
Latin
Viæ Sion lugent, eo quod non sint qui veniant ad solemnitatem: omnes portæ ejus destructæ, sacerdotes ejus gementes; virgines ejus squalidæ, et ipsa oppressa amaritudine.

Original

Hebrew
English
The roads to Zion mourn, because no one comes to her appointed feasts. All her gates are deserted; her priests groan, her maidens grieve, and she herself is bitter with anguish.

Notes

Lamentations 1:4

  • Zion: In the Psalms and prophetic books, Zion represents the city of Jerusalem. In Lamentations, Zion is a poetic name for the city of Jerusalem. The writer uses this name even when the city lies in ruins (destroyed buildings and broken walls). Hebrews 12:22–24 speaks of the heavenly Zion (see also Revelation 14:1–5).

  • The annual festivals in Jerusalem included:

    • The Passover

    • The Feast of Unleavened Bread

    • The Feast of the Firstfruits (also called the Feast of First Harvest)

    • The Feast of Harvest (also called Pentecost)

    • The Feast of Trumpets

    • The Day of Atonement

    • The Feast of Tabernacles (also called the Feast of Shelters)

    These festivals reminded the people of what God had done for them and helped them renew their covenant (promises between God and his people).

  • The priests mainly worked in the temple and its surrounding area. When the temple was in ruins, they had no jobs and no future.

Lamentations 1:1–22

Chapter 1 mourns the destruction and desolation of Jerusalem, recognizing that this was God’s well-deserved judgment on Israel’s sins.

Parallels

2 Kings 24:10–17

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

Acrostic Lamentations, Book of Poetry, Biblical

Topics

Captivity: As a Judgment Gates of the Temple: Called Gates of Zion the Anniversary Feasts: Called: Solemn Feasts Virgin: Mourn in the Temple Woman: Young: Called Virgins Zion: Collectively, the Place, the Forms, and the Assemblies of Israelite Worship