Lamentations 1:8
What does Lamentations 1:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Lamentations 1:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Lamentations 1:8 means
Here the mask is off: “Jerusalem hath grievously sinned.” Consequently, she has become unclean, like one ceremonially defiled and excluded. Those who once honored her now despise her because her “nakedness” is exposed—her shame is public and undeniable. The city sighs and turns back, too disgraced to face others. The verse acknowledges moral failure as the engine of ruin, not merely political miscalculation. Uncleanness language shows that sin pollutes and alienates from God and community. Public exposure is part of the judgment; what was hidden becomes visible. This confession is essential to true lament: naming sin, accepting shame, and recognizing that restoration cannot ignore the moral roots of the catastrophe.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is become as an unclean thing; All that honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: Yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is become as an unclean thing; All that honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: Yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Great is the sin of Jerusalem; for this cause she has become an unclean thing: all those who gave her honour are looking down on her, because they have seen her shame: now truly, breathing out grief, she is turned back.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862A sin hath Jerusalem sinned, Therefore impure she hath become, All who honoured her have esteemed her lightly, For they have seen her nakedness, Yea, she herself hath sighed and turneth backward.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Heth. Jerusalem hath grievously sinned, therefore is she become unstable; all that honoured her, have despised her, because they have seen her shame; but she sighed, and turned backward.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore is she removed as an impurity: all that honoured her despise her because they have seen her nakedness; and she sigheth, and turneth backward.
Context
Verse 8 is a major theological hinge, answering the “why” of the ruin: grievous sin leading to shame and uncleanness. This follows on the heels of remembered blessings and public mockery (verse 7) and prepares for a personal plea in verse 9, where the city admits neglect of the “latter end” and cries, “Behold, O Jehovah.” The confession-and-plea pattern will recur, guiding readers to hold together honesty about guilt and boldness in seeking God’s regard. The following verses will detail the desecration of holy things (verse 10) and the extremity of famine (verse 11).
v.7Jerusalem remembereth in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that were from the days of old: When her people fell into the hand of the adversary, and none did help her, The adversaries saw her, they did mock at her desolations.
v.8This passage
v.9Her filthiness was in her skirts; she remembered not her latter end; Therefore is she come down wonderfully; she hath no comforter: Behold, O Jehovah, my affliction; for the enemy hath magnified himself.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Lamentations 4:15
Depart ye, they cried unto them, Unclean! depart, depart, touch not! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn here.
- 1 Kings 9:7
then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
- Jeremiah 24:9
I will even give them up to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth for evil; to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
- 1 Samuel 2:30
Therefore Jehovah, the God of Israel, saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now Jehovah saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
- Jeremiah 6:28
They are all grievous revolters, going about with slanders; they are brass and iron: they all of them deal corruptly.
- Lamentations 1:11
All her people sigh, they seek bread; They have given their pleasant things for food to refresh the soul: See, O Jehovah, and behold; for I am become abject.
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