Lamentations 2:17
What does Lamentations 2:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Lamentations 2:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Lamentations 2:17 means
Jehovah has done what He purposed, fulfilling His word commanded “in the days of old.” He has thrown down without pity and allowed enemies to rejoice, exalting their “horn” over His people. This verse is the theological key: the fall of Jerusalem is not a failure of God’s promises but the execution of them—covenant warnings realized. Recognizing this does not ease the pain, but it restores clarity. God is not defeated; He is just. The right response is not rage at Babylon but humble turning to the Lord whose decrees stand, however hard they land.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jehovah hath done that which he purposed; he hath fulfilled his word that he commanded in the days of old; He hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: And he hath caused the enemy to rejoice over thee; he hath exalted the horn of thine adversaries.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The Lord hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jehovah hath done that which he purposed; he hath fulfilled his word that he commanded in the days of old; He hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: And he hath caused the enemy to rejoice over thee; he hath exalted the horn of thine adversaries.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The Lord has done that which was his purpose; he has put into force the orders which he gave in the days which are past; pulling down without pity, he has made your hater glad over you, lifting up the horn of those who were against you.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jehovah hath done that which He devised, He hath fulfilled His saying That He commanded from the days of old, He hath broken down and hath not pitied, And causeth an enemy to rejoice over thee, He lifted up the horn of thine adversaries.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Ain. The Lord hath done that which he purposed, he hath fulfilled his word, which he commanded in the days of old: he hath destroyed, and hath not spared, and he hath caused the enemy to rejoice over thee, and hath set up the horn of thy adversaries.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jehovah hath done what he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word which he had commanded from the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not spared, and he hath caused the enemy to rejoice over thee; he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.
Context
After enemies gloat (v. 16), verse 17 corrects the perspective: God fulfilled His ancient purposes. This interpretive anchor sets up the shift in verses 18–19 from description to exhortation—calling the people to pour out tears and lift hands to God. The flow moves from the cause of judgment to the appropriate response of lament and prayer. Understanding God’s sovereignty in the disaster becomes the ground for seeking His mercy, which the next verses urge with urgency, especially for the sake of the starving children.
v.16All thine enemies have opened their mouth wide against thee; They hiss and gnash the teeth; they say, We have swallowed her up; Certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.
v.17This passage
v.18Their heart cried unto the Lord: O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night; Give thyself no respite; let not the apple of thine eye cease.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 18:11
Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.
- Psalms 89:42
Thou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries; Thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.
- Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: Thou art waxed fat, thou art grown thick, thou art become sleek; Then he forsook God who made him, And lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
- Ezekiel 7:8
Now will I shortly pour out my wrath upon thee, and accomplish mine anger against thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways; and I will bring upon thee all thine abominations.
- Lamentations 2:8
Jehovah hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion; He hath stretched out the line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying; And he hath made the rampart and wall to lament; they languish together.
- Ezekiel 5:11
Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, and I also will have no pity.
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