Devine Scripture

Lamentations 4:15

What does Lamentations 4:15 mean?

A plain-English look at Lamentations 4:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Lamentations 4:15 means

The cry “Unclean! depart” treats the leaders like lepers—untouchable, to be driven out. As they flee and wander, even the nations declare there is no place for them to settle. The shame is total and international. Those who once claimed spiritual authority now carry a stigma that follows them beyond their borders. This is a bitter irony: the ones who polluted the city are now treated as pollution everywhere they go. The verse underscores that sin’s consequences are not contained; they spill over, shaping reputation and opportunity far from home. The exiles find no refuge, only the echo of their uncleanness.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Away! unclean! they were crying out to them, Away! away! let there be no touching: when they went away in flight and wandering, men said among the nations, There is no further resting-place for them.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`Turn aside--unclean,' they called to them, `Turn aside, turn aside, touch not,' For they fled--yea, they have wandered, They have said among nations: `They do not add to sojourn.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Samech. Depart you that are defiled, they cried out to them: Depart, get ye hence, touch not: for they quarrelled, and being removed, they said among the Gentiles: He will no more dwell among them.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

They cried unto them, Depart! Unclean! Depart! depart, touch not! When they fled away, and wandered about, it was said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn [there].

Context

Verse 15 continues the depiction of the leaders’ disgrace, following the blindness and defilement described in verse 14. It shows social and international rejection, preparing for verse 16’s declaration that Jehovah’s anger is the ultimate cause of their scattering and disregard. The sequence clarifies that while people cry “Unclean,” it is God who has decreed the judgment. After addressing the leaders, the chapter will pivot in verses 17–19 to the people’s dashed hopes for rescue and the relentless pursuit by enemies, bringing the communal experience of despair into focus again.

v.14They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, So that men cannot touch their garments.

v.15This passage

v.16The anger of Jehovah hath scattered them; he will no more regard them: They respected not the persons of the priests, they favored not the elders.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Leviticus 13:45

    And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and the hair of his head shall go loose, and he shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

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