Lamentations 4:16
What does Lamentations 4:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Lamentations 4:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Lamentations 4:16 means
Here the prophet lifts the veil: the scattering and loss of honor come from Jehovah’s anger. He has turned His face away, and in that withdrawal, even priests and elders find no favor. Offices that once commanded respect are emptied of their dignity when God judges. Human society frays when divine regard is removed; structures remain, but their moral weight is gone. This is a sober reminder that spiritual authority depends on God’s approval, not merely on title. When leaders abuse trust, God can scatter them and strip the honor that once attended their positions.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The anger of the Lord hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The face of the Lord has sent them in all directions; he will no longer take care of them: they had no respect for the priests, they gave no honour to the old men.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862The face of Jehovah hath divided them, He doth not add to behold them, The face of priests they have not lifted up, Elders they have not favoured.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Phe. The face of the Lord hath divided them, he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, neither had they pity on the ancient.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The face of Jehovah hath divided them; he will no more regard them. They respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the aged.
Context
Verse 16 concludes the triad (verses 14–16) dealing with the leaders’ sin and judgment by acknowledging God’s direct action in their disgrace. With that cause established, the chapter turns in verse 17 to the people’s misplaced reliance on foreign saviors and the exhaustion of hope. Verses 18–19 will describe the suffocating hunt by the enemy, and verse 20 will recount the capture of the king. The narrative thus moves from failed leadership to failed alliances and finally to failed monarchy, showing every human prop collapsing under divine judgment.
v.15Depart 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.
v.16This passage
v.17Our eyes do yet fail in looking for our vain help: In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Chronicles 36:17
Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or virgin, old man or hoary-headed: he gave them all into his hand.
- Lamentations 5:12
Princes were hanged up by their hand: The faces of elders were not honored.
- 2 Kings 25:18
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:
- Genesis 49:7
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; And their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, And scatter them in Israel.
- Psalms 106:44
Nevertheless he regarded their distress, When he heard their cry:
- Deuteronomy 28:25
Jehovah will cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies; thou shalt go out one way against them, and shalt flee seven ways before them: and thou shalt be tossed to and from among all the kingdoms of the earth.
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