Devine Scripture

Lamentations 4:6

What does Lamentations 4:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Lamentations 4:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Lamentations 4:6 means

Judah’s guilt is declared heavier than Sodom’s because her fall was slower and more agonizing. Sodom was overthrown “in a moment,” with no human hands laying siege. Jerusalem’s judgment came through prolonged famine, fear, and gradual collapse. The comparison does not dismiss Sodom’s wickedness; it highlights Judah’s greater responsibility. She sinned against clearer light—covenant privileges, God’s law, and prophetic warnings. Therefore, her punishment matched her privileges in severity. The drawn-out horror testifies that this was not mere misfortune but moral reckoning. The verse confronts the reader with the sobering reality that the nearer one stands to sacred truth, the more dreadful it is to turn away.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For the punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of Sodom, which was overturned suddenly without any hand falling on her.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And greater is the iniquity of the daughter of my people, Than the sin of Sodom, That was overturned as <FI>in<Fi> a moment, And no hands were stayed on her.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Vau. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people is made greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and hands took nothing in her.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the reward of the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were violently laid upon her.

Context

After detailing social and familial collapse, verse 6 gives a theological measure of the catastrophe. It compares Jerusalem’s suffering with Sodom’s sudden destruction, stressing prolonged judgment as evidence of greater guilt. This evaluative statement reframes the previous images, showing they are the wages of covenant unfaithfulness. Verses 7–9 will return to descriptive contrast—especially of the nobles’ past vigor and present emaciation—to make the agony tangible. Then verse 10 presents the darkest example, before verse 11 attributes everything directly to Jehovah’s fulfilled wrath. The flow alternates between portrayal and interpretation to persuade heart and mind.

v.5They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: They that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

v.6This passage

v.7Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.

Cross references

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

  • Genesis 19:25

    and he overthrew those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

  • Lamentations 4:9

    They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.

  • Daniel 9:12

    And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil; for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

  • Ezekiel 16:48

    As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.

  • Luke 12:47

    And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes;

  • Isaiah 1:9

    Except Jehovah of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

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