What does Lamentations 4:20 mean?
"The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen." - Lamentations 4:20
Lamentations 4:20 in the King James Version (KJV) reads, "The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen."
The book of Lamentations is a collection of five poetic laments mourning the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. This particular verse captures the sense of loss and desperation felt by the people of Judah at the time. Through the use of vivid and emotive language, the verse speaks to the struggles and suffering of the people as they face the harsh realities of their situation.
In the context of this verse, the "breath of our nostrils" refers to the life-giving spirit that sustains us. This phrase emphasizes the significance and preciousness of the person being described. The phrase "the anointed of the Lord" further expounds on the importance of this individual, suggesting that they were chosen and set apart by God for a specific purpose. The use of "anointed" also evokes the image of a king or leader who has been consecrated for service to God, adding to the sense of loss and devastation felt by the people.
The verse continues by describing how this significant person was "taken in their pits." This imagery creates a sense of entrapment and hopelessness, as if the individual was snatched away and imprisoned in a place of despair. The mention of "pits" may also carry symbolic weight, representing the grave or a place of darkness and death.
The following phrase, "of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen," highlights the sense of security and protection that the people once felt under the leadership of this anointed figure. The imagery of living under someone's shadow conveys the idea of finding refuge and comfort in their presence. However, with the loss of this figure, the people find themselves vulnerable and exposed among foreign nations, emphasizing their displacement and vulnerability.
Thematically, this verse speaks to the themes of loss, grief, and displacement. It reflects the deep sorrow and anguish experienced by the people of Judah as they grapple with the devastation of their city and the loss of their leader. The verse also highlights the sense of desolation and abandonment as the people find themselves living amongst foreign nations, stripped of their former security and stability.
Symbolically, the verse can be seen as a representation of the wider human experience of loss and suffering. The "breath of our nostrils" can be interpreted as a symbol of life itself, emphasizing the fragility and transience of human existence. The figure described as "the anointed of the Lord" may also be seen as a representation of a trusted and revered authority figure, whose absence leaves a void and a sense of disorientation.
Overall, Lamentations 4:20 in the KJV encapsulates the deep despair and longing for stability and security in the midst of overwhelming loss. It reminds us of the profound impact that the loss of a significant figure can have on a community, as well as the enduring human struggle to find hope and meaning in the face of suffering. Through its powerful imagery and evocative language, this verse continues to resonate as a poignant expression of the human experience of grief and lamentation.
Have questions about Lamentations 4:20?
Dive deeper into this scripture with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for exploring God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, get context, and grow in your understanding of the Bible.
Get Our Apps
Lamentations 4:20 Artwork
Lamentations 4:20 - "The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen."
"The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen." - Lamentations 4:20
Lamentations 3:20 - "My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me."
Lamentations 5:20 - "Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?"
Lamentations 4:4 - "The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them."
Lamentations 4:5 - "They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills."
Lamentations 5:4 - "We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us."
"My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me." - Lamentations 3:20
Lamentations 4:13 - "¶ For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,"
Lamentations 4:9 - "They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field."
Lamentations 4:2 - "The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!"
Lamentations 4:10 - "The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people."
Lamentations 3:4 - "My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones."
Lamentations 4:8 - "Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick."
Lamentations 4:16 - "The 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."
Lamentations 4:14 - "They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments."
Lamentations 4:19 - "Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness."
Lamentations 4:6 - "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."
Lamentations 2:20 - "¶ Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?"
Lamentations 4:12 - "The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem."
Lamentations 1:20 - "Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death."
Lamentations 4:1 - "How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street."
Lamentations 4:17 - "As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us."
Lamentations 4:18 - "They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come."
Lamentations 1:4 The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed festivals.
Lamentations 1:4 The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed festivals.
Lamentations 1:4 The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed festivals.
"Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?" - Lamentations 5:20
Lamentations 4:7 - "Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:"
Lamentations 4:3 - "Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness."