Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Lamentations 4:3–5

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
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.
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.
They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapterReport issue
More

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

3 selected · 19 available

Add or remove verses within this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

All 32 ranked passages are available for comparison.

From verse 3

  1. Ezekiel 5:10Rank 1 from verse 3
    Open

    10Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.

  2. Luke 23:28–29Rank 2 from verse 3
    Open

    28But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

    29For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

  3. Lamentations 2:20Rank 3 from verse 3
    Open

    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?

  4. Lamentations 4:10Rank 4 from verse 3
    Open

    10The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

  5. 2 Kings 6:26–29Rank 5 from verse 3
    Open

    26And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

    27And he said, If the Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?

    28And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.

    29So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.

  6. Deuteronomy 28:52–57Rank 6 from verse 3
    Open

    52And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the Lord thy God hath given thee.

    53And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:

    54So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:

    55So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

    56The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,

    57And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.

  7. Jeremiah 19:9Rank 7 from verse 3
    Open

    9And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.

  8. Job 39:13–16Rank 8 from verse 3
    Open

    13Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

    14Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,

    15And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

    16She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;

  9. Leviticus 26:29Rank 9 from verse 3
    Open

    29And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.

  10. Isaiah 49:15Rank 10 from verse 3
    Open

    15Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

  11. Romans 1:31Rank 11 from verse 3
    Open

    31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

From verse 4

  1. Psalms 22:15Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

  2. Lamentations 2:11–12Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    11Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.

    12They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers’ bosom.

  3. Psalms 137:6Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    6If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

  4. Deuteronomy 32:24Rank 4 from verse 4
    Open

    24They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.

  5. Lamentations 1:11Rank 5 from verse 4
    Open

    11All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O Lord, and consider; for I am become vile.

  6. Matthew 7:9–11Rank 6 from verse 4
    Open

    9Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

    10Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

    11If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

From verse 5

  1. Luke 16:19Rank 1 from verse 5
    Open

    19¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

  2. Amos 6:3–7Rank 2 from verse 5
    Open

    3Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;

    4That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;

    5That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;

    6That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

    7¶ Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.

  3. Luke 15:16Rank 3 from verse 5
    Open

    16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

  4. Proverbs 31:21Rank 4 from verse 5
    Open

    21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

  5. 1 Timothy 5:6Rank 5 from verse 5
    Open

    6But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

  6. 2 Samuel 1:24Rank 6 from verse 5
    Open

    24Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

  7. Deuteronomy 28:54–56Rank 7 from verse 5
    Open

    54So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:

    55So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

    56The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,

  8. Isaiah 24:6–12Rank 8 from verse 5
    Open

    6Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

    7The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.

    8The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.

    9They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.

    10The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.

    11There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.

    12In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.

  9. Luke 7:25Rank 9 from verse 5
    Open

    25But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.

  10. Revelation 18:7–9Rank 10 from verse 5
    Open

    7How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

    8Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

    9And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

  11. Isaiah 3:16–26Rank 11 from verse 5
    Open

    16¶ Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

    17Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts.

    18In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,

    19The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,

    20The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,

    21The rings, and nose jewels,

    22The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,

    23The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.

    24And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.

    25Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.

    26And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.

  12. Isaiah 32:9–14Rank 12 from verse 5
    Open

    9¶ Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.

    10Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come.

    11Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.

    12They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.

    13Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:

    14Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;

  13. Jeremiah 6:2–3Rank 13 from verse 5
    Open

    2I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.

    3The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

  14. Jeremiah 9:21–22Rank 14 from verse 5
    Open

    21For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.

    22Speak, Thus saith the Lord, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.

  15. Job 24:8Rank 15 from verse 5
    Open

    8They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Lamentations 4:3

COMBINED MEANING

even

↗

1. Used to emphasize, include, or precisely identify what is meant: indeed, precisely, or namely. 2. Used to mark a boundary, endpoint, or full reach in place, time, or degree: up to, as far as, or through. 3. In ‘even as,’ ‘even so,’ and like constructions, just as, exactly so, or in the same manner. 4. The evening, or close of day. 5. Equal, level, identical, balanced, or uniform.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sea

↗

1. A great body or expanse of gathered waters, including a named sea or lake, in which ships and creatures move. 2. The large brazen or molten basin made for the temple and called a sea. 3. Something represented or compared as a sea.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

draw

↗

1. To pull or drag. 2. To bring, lead, or attract. 3. To take out or extract. 4. To make a line.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

young

↗

1. Early in life or growth. 2. Offspring or young persons or creatures.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

people

↗

Persons collectively; a nation, community, or group considered as a body.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

cruel

↗

Disposed to inflict pain or suffering; without pity or compassion; fierce or severe.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

like

↗

Sense 1: Similar or of the same kind; in the same manner; likely. Sense 2: A like person or thing; an equal or counterpart. Sense 3: To please, choose, or regard with favour.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wilderness

↗

Uncultivated, desolate, sparsely inhabited, or uninhabited land; a desert, wild country, or solitary region.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Lamentations 4:4

COMBINED MEANING

tongue

↗

1. The organ of the mouth used for tasting and speech. 2. Speech, words, or a language. 3. A tongue-shaped projection or arm of land or water.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

child

↗

1. A son or daughter; an offspring or descendant. 2. A young person or infant, considered by age or development. 3. In 'with child,' pregnant or carrying an unborn child. 4. One described as belonging to, derived from, characterized by, or dependent upon another person, group, or condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mouth

↗

Sense 1: The bodily opening used for eating, breathing, and speaking. Sense 2: The opening or entrance of a thing. Sense 3: Speech, utterance, or the agency of speaking.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thirst

↗

Sense 1: A strong need or desire for drink; by figure, an intense desire for something. Sense 2: To feel thirst; by figure, to desire intensely.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

young

↗

1. Early in life or growth. 2. Offspring or young persons or creatures.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

children

↗

Sons or daughters; descendants; or persons likened to children by age, relation, or character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Lamentations 4:5

COMBINED MEANING

feed

↗

Sense 1: To give or take food; to nourish, tend, or graze. Sense 2: Food for animals.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

desolate

↗

1. Of a place or land, left empty, uninhabited, waste, ruined, barren, or without former use and fruitfulness. 2. Of a person or people, bereft, forsaken, solitary, or left without help, comfort, family, or support. 3. As a verb, to make empty, waste, ruined, or bereft.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Cawdrey 1604

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

scarlet

↗

Sense 1: A bright red colour. Sense 2: Dye, thread, cloth, or a garment of that colour.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Nearby verses · passage boundary unavailable · Lamentations 4:2–6

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

4:2The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

4:3Even 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.

Selected passage

4:4The 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.

Selected passage

4:5They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

Selected passage

4:6For 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.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Ask a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.