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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 - our king, with whose life ours was bound up. The original reference seems to have been to Josiah (), killed in battle with Pharaoh-necho; but the language is here applied to Zedekiah, who, though worthless, was still lineal representative of David, and type of Messiah the "Anointed." Viewed personally, the language is too favourable to apply to him.

Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen - under him we hoped to live securely, even in spite of the surrounding pagan nations (Grotius).

[Sin/Shin (s/sh).]

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See also Lamentations 4:20 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Lamentations 4:20. _THE BREATH OF OUR NOSTRILS, THE ANOINTED OF THE LORD_] That is, Zedekiah the king, who was as _the life of the city_, was taken in his flight by the Chaldeans, and his eyes...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    A rapid sketch of the last days of the siege and the capture of the king. Lamentations 4:17 Rather, “Still do our eyes waste away looking for our vain help.” IN OUR WATCHING - Or, “on our watchtowe...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 4 THE DEPARTED GLORY AND THE CUP OF SHAME This new lament begins with a description of the former glory of Zion and its present wretchedness; the glory is departed: How is the gold become dim...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    LAMENTATIONS 4. THE FOURTH LAMENT. This has less literary finish than Lamentations 4:3, and it has also less spiritual value. It lacks much of the saints whom one seems to see in Lamentations 4:1, and...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BREATH. Hebrew. _ruach._ App-9. THE ANOINTED: i.e. Zedekiah was still Jehovah's "anointed", even as Saul was (1 Samuel 26:9 1 Samuel 26:11, 1 Samuel 26:16;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _The breath of our nostrils_ Pe. remarks that the phrase is an ancient one, being found in the Tell el Amarna letters (fifteenth century b.c.). Cp. Seneca (_ad Neronem de Clementia_, I. 4) "He (the Em...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THE BREATH OF OUR NOSTRILS, &C.— That is to say, _Our king;_ namely Zedekiah, whose flight the Chaldean soldiers intercepted, and on whose account the captive Jews hoped that their servitude would be...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    II. AN EXPLANATION OF THE JUDGMENT Lamentations 4:11-20 TRANSLATION (11) The LORD has given vent to His wrath. He has poured out His fierce anger. He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has consumed h...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ZION'S FORMER GLORY CONTRASTED WITH HER PRESENT HUMILIATION In this fourth dirge the poet describes the miseries of the various classes in the sack of Jerusalem, concluding with a warning to Edom. In...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE BREATH OF OUR NOSTRILS] a rather strong expression to use of Zedekiah, yet he was Jerusalem's king, and though weak, 'the anointed of Jehovah.' UNDER HIS SHADOW] even as captives, they hoped to be...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    JEREMIAH WEEPS IN THE DARKNESS LAMENTATIONS _ROY ROHU_ CHAPTER 4 JEREMIAH CONTINUES TO SPEAK. V1 Look! The gold has stopped shining! Look how the best gold has changed! The stones of the *temple...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE BREATH OF OUR NOSTRILS. — The “breath of life” of Genesis 2:7. The phrase emphasises the ideal character of the king as the centre of the nation’s life. So Seneca (_Clement._ i. 4) speaks of a rul...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    ר֤וּחַ אַפֵּ֨ינוּ֙ מְשִׁ֣יחַ יְהוָ֔ה נִלְכַּ֖ד בִּ...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    VAIN HOPES Lamentations 4:17 THE first part of the fourth elegy was specially concerned with the fate of the gilded youth of Jerusalem; the second and closely parallel part with that of the princes;...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The fourth poem is for the most part a dirge of desolation, which nevertheless ends in a song of hope. Jeremiah first described the disaster in Zion, declaring that it all arose as the result of the s...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    The (m) 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 nations. (m) Our king Josiah, in whom stood our hope of Go...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Christ, &c. According to the letter, is spoken of their king, who is called the Christ; that is, the anointed of the Lord. But is also relates in the spiritual sense to Christ our Lord, suffering for...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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, They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _A DISAPPOINTED HOPE_ ‘Of Whom we said, Under His shadow we shall live among the nations.’ Lamentations 4:20 (R.V.) I. THE PEOPLE TELL THE SAD TALE OF THE PURSUIT OF THEIR FOES.—Swifter than the ea...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    This verse, as I have said elsewhere, has been ignorantly applied to Josiah, who fell in battle long before the fall of the city. The royal dignity continued after his death; he was himself buried in...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Jeremiah, having now found Jehovah in the affliction, tranquilly measures its whole extent. But this is itself a consolation. For after all Jehovah who changes not is there to comfort the heart. This...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THE BREATH OF OUR NOSTRILS, THE ANOINTED OF THE LORD, WAS TAKEN IN THEIR PITS,.... Or "the Messiah", or "the Christ of the Lord" n; not Josiah, as the Targum; and so Jarchi and others; for though he w...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 20. _The breath, of our nostrils._] King Zedekia...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _They hunt our steps that we cannot go in our streets_ The Chaldeans, employed in the siege, are so close upon us, that we cannot stir a foot, nor look out at our doors, nor walk safely in the streets...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The breath of our nostrils, namely, the king, who was needed for the life of the nation, THE ANOINTED OF THE LORD, WAS TAKEN IN THEIR PITS, caught by the enemies, OF WHOM WE SAID, UNDER HIS SHADOW WE...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    God's Judgment a Consequence of the Sins of the Prophets and Priests...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    13-20 Nothing ripens a people more for ruin, nor fills the measure faster, than the sins of priests and prophets. The king himself cannot escape, for Divine vengeance pursues him. Our anointed King al...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    That he calls some prince here _the breath of their nostrils_, that is, their life, GENESIS 2:7, is out of doubt; and though some of the Jews would have it understood of Josiah, yet whoso considereth...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Lamentations 4:20 breath H7307 nostrils H639 anointed H4899 LORD H3068 caught H3920 (H8738) pits H7825 said H559

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE AFTERMATH OF THE TAKING OF THE CITY (LAMENTATIONS 4:18). In vivid terms the prophet describes what followed the taking of the city. People cowered in their houses afraid to go out. For those who d...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Lamentation on the direful effects of calamities of Judah. Sins of the leaders acknowledged. CHARACTERS: God, Jeremiah. CONCLUSION: Nothing ripens a people more for ruin, nor fills the mea...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Lamentations 4:1. _How is the gold,_ זהב _zahab,_ so called because of its superior lustre to other metals, now _become dim._ Gold does not oxidize, and scarcely receives a tarnish; yet the rulers and...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 4:1 How the Gold Has Grown Dim. Chapter Lamentations 4:1 returns to themes in chs....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 4:20 The people depended on Jerusalem’s king, THE LORD’S ANOINTED, so much that he was like the very BREATH of their nostril

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    EXEGETICAL NOTES.— (ע) Lamentations 4:17 refers to the persons remaining in the city, who, notwithstanding that God’s righteous judgments had so afflicted prophets and priests, yet thought longingly o...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    THE SUFFERINGS OF JERUSALEM; NO CLASS IS EXEMPT. EDOM'S TRIUMPHING. EXPOSITION LAMENTATIONS 4:1 HOW IS THE GOLD BECOME DIM!… THE STONES OF THE SANCTUARY, etc. "Alas f

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    The fourth lamentation: How is the gold become dim! the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine go...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 12:3; 1 Samuel 12:5; 1 Samuel 16:6; 1 Samuel 24:10; 1 Samue

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The anointed — Zedekiah, who though a bad man yet afforded some protection to the Jews. We said — We promised ourselves that though the land of Judah was encompassed with Pagan nations, yet through Ze...

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