Lamentations 2:14-17
נ (Nun)
14 Your prophets saw visions for youthat were worthless lies. ▼
▼ Heb “emptiness and whitewash.” The nouns שָׁוְא וְתָפֵל (shv’ vetafel) form a nominal hendiadys. The first noun functions adjectivally, modifying the second noun that retains its full nominal sense: “empty whitewash” or “empty deceptions” (see following translation note on meaning of תָּפֵל [tafel]). The noun תָּפֵל (tafel, “whitewash”) is used literally in reference to a white-washed wall (Ezek 13:10, 11, 14, 15) and figuratively in reference to false prophets (Ezek 22:28).
They failed to expose your sin
so as to restore your fortunes. ▼
▼ The Kethib שְׁבִיתֵךְ (shevitekh) and Qere שְׁבוּתֵךְ (shevutekh), which is preserved in many medieval Hebrew mss here and elsewhere (Ps 85:1 Heb 85:2; 126:4; Job 42:10), are struggling with the root. The ancient versions take it from ָָשׁבָה (shavah) meaning “captivity.” Such a meaning is not tenable for the Job passage, which along with a similar phrase in the Sefire inscription suggest that the proper meaning is “to restore someone’s fortunes.”
They saw oracles for you
that were worthless ▼
▼ The nouns שָׁוְא וּמַדּוּחִים (shav’ umaddukhim, lit., “emptiness and enticements”) form a nominal hendiadys. The first functions adjectivally, modifying the second noun that retains its nominal sense: “empty enticements” or “false deceptions.” The noun מַדּוּחַ (madduakh), meaning “enticement” or “transgression” is a hapax legomenon (term that appears only once in the Hebrew OT). It is related to the verb נָדָח (nadakh, “to entice, lead astray”) which is often used in reference to idolatry.
lies. ס (Samek)
15 All who passed by on the roadclapped their hands to mock you. ▼
They sneered and shook their heads
at Daughter Jerusalem.
“Ha! Is this the city they called ▼
▼ Heb “of which they said.”
‘The perfection of beauty, ▼
▼ Heb “perfection of beauty.” The noun יֹפִי (yofi, “beauty”) functions as a genitive of respect in relation to the preceding construct noun: Jerusalem was perfect in respect to its physical beauty.
the source of joy of the whole earth!’?” ▼
פ (Pe)
16 All your enemiesgloated over you. ▼
▼ Heb “they have opened wide their mouth against you.”
They sneered and gnashed their teeth;
they said, “We have destroyed ▼
▼ Heb “We have swallowed!”
her! Ha! We have waited a long time for this day.
We have lived to see it!” ▼
▼ Heb “We have attained, we have seen!” The verbs מָצָאנוּ רָאִינוּ (matsa’nu ra’inu) form a verbal hendiadys in which the first retains its full verbal sense and the second functions as an object complement. It forms a Hebrew idiom that means something like, “We have lived to see it!” The three asyndetic 1st person common plural statements in 2:16 (“We waited, we destroyed, we saw!”) are spoken in an impassioned, staccato style reflecting the delight of the conquerors.
ע (Ayin)
17 The Lord has done what he planned;he has fulfilled ▼
▼ The verb בָּצַע (batsa’) has a broad range of meanings: (1) “to cut off, break off,” (2) “to injure” a person, (3) “to gain by violence,” (4) “to finish, complete” and (5) “to accomplish, fulfill” a promise.
his promise ▼▼ Heb “His word.” When used in collocation with the verb בָּצַע (batsa’, “to fulfill,” see previous [T]), the accusative noun אִמְרָה (’imrah) means “promise.”
that he threatened ▼
▼ Heb “commanded” or “decreed.” If a reference to prophetic oracles is understood, then “decreed” is preferable. If understood as a reference to the warnings in the covenant, then “threatened” is a preferable rendering.
long ago: ▼▼ Heb “from days of old.”
He has overthrown you without mercy ▼
and has enabled the enemy to gloat over you;
he has exalted your adversaries’ power. ▼
▼ Heb “He has exalted the horn of your adversaries.” The term “horn” (קֶרֶן, qeren) normally refers to the horn of a bull, one of the most powerful animals in ancient Israel. This term is often used figuratively as a symbol of strength, usually in reference to the military might of an army (Deut 33:17; 1 Sam 2:1, 10; 2 Sam 22:3; Pss 18:3; 75:11; 89:18, 25; 92:11; 112:9; 1 Chr 25:5; Jer 48:25; Lam 2:3; Ezek 29:21), just as warriors are sometimes figuratively described as “bulls.” To lift up the horn often means to boast and to lift up someone else’s horn is to give victory or cause to boast.
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