Lamentations 1:15

Authorized King James Version

The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
סִלָּ֨ה
hath trodden under foot
to hang up, i.e., weigh, or (figuratively) contemn
#2
כָל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#3
אַבִּירַ֤י׀
H47
all my mighty
a valiant one
#4
אֲדֹנָ֔י
The Lord
the lord (used as a proper name of god only)
#5
בְּקִרְבִּ֔י
men in the midst
properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
#6
קָרָ֥א
of me he hath called
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
#7
עָלַ֛י
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#8
מוֹעֵ֖ד
an assembly
properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for
#9
לִשְׁבֹּ֣ר
against me to crush
to burst (literally or figuratively)
#10
בַּחוּרָ֑י
my young men
properly, selected, i.e., a youth (often collective)
#11
גַּ֚ת
as in a winepress
a wine-press (or vat for holding the grapes in pressing them)
#12
דָּרַ֣ךְ
hath trodden
to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string a bow (by treading on it in bending)
#13
אֲדֹנָ֔י
The Lord
the lord (used as a proper name of god only)
#14
לִבְתוּלַ֖ת
the virgin
a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a city or state
#15
בַּת
the daughter
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
#16
יְהוּדָֽה׃
of Judah
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

Analysis

Within the broader context of Lamentations, this passage highlights salvation through simile or metaphorical language. The theological weight of divine sovereignty connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about divine sovereignty, contributing to our understanding of God's nature and relationship with humanity. This verse contributes to the book's overall argument by establishing foundational concepts crucial to Lamentations's theological argument.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection