Lamentations 2:10

Authorized King James Version

The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
יֵשְׁב֨וּ
H3427
sit
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
#2
לָאָ֙רֶץ֙
H776
to the ground
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#3
יִדְּמוּ֙
H1826
and keep silence
to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop; also to perish
#4
זִקְנֵ֣י
H2205
The elders
old
#5
בַת
H1323
of the daughter
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
#6
צִיּ֔וֹן
H6726
of Zion
tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem
#7
הֶֽעֱל֤וּ
H5927
they have cast up
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
#8
עָפָר֙
H6083
dust
dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
#9
עַל
H5921
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#10
רֹאשָׁ֔ן
H7218
their heads
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
#11
חָגְר֖וּ
H2296
they have girded
to gird on (as a belt, armor, etc.)
#12
שַׂקִּ֑ים
H8242
themselves with sackcloth
properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), i.e., coarse loose cloth or sacking (used in mourning and for bagging); hence, a bag (for grai
#13
הוֹרִ֤ידוּ
H3381
hang down
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
#14
לָאָ֙רֶץ֙
H776
to the ground
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#15
רֹאשָׁ֔ן
H7218
their heads
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
#16
בְּתוּלֹ֖ת
H1330
the virgins
a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a city or state
#17
יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃
H3389
of Jerusalem
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Lamentations Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection