The Meaning of Lamentations 4:12 Explained

Lamentations 4:12

KJV: The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.

YLT: Believe not did the kings of earth, And any of the inhabitants of the world, That come would an adversary and enemy Into the gates of Jerusalem.

Darby: The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should enter into the gates of Jerusalem.

ASV: The kings of the earth believed not, neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The kings  of the earth,  and all the inhabitants  of the world,  would not have believed  that the adversary  and the enemy  should have entered  into the gates  of Jerusalem. 

What does Lamentations 4:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The overthrow of Jerusalem had surprised the leaders and people of other nations. Invaders had forced their way into it in the past (cf. 1 Kings 14:25-28; 2 Kings 14:13-14; 2 Chronicles 21:16-17), but the citizens had rebuilt and strengthened its defenses ( 2 Chronicles 32:2-5; 2 Chronicles 33:14). In Jeremiah"s day it appeared impregnable, especially to the people of Jerusalem (cf. 2 Samuel 5:6-8).
"Jerusalem"s fall in586 B.C. exposed their false assurance and illustrates a theological truth of Scripture: Sinful and rebellious people, even if outwardly associated with the covenant community and the promises of God, should not presume on His protection." [1]

Chapter Summary: Lamentations 4

1  Zion bewails her pitiful estate
13  She confesses her sins
21  Edom is threatened and Zion comforted

What do the individual words in Lamentations 4:12 mean?

Not would have believed the kings of the earth - and all inhabitants of the world that Could enter the adversary and the enemy the gates of Jerusalem -
לֹ֤א הֶאֱמִ֙ינוּ֙ מַלְכֵי־ אֶ֔רֶץ [וכל] (כֹּ֖ל) יֹשְׁבֵ֣י תֵבֵ֑ל כִּ֤י יָבֹא֙ צַ֣ר וְאוֹיֵ֔ב בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם ס

הֶאֱמִ֙ינוּ֙  would  have  believed 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָמַן 
Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful.
מַלְכֵי־  the  kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אֶ֔רֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
[וכל]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
(כֹּ֖ל)  and  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
יֹשְׁבֵ֣י  inhabitants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
תֵבֵ֑ל  of  the  world 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֵּבֵל  
Sense: world.
כִּ֤י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יָבֹא֙  Could  enter 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
צַ֣ר  the  adversary 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צַר 
Sense: narrow, tight.
וְאוֹיֵ֔ב  and  the  enemy 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֖י  the  gates 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם  of  Jerusalem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation

What are the major concepts related to Lamentations 4:12?

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