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Sunday, July 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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New Living Translation

Lamentations 2:4

He bends his bow against his people, as though he were their enemy. His strength is used against them to kill their finest youth. His fury is poured out like fire on beautiful Jerusalem.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Bow;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fire;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jerusalem;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Lamentations, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Acrostic;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Arms;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Adversary;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Bent;   Tabernacle;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Jerusalem;  

Encyclopedias:

- The Jewish Encyclopedia - Athletes, Athletics, and Field-Sports;   Dove;   Ekah (Lamentations) Rabbati;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He has strung his bow like an enemy;his right hand is positioned like an adversary.He has killed everyone who was the delight to the eye,pouring out his wrath like fireon the tent of Daughter Zion.
Hebrew Names Version
He has bent his bow like an enemy, he has stood with his right hand as an adversary, Has killed all that were pleasant to the eye: In the tent of the daughter of Tziyon he has poured out his wrath like fire.
King James Version
He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.
English Standard Version
He has bent his bow like an enemy, with his right hand set like a foe; and he has killed all who were delightful in our eyes in the tent of the daughter of Zion; he has poured out his fury like fire.
New American Standard Bible
He has bent His bow like an enemy; His right hand is positioned like an adversary, And He has killed everything that was pleasant to the eye. In the tent of the daughter of Zion He has poured out His wrath like fire.
New Century Version
Like an enemy, he prepared to shoot his bow, and his hand was against us. Like an enemy, he killed all the good-looking people; he poured out his anger like fire on the tents of Jerusalem.
Amplified Bible
He has bent His bow like an enemy; He has set His right hand like an adversary And slain all that were delightful and pleasing to the eye; In the tent of the Daughter of Zion He has poured out His wrath like fire.
World English Bible
He has bent his bow like an enemy, he has stood with his right hand as an adversary, Has killed all that were pleasant to the eye: In the tent of the daughter of Zion he has poured out his wrath like fire.
Geneva Bible (1587)
He hath bent his bowe like an enemie: his right hand was stretched vp as an aduersarie, and slewe al that was pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he powred out his wrath like fire.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
He has bent His bow like an enemy; He has set His right hand like an adversary And slain all that were pleasant to the eye; In the tent of the daughter of Zion He has poured out His wrath like fire.
Legacy Standard Bible
He has bent His bow like an enemy;He has set His right hand like an adversaryAnd killed all that were desirable to the eye;In the tent of the daughter of ZionHe has poured out His wrath like fire.
Berean Standard Bible
He has bent His bow like an enemy; His right hand is positioned. Like a foe He has killed all who were pleasing to the eye; He has poured out His wrath like fire on the tent of the Daughter of Zion.
Contemporary English Version
He attacked like an enemy with a bow and arrows, killing our loved ones. He has burned to the ground the homes on Mount Zion.
Complete Jewish Bible
He bent his bow like an enemy, with his right hand set like a foe. He killed all who were pleasant to see. In the tent of the daughter of Tziyon, he poured out his fury like fire.
Darby Translation
He hath bent his bow like an enemy; he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and hath slain all that was pleasant to the eye: in the tent of the daughter of Zion, he hath poured out his fury like fire.
Easy-to-Read Version
He bent his bow like an enemy. He held his sword in his right hand. He killed all the good-looking men of Judah. He killed them as if they were the enemy. He poured out his anger like a fire on the tents of Zion.
George Lamsa Translation
He has bent his bow like an oppressor; he has raised his hand like an enemy, and has slain all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion; he has poured out his fury like fire.
Good News Translation
He aimed his arrows at us like an enemy; He killed all those who were our joy and delight. Here in Jerusalem we felt his burning anger.
Lexham English Bible
He has bent his bow like an enemy; he has set his right hand like a foe, and he has slain all the treasures of the eye; in the tent of the daughter of Zion, he has poured out his anger like fire.
Literal Translation
He trod His bow like an enemy, and set His right hand like a foe; and killed all who were desirable to the eye in the tent of the daughter of Zion. He poured out His fury like fire.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He hath bent his bowe like an enemie, he hath fastened his right honde as an aduersary; and euery thinge that was pleasaut to se, he hath smyten it downe. He hath poured out his wrath like a fyre, in to the tabernacle of the doughter Sion.
American Standard Version
He hath bent his bow like an enemy, he hath stood with his right hand as an adversary, And hath slain all that were pleasant to the eye: In the tent of the daughter of Zion he hath poured out his wrath like fire.
Bible in Basic English
His bow has been bent for the attack, he has taken his place with his hand ready, in his hate he has put to death all who were pleasing to the eye: on the tent of the daughter of Zion he has let loose his passion like fire.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
He hath bent His bow like an enemy, standing with His right hand as an adversary, and hath slain all that were pleasant to the eye; in the tent of the daughter of Zion He hath poured out His fury like fire.
King James Version (1611)
He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an aduersary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye, in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he powred out his furie like fire.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He hath bent his bowe like an enemie, he hath fastened his ryght hande as an aduersarie, and euery thyng that was pleasaunt to see, he hath slayne: he hath powred out his wrath like a fire, into the tabernacle of the daughter of Sion.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
DALETH. He has bent his bow as an opposing enemy: he has strengthened his right hand as an adversary, and has destroyed all the desirable things of my eyes in the tabernacle of the daughter of Sion: he has poured forth his anger as fire.
English Revised Version
He hath bent his bow like an enemy, he hath stood with his right hand as an adversary, and hath slain all that were pleasant to the eye: in the tent of the daughter of Zion he hath poured out his fury like fire.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Deleth. He as an enemye bente his bouwe, he as an aduersarie made stidfast his riyt hond; and he killide al thing that was fair in siyt in the tabernacle of the douytir of Sion; he schedde out his indignacioun as fier.
Update Bible Version
He has bent his bow like an enemy, he has stood with his right hand as an adversary, And has slain all that were pleasant to the eye: In the tent of the daughter of Zion he has poured out his wrath like fire.
Webster's Bible Translation
He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all [that were] pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.
New English Translation

ד (Dalet)

He prepared his bow like an enemy; his right hand was ready to shoot. Like a foe he killed everyone, even our strong young men; he has poured out his anger like fire on the tent of Daughter Zion.
New King James Version
Standing like an enemy, He has bent His bow; With His right hand, like an adversary, He has slain all who were pleasing to His eye; On the tent of the daughter of Zion, He has poured out His fury like fire.
New Life Bible
He has pulled back His bow string like one who fights against us. He has set His right hand like one who hates us, and has killed all that we liked to see. He has poured out His anger like fire on the tent of Zion.
New Revised Standard
He has bent his bow like an enemy, with his right hand set like a foe; he has killed all in whom we took pride in the tent of daughter Zion; he has poured out his fury like fire.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
He hath trodden his bow like a foe, his right hand erect as an adversary, and hath slain all them who delighted the eye, - In the home of the daughter of Zion, hath he poured out, as fire, his indignation.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Daleth. He hath bent his bow as an enemy, he hath fixed his right hand as an adversary: and he hath killed all that was fair to behold in the tabernacle of the daughter of Sion, he hath poured out his indignation like fire.
Revised Standard Version
He has bent his bow like an enemy, with his right hand set like a foe; and he has slain all the pride of our eyes in the tent of the daughter of Zion; he has poured out his fury like fire.
Young's Literal Translation
He hath trodden His bow as an enemy, Stood hath His right hand as an adversary, And He slayeth all the desirable ones of the eye, In the tent of the daughter of Zion, He hath poured out as fire His fury.
THE MESSAGE
Like an enemy, he aimed his bow, bared his sword, and killed our young men, our pride and joy. His anger, like fire, burned down the homes in Zion.

Contextual Overview

1 The Lord in his anger has cast a dark shadow over beautiful Jerusalem. The fairest of Israel's cities lies in the dust, thrown down from the heights of heaven. In his day of great anger, the Lord has shown no mercy even to his Temple. 2 Without mercy the Lord has destroyed every home in Israel. In his anger he has broken down the fortress walls of beautiful Jerusalem. He has brought them to the ground, dishonoring the kingdom and its rulers. 3 All the strength of Israel vanishes beneath his fierce anger. The Lord has withdrawn his protection as the enemy attacks. He consumes the whole land of Israel like a raging fire. 4 He bends his bow against his people, as though he were their enemy. His strength is used against them to kill their finest youth. His fury is poured out like fire on beautiful Jerusalem. 5 Yes, the Lord has vanquished Israel like an enemy. He has destroyed her palaces and demolished her fortresses. He has brought unending sorrow and tears upon beautiful Jerusalem. 6 He has broken down his Temple as though it were merely a garden shelter. The Lord has blotted out all memory of the holy festivals and Sabbath days. Kings and priests fall together before his fierce anger. 7 The Lord has rejected his own altar; he despises his own sanctuary. He has given Jerusalem's palaces to her enemies. They shout in the Lord 's Temple as though it were a day of celebration. 8 The Lord was determined to destroy the walls of beautiful Jerusalem. He made careful plans for their destruction, then did what he had planned. Therefore, the ramparts and walls have fallen down before him. 9 Jerusalem's gates have sunk into the ground. He has smashed their locks and bars. Her kings and princes have been exiled to distant lands; her law has ceased to exist. Her prophets receive no more visions from the Lord .

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

bent: Lamentations 2:5, Lamentations 3:3, Lamentations 3:12, Lamentations 3:13, Job 6:4, Job 16:12-14, Isaiah 63:10, Jeremiah 21:5, Jeremiah 30:14

that were pleasant to the eye: Heb. the desirable of the eye, Ezekiel 24:25

he poured: Lamentations 4:1, 2 Chronicles 34:21, 2 Chronicles 34:25, Isaiah 42:25, Isaiah 51:17-20, Isaiah 63:6, Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 7:20, Jeremiah 21:5, Jeremiah 21:12, Jeremiah 36:7, Ezekiel 5:13, Ezekiel 6:12, Ezekiel 22:22, Ezekiel 36:18, Nahum 1:2, Nahum 1:6

Reciprocal: Numbers 22:22 - stood Isaiah 28:7 - err in Isaiah 64:10 - General Jeremiah 6:12 - I will Jeremiah 10:20 - tabernacle Jeremiah 42:18 - As mine Lamentations 1:13 - above Ezekiel 7:8 - pour Ezekiel 9:7 - General Ezekiel 20:33 - surely Habakkuk 3:9 - bow

Cross-References

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:4
And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:28
Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground."
Genesis 1:31
Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.
Genesis 2:1
So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed.
Genesis 2:2
On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.
Genesis 5:1
This is the written account of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings, he made them to be like himself.
Genesis 10:1
This is the account of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the three sons of Noah. Many children were born to them after the great flood.
Genesis 11:10
This is the account of Shem's family. Two years after the great flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.
Genesis 25:12
This is the account of the family of Ishmael, the son of Abraham through Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian servant.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He hath bent his bow like an enemy,.... God sometimes appears as if he was an enemy to his people, when he is not, by his conduct and behaviour; by the dispensations of his providence they take him to be so, as Job did, Job 16:9; he bends his bow, or treads it, for the bending or stretching the bow was done by the foot; and as the Targum,

"and threw his arrows at me:''

he stood with his right hand as an adversary; with arrows in it, to put into his bow or with his sword drawn, as an adversary does. The Targum is,

"he stood at the right hand of Nebuchadnezzar and helped him, when he distressed his people Israel:''

and slew all [that were] pleasant to the eye; princes and priests, husbands and wives, parents and children, young men and maids; desirable to their friends and relations, and to the commonwealth:

in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion he poured out his fury like fire; that is, either in the temple, or in the city of Jerusalem, or both, which were burnt with fire, as the effect of divine wrath and fury; and which itself is comparable to fire; like a burning lamp of fire, as the Targum; or rather like a burning furnace or mountain; see Nahum 1:6.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He stood with his right hand ... - i. e. that right hand so often stretched out to help now grasped a weapon ready for Judah’s destruction.

Were pleasant - Or, was “pleasant.” Put full stop after “eye.” Begin the third distich thus:

In the tabernacle - (or, tent) of the daughter of Zion.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Lamentations 2:4. He hath bent his bow - he stood with his right hand — This is the attitude of the archer. He first bends his bow; then sets his arrow upon the string; and, lastly, placing his right hand on the lower end of the arrow, in connexion with the string, takes his aim, and prepares to let fly.


 
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