Lamentations 1:4
"The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

The ways of Zion do mourn,.... Being unoccupied, as in Jdg 5:6 ; or unfrequented: this is said by a rhetorical figure; as ways may be said to rejoice, or look pleasant and cheerful, when there are many passengers in them, going to and fro; so they may be said to mourn, or to look dull and melancholy, when no person is met with, or seen in them; thus Jerusalem and the temple being destroyed, the ways which led from the one to the other, and in which used to be seen great numbers going up to the worship of God, which was pleasant to behold, Psa 42:4 ; now not one walking in them, and all

overgrown with grass; and those roads which led from the several parts of the land to Jerusalem, whither the ten tribes went up to worship three times in the year, and used to travel in companies, which made it delightful and comfortable, and pleasant to look at, now none to be seen upon them; which was matter of grief to those that wished well to Zion; as it is to all truly godly persons to observe that the ways and worship of God are not frequented; that there are few inquiring the way to Zion above, or travelling in the road to heaven; as also when there are few that worship God in Zion below, or ask the way unto it, or walk in the ordinances of it: because none come to the solemn feasts. Aben Ezra understands this of the sanctuary itself; which sense Abendana mentions; expressed by the word here used; and so called, because all Israel were convened here; but the Targum and Jarchi more rightly interpret it of the feasts, the three solemn feasts of the passover, pentecost, and tabernacles, at which all the males in Israel were obliged to appear; but now, the temple and city being in ruins, none came to them, which was a very distressing case; as it is to good men, when upon whatever occasion, either through persecution, or through sloth and negligence, the ministry of the word, and the administration of ordinances, particularly the Lord's supper, the solemn feasts under the Gospel dispensation, are not attended to: all her gates are desolate; the gates of the temple; none passing through them into it to worship God, pray unto him, praise him, or offer sacrifice; or the gates of the city, none going to and fro in them; nor the elders sitting there in council, as in courts of judicature, to try causes, and do justice and judgment: her priests sigh; the temple burnt; altars destroyed, and no sacrifices brought to be offered; and so no employment for them, and consequently no bread; but utterly deprived of their livelihood, and had good reason to sigh. The Targum adds, "because the offerings ceased:'' her virgins are afflicted; or, "are sorrowful" (m); are in grief and mourning, that used to be brisk and gay, and to play with timbrels at their festivals; so the Targum paraphrases it, "the virgins mourn because they cease to go out on the fifteenth of Ab, and on the day of atonement, which was the tenth of Tisri, to dance in the dances:'' and she is in bitterness; that is, Zion; or the congregation of Israel is in bitterness of spirit, in great affliction and distress; her name might be rightly called Marah; see Rut 1:20 . (m) "moestae", Junius & Tremellius, Michaelis; "moerent", Piscator; "moestitia affectae sunt", Cocceius.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (15 words)

H1870 דֶּרֶךְ
Definition:

16& (less often)feminineExodus 18:20way, road, distance, journey, manner — absolute׳דGenesis 38:16+;דָּ֑רֶךְGenesis 38:21+; constructדֶּרֶךְGenesis 3:24; suffixדַּרְכִּיGenesis 24:424t. +2 Samuel 22:3 16& (less often)feminineExodus 18:20way, road, distance, journey, manner — absolute׳דGenesis 38:16+;דָּ֑רֶךְGenesis 38:21+; constructדֶּרֶךְGenesis 3:24; suffixדַּרְכִּיGenesis 24:424t. +2 Samuel 22:3

H6726 צִיּוֹן
Definition:

7+;צִיּוֺ֫נָהJeremiah 4:6; — stronghold (of Jebusiteas),׳מְצֻדַת צcaptured by David, and made his residence2 Samuel 5:7=1 Chronicles 11:5(both +הִיא עִיר דָּוִד), on southern part of east hill of Jeru 7+;צִיּוֺ֫נָהJeremiah 4:6; — stronghold (of Jebusiteas),׳מְצֻדַת צcaptured by David, and made his residence2 Samuel 5:7=1 Chronicles 11:5(both +הִיא עִיר דָּוִד), on southern part of east hill of Jeru

Possible Meanings:
  • Ṣiyyôn (semantic_range)
  • Zion (semantic_range)
H0057 אָבֵל
Definition:

35;Esther 6:12; constructאֲבֶלֿPsalm 35:14;אֲבֵלִיםJob 29:25;Isaiah 61:2etc.; — for deadGenesis 37:35, calamityEsther 6:12, compare figurativeLamentations 1:4(predicate, inanimate subject), elsewhere 35;Esther 6:12; constructאֲבֶלֿPsalm 35:14;אֲבֵלִיםJob 29:25;Isaiah 61:2etc.; — for deadGenesis 37:35, calamityEsther 6:12, compare figurativeLamentations 1:4(predicate, inanimate subject), elsewhere

Possible Meanings:
  • able to manage camels (semantic_range)
  • camel (semantic_range)
H1097 בְּלִי
Definition:

17שַׁחַת בְּלִיpit of destruction (ofSh®°ôl).2defect, failure, henceadverb of negation(compareאֶפֶס), chiefly poetic forלֹא,אֵין: —a.with finite vb. rare and only once in prose,Genesis 31:20(E)עַלבְּֿ 17שַׁחַת בְּלִיpit of destruction (ofSh®°ôl).2defect, failure, henceadverb of negation(compareאֶפֶס), chiefly poetic forלֹא,אֵין: —a.with finite vb. rare and only once in prose,Genesis 31:20(E)עַלבְּֿ

Possible Meanings:
  • wearing out (semantic_range)
H0935 בּוֹא
Definition:

13+; 3 feminine singularבָּ֫אָהGenesis 15:17+; suffixבָּאַתְנוּPsalm 44:18; 2masculine singularבָּ֫אתָJoshua 13:1+,בָּ֫אתָה2 Samuel 3:7; 2feminine singularבָּאתְGenesis 16:8;Ruth 2:12,וּבָאתְconsecuti 13+; 3 feminine singularבָּ֫אָהGenesis 15:17+; suffixבָּאַתְנוּPsalm 44:18; 2masculine singularבָּ֫אתָJoshua 13:1+,בָּ֫אתָה2 Samuel 3:7; 2feminine singularבָּאתְGenesis 16:8;Ruth 2:12,וּבָאתְconsecuti

Possible Meanings:
  • come in (semantic_range)
  • come (semantic_range)
  • go in (semantic_range)
  • go (semantic_range)
  • come in (semantic_range)
H4150 מוֹעֵד
Definition:

14appointed time, place, meeting;׳מExodus 9:5183t.;מֹעֵדDeuteronomy 31:10;מוֺעֲדוֺNumbers 9:22t.;מֹעֲדוֺLamentations 2:63t. + 5 t. suffixes; pluralמוֺעֲדִיםDaniel 12:76t.;מֹעֲדִיםZechariah 8:19;1 Chro 14appointed time, place, meeting;׳מExodus 9:5183t.;מֹעֵדDeuteronomy 31:10;מוֺעֲדוֺNumbers 9:22t.;מֹעֲדוֺLamentations 2:63t. + 5 t. suffixes; pluralמוֺעֲדִיםDaniel 12:76t.;מֹעֲדִיםZechariah 8:19;1 Chro

Possible Meanings:
  • appointed place (semantic_range)
H3605 כֹּל
Definition:

8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA 8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA

H8179 שַׁעַר
Definition:

24(feminineIsaiah 14:31in personification, AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 86)gate; —׳שׁabsoluteJudges 9:40+, constructGenesis 22:17+; withהlocative,שָׁ֑עְרָהIsaiah 28:6+; pluralשְׁעָרִים2 Samuel 18:24+, construc 24(feminineIsaiah 14:31in personification, AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 86)gate; —׳שׁabsoluteJudges 9:40+, constructGenesis 22:17+; withהlocative,שָׁ֑עְרָהIsaiah 28:6+; pluralשְׁעָרִים2 Samuel 18:24+, construc

Possible Meanings:
  • hair (semantic_range)
H8074 שָׁמֵם
Definition:

15, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיִשֹּׁם;1 Kings 9:8+, 3 masculine pluralיָשֹּׁ֫מּוּJob 17:8;Psalm 40:16, etc.;Imperativemasculine pluralשֹׁ֫מוּJeremiah 2:19;Infinitive construct(?) metaplasticשַׁ 15, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיִשֹּׁם;1 Kings 9:8+, 3 masculine pluralיָשֹּׁ֫מּוּJob 17:8;Psalm 40:16, etc.;Imperativemasculine pluralשֹׁ֫מוּJeremiah 2:19;Infinitive construct(?) metaplasticשַׁ

Possible Meanings:
  • be appalled (semantic_range)
H3548 כֹּהֵן
Definition:

18439t.; pluralכֹּהֲנִיםExodus 19:6272t.; constructכֹּהֲנֵי1 Samuel 5:513t.; suffixכֹּהֲנַיLamentations 1:1922t. suffixes —1priest-king:e.g. MelchizedekGenesis 14:18(E ?), comparePsalm 110:4(the Messi 18439t.; pluralכֹּהֲנִיםExodus 19:6272t.; constructכֹּהֲנֵי1 Samuel 5:513t.; suffixכֹּהֲנַיLamentations 1:1922t. suffixes —1priest-king:e.g. MelchizedekGenesis 14:18(E ?), comparePsalm 110:4(the Messi

H0584 אָנַח
Definition:

8;Joel 1:18; 3pluralנֶאֶנְחוּIsaiah 24:7;ImperfectיֵאָנַחProverbs 29:2etc.;Imperativeהֵאָנַ֯ח֑Ezekiel 21:11;Participleנֶאְנָ֑ךְEzekiel 21:12;נֶאֱנָחָהLamentations 1:21etc.; —1sigh, in token of griefIs 8;Joel 1:18; 3pluralנֶאֶנְחוּIsaiah 24:7;ImperfectיֵאָנַחProverbs 29:2etc.;Imperativeהֵאָנַ֯ח֑Ezekiel 21:11;Participleנֶאְנָ֑ךְEzekiel 21:12;נֶאֱנָחָהLamentations 1:21etc.; —1sigh, in token of griefIs

Possible Meanings:
  • groan (semantic_range)
  • groan (semantic_range)
H1330 בְּתוּלָה
Definition:

56 see JeremZA 1886, 399; Late Hebrewבְּתוּלָא,) —Genesis 24:1619t.; constructבְּתוּלַתDeuteronomy 22:1912t.; pluralבְּתוּלוֺתEsther 2:27t.;בְּתֻלוֺתZechariah 9:17;בְּתוּלֹתExodus 22:162t.;בְּתֻלֹתLam 56 see JeremZA 1886, 399; Late Hebrewבְּתוּלָא,) —Genesis 24:1619t.; constructבְּתוּלַתDeuteronomy 22:1912t.; pluralבְּתוּלוֺתEsther 2:27t.;בְּתֻלוֺתZechariah 9:17;בְּתוּלֹתExodus 22:162t.;בְּתֻלֹתLam

Possible Meanings:
  • virgin (semantic_range)
H3013 יָגָה
Definition:

4(""נֶאֱנָחִים,מַר)grieved, masculine plural constructנוּגֵי(see Köl.c.)Zephaniah 3:18(followed by preposition, compare Ges§ 130. 1); of virgins of ZionLamentations 1:4; of exilesZephaniah 3:18.Pi`elI 4(""נֶאֱנָחִים,מַר)grieved, masculine plural constructנוּגֵי(see Köl.c.)Zephaniah 3:18(followed by preposition, compare Ges§ 130. 1); of virgins of ZionLamentations 1:4; of exilesZephaniah 3:18.Pi`elI

Possible Meanings:
  • thrust away (semantic_range)
H1931 הוּא
Definition:

23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both 23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both

H4751 מַר
Definition:

7+,הַמַּרHabakkuk 1:6,מָ֑רPsalm 64:4+; constructמַר1 Samuel 22:2+; feminineמָרָהGenesis 27:34+,מָרָאRuth 1:20; constructמָרַת1 Samuel 1:10; masculine pluralמָרִיםExodus 15:23+; constructמָרֵיJudges 18 7+,הַמַּרHabakkuk 1:6,מָ֑רPsalm 64:4+; constructמַר1 Samuel 22:2+; feminineמָרָהGenesis 27:34+,מָרָאRuth 1:20; constructמָרַת1 Samuel 1:10; masculine pluralמָרִיםExodus 15:23+; constructמָרֵיJudges 18

Possible Meanings:
  • drop (semantic_range)

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