Lamentations 4:17
"As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help,.... Or, "while we were yet" (h); a nation, a people, a body politic, in our own land, before the city of Jerusalem was taken,

we were looking for help, as was promised us; but it proved a vain help, none was given us; for which we kept looking to the last, till our eyes failed, and we could look no longer; no help appeared, nor was there any prospect or probability of it, and therefore gave all up: in our watching we watched for a nation that could not save us; not the Romans, as the Targum, but the Egyptians; these promised them help and relief, and therefore in their watching they watched, or vehemently watched, and wistfully looked out for it, but all in vain; for though these made an attempt to help them, they durst not proceed; were obliged to retire, not being a match for the Chaldean army, and so could not save them, or break up the siege, and relieve them. (h) "quum adhuc essemus", Munster: Piscator.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (13 words)

H5750 עוֹד
Definition:

FrMM 256)עֹד,substantivea going round, continuance, but used mostly asadverb accusativestill, yet, again, besides: with suffixעוֺדֶנִּי(with apparently verbal form, like׃אֵינֶנִּיOl§ 222 gSta§ 352 bKö FrMM 256)עֹד,substantivea going round, continuance, but used mostly asadverb accusativestill, yet, again, besides: with suffixעוֺדֶנִּי(with apparently verbal form, like׃אֵינֶנִּיOl§ 222 gSta§ 352 bKö

H5750 עוֹד
Definition:

FrMM 256)עֹד,substantivea going round, continuance, but used mostly asadverb accusativestill, yet, again, besides: with suffixעוֺדֶנִּי(with apparently verbal form, like׃אֵינֶנִּיOl§ 222 gSta§ 352 bKö FrMM 256)עֹד,substantivea going round, continuance, but used mostly asadverb accusativestill, yet, again, besides: with suffixעוֺדֶנִּי(with apparently verbal form, like׃אֵינֶנִּיOl§ 222 gSta§ 352 bKö

H3615 כָּלָה
Definition:

38+; 3 feminine singularכָּֽלְתָה1 Samuel 20:7+; 1 singularכָּלִיתִיPsalm 39:11; 3pluralכָּלוּJob 19:27+; 2 masculine pluralכְּלִיתֶםMalachi 3:6;וּכְלִיתֶםconsecutiveEzekiel 13:14; 1pluralכָּלִינוּPsa 38+; 3 feminine singularכָּֽלְתָה1 Samuel 20:7+; 1 singularכָּלִיתִיPsalm 39:11; 3pluralכָּלוּJob 19:27+; 2 masculine pluralכְּלִיתֶםMalachi 3:6;וּכְלִיתֶםconsecutiveEzekiel 13:14; 1pluralכָּלִינוּPsa

Possible Meanings:
  • daughter-in-law (semantic_range)
  • bride (semantic_range)
H5869 עַיִן
Definition:

9seeעין.עִוְעִיםsee below I.עוה.I.עַ֫יִן859noun feminineGenesis 3:7and (Zechariah 3:9; 4:10 AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 75)masculineeye(ancient Semitic word; √ and relation to II.׳עunknown; Late Hebrewid.; Ph 9seeעין.עִוְעִיםsee below I.עוה.I.עַ֫יִן859noun feminineGenesis 3:7and (Zechariah 3:9; 4:10 AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 75)masculineeye(ancient Semitic word; √ and relation to II.׳עunknown; Late Hebrewid.; Ph

H0413 אֶל
Definition:

22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE 22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE

Possible Meanings:
  • these (semantic_range)
H5833 עֶזְרָה
Definition:

3+,עֶזְרָתPsalm 60:13;Psalm 108:13(Ges§ 80g),עֶזְרָ֫תָהPsalm 63:82t.; constructעֶזְרַתIsaiah 31:2+; suffixעֶזְרָתִיPsalm 22:20+, etc.; —1help, succourIsaiah 10:3;Isaiah 20:6(+לְהִנָּצֵל),Isaiah 31:1;J 3+,עֶזְרָתPsalm 60:13;Psalm 108:13(Ges§ 80g),עֶזְרָ֫תָהPsalm 63:82t.; constructעֶזְרַתIsaiah 31:2+; suffixעֶזְרָתִיPsalm 22:20+, etc.; —1help, succourIsaiah 10:3;Isaiah 20:6(+לְהִנָּצֵל),Isaiah 31:1;J

Possible Meanings:
  • enclosure (semantic_range)
  • ledge surrounding (semantic_range)
  • court (semantic_range)
H1892 הֶבֶל
Definition:

2+; constructהֲבֵלEcclesiastes 1:2(twice in verse);Ecclesiastes 12:8, suffixהֶבְלִיetc.Ecclesiastes 6:12;Ecclesiastes 7:15;Ecclesiastes 9:9(twice in verse); pluralהֲבָלִיםJeremiah 10:8+; constructהַבְ 2+; constructהֲבֵלEcclesiastes 1:2(twice in verse);Ecclesiastes 12:8, suffixהֶבְלִיetc.Ecclesiastes 6:12;Ecclesiastes 7:15;Ecclesiastes 9:9(twice in verse); pluralהֲבָלִיםJeremiah 10:8+; constructהַבְ

Possible Meanings:
  • act emptily (semantic_range)
  • become vain (semantic_range)
  • became vain (semantic_range)
  • cause to become vain (semantic_range)
H6836 צְפִיָּה
Definition:

17(BaNB130; Bi [for both]בְּצַמּוֺתֵנוּ).Topical LexiconRoot and Conceptual Backgroundצְפִיָּה shares its consonantal skeleton with the well-attested verb צָפָה, which in one strand speaks of vigilant 17(BaNB130; Bi [for both]בְּצַמּוֺתֵנוּ).Topical LexiconRoot and Conceptual Backgroundצְפִיָּה shares its consonantal skeleton with the well-attested verb צָפָה, which in one strand speaks of vigilant

Possible Meanings:
  • outlook-post (semantic_range)
H6822 צָפָה
Definition:

49(J)may׳יkeep watch between me and thee(that the covenant be kept =׳עֵד וגו׳אGenesis 31:50); 3feminine pluralעֵינָיו בַּגּוֺיִם תִּצְמֶּי֑נָהPsalm 66:9his eyes keep watch upon the nations; Participle 49(J)may׳יkeep watch between me and thee(that the covenant be kept =׳עֵד וגו׳אGenesis 31:50); 3feminine pluralעֵינָיו בַּגּוֺיִם תִּצְמֶּי֑נָהPsalm 66:9his eyes keep watch upon the nations; Participle

Possible Meanings:
  • lay out (semantic_range)
  • lay over (semantic_range)
  • they lay out the rug! (semantic_range)
  • overlay (semantic_range)
  • plate (semantic_range)
H0413 אֶל
Definition:

22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE 22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE

Possible Meanings:
  • these (semantic_range)
H1471 גּוֹי
Definition:

2nation, people(Late Hebrewid. Gentiles, Phoenicianגוcommunity,, Sabeanגוid., DHMZMG 1883, 348) —׳גGenesis 12:2121t.; suffix 1 singularגּוֺיִZephaniah 2:9,גּוֺיֶ֑ךָPsalm 106:5,גּוֺיֵךְKtEzekiel 36:13, 2nation, people(Late Hebrewid. Gentiles, Phoenicianגוcommunity,, Sabeanגוid., DHMZMG 1883, 348) —׳גGenesis 12:2121t.; suffix 1 singularגּוֺיִZephaniah 2:9,גּוֺיֶ֑ךָPsalm 106:5,גּוֺיֵךְKtEzekiel 36:13,

H3808 לֹא
Definition:

11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, 11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay,

H3467 יָשַׁע
Definition:

45) Phoenician proper nameישע; Sabeanיתֿע(royal epithet), proper nameאליתֿע,יתֿעאל,עמיתֿע, e.g. MordtZMG 1876, 87; 1893, 409. 416. 417, etc. (yet note strange equivalent,תַ=); not in Aramaic; MI4השעני 45) Phoenician proper nameישע; Sabeanיתֿע(royal epithet), proper nameאליתֿע,יתֿעאל,עמיתֿע, e.g. MordtZMG 1876, 87; 1893, 409. 416. 417, etc. (yet note strange equivalent,תַ=); not in Aramaic; MI4השעני

Possible Meanings:
  • deliverance (semantic_range)
  • rescue (semantic_range)
  • salvation (semantic_range)
  • safety (semantic_range)
  • welfare (semantic_range)

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