Lamentations 4:2
"The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!"

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold,.... This explains what is meant in Lam 4:1 ; by gold, fine gold, and stones of the sanctuary; not Josiah and his sons, as some Jewish interpreters; but all the sons of Zion, or children of God; not the inhabitants of Zion literally, but spiritually; see Zac 9:13 . Zion is the church; her sons are her spiritual seed and offspring that

are born of her, she being the mother of them all, and born in her, by means of the word; and brought up by her, through the ordinances, and so are regenerate persons; and these the sons of God: and who are "precious", not in themselves, being of the fallen race of Adam; of the earth, earthly, as he was; of the same mass and lump with the rest of mankind; in no wise better than others, by nature; and have no intrinsic worth and value in them, but what comes by and from the grace of God; nor are they precious in their own esteem, and much less in the esteem of the men of the world; but in the eye of God, and of his son Jesus Christ, and of the blessed Spirit, and in the opinion of other saints; see Psa 16:3 ; in what sense these are comparable to fine gold; see Gill on Lam 4:1 ; how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! they are indeed earthen vessels with respect to their bodies, frail, weak, and mortal; but they are the work of God's hands, even as creatures, and particularly as new creatures, and are a curious piece of his workmanship, and so valuable, and especially by him, who is as tender and as careful of them as the apple of his eye; and yet these are greatly disesteemed by carnal men, are reckoned as the faith of the world, and the offscouring of all things; as earthen vessels, fit for no use but common or dishonourable ones, or to be broke in pieces, and rendered useless and contemptible: see Psa 31:12 .

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (12 words)

H1121 בֵּן
Definition:

25+;ֵ˜בּןֿEzekiel 18:10; constructבֵּןGenesis 49:22(twice in verse);בֶּןֿGenesis 5:32+;בֶּןEsther 2:5;Nehemiah 6:18, & with prefixGenesis 17:17;Numbers 8:25;1 Chronicles 27:23; 2Chronicles 25:5; 31:16 25+;ֵ˜בּןֿEzekiel 18:10; constructבֵּןGenesis 49:22(twice in verse);בֶּןֿGenesis 5:32+;בֶּןEsther 2:5;Nehemiah 6:18, & with prefixGenesis 17:17;Numbers 8:25;1 Chronicles 27:23; 2Chronicles 25:5; 31:16

Possible Meanings:
  • son (semantic_range)
  • son (semantic_range)
  • children (semantic_range)
  • youth (semantic_range)
  • young men (semantic_range)
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)
H3368 יָקָר
Definition:

19t.; constructיְקַרֿProverbs 17:27Qr (Ktוקר; see below);כִּיקַרPsalm 37:20; feminineיְקָרָה2 Samuel 12:3014t.; constructיִקְרַתIsaiah 28:16; masculine pluralיְקָרִיםLamentations 4:2; feminine pluralי 19t.; constructיְקַרֿProverbs 17:27Qr (Ktוקר; see below);כִּיקַרPsalm 37:20; feminineיְקָרָה2 Samuel 12:3014t.; constructיִקְרַתIsaiah 28:16; masculine pluralיְקָרִיםLamentations 4:2; feminine pluralי

Possible Meanings:
  • honour (semantic_range)
H5537 סָלָא
Definition:

2they who were weighed against gold, reckoned of such value. — compare also II.סלה.Topical LexiconHebrew Concept and Word Familyסָלָא conveys the action of weighing something on a balance and, by exte 2they who were weighed against gold, reckoned of such value. — compare also II.סלה.Topical LexiconHebrew Concept and Word Familyסָלָא conveys the action of weighing something on a balance and, by exte

H6337 פָז
Definition:

11refined, pure gold(Talmudמִּיזָּא;ᵑ7מִּיזּוּזָא); —עֲטֶרֶת מָּ֑זPsalm 21:4; in comparison of value or beauty:Lamentations 4:2,׳אַדְנֵיפֿSongs 5:15; "" (or +)זהבJob 28:17(׳כְּלִיפֿ),Psalm 19:11(+רָ֑ב 11refined, pure gold(Talmudמִּיזָּא;ᵑ7מִּיזּוּזָא); —עֲטֶרֶת מָּ֑זPsalm 21:4; in comparison of value or beauty:Lamentations 4:2,׳אַדְנֵיפֿSongs 5:15; "" (or +)זהבJob 28:17(׳כְּלִיפֿ),Psalm 19:11(+רָ֑ב

H0349 אֵיךְ
Definition:

9;2 Samuel 1:5,14;1 Kings 12:6;Isaiah 20:6and elsewhere; often with imperfect (especially in 1 person) in an expostulationGenesis 39:9;Genesis 44:8,34;Joshua 9:7;2 Samuel 2:22;2 Samuel 12:18;Psalm 137 9;2 Samuel 1:5,14;1 Kings 12:6;Isaiah 20:6and elsewhere; often with imperfect (especially in 1 person) in an expostulationGenesis 39:9;Genesis 44:8,34;Joshua 9:7;2 Samuel 2:22;2 Samuel 12:18;Psalm 137

Possible Meanings:
  • How? (semantic_range)
  • How! (semantic_range)
H2803 חָשַׁב
Definition:

89t.;חָשַׁבְתָּה2 Samuel 14:13etc.;ImperfectיַחְשֹׁבIsaiah 10:74t.;יַחֲשָׁבֿ2 Samuel 19:20;Psalm 40:18; suffixיַחְשְׁבֵנִיJob 19:11;Job 33:10; pluralיַחְשְׁבוּPsalm 41:8;Daniel 11:25;יַחְשֹׁ֑בוּIsaiah 89t.;חָשַׁבְתָּה2 Samuel 14:13etc.;ImperfectיַחְשֹׁבIsaiah 10:74t.;יַחֲשָׁבֿ2 Samuel 19:20;Psalm 40:18; suffixיַחְשְׁבֵנִיJob 19:11;Job 33:10; pluralיַחְשְׁבוּPsalm 41:8;Daniel 11:25;יַחְשֹׁ֑בוּIsaiah

Possible Meanings:
  • think (semantic_range)
  • account (semantic_range)
H5035 נֶבֶל
Definition:

Or nebel {nay'-bel}; fromnabel; a skin-bag for liquids (from collapsing when empty); hence, a vase (as similar in shape when full); also a lyre (as having a body of like form) -- bottle, pitcher, psal Or nebel {nay'-bel}; fromnabel; a skin-bag for liquids (from collapsing when empty); hence, a vase (as similar in shape when full); also a lyre (as having a body of like form) -- bottle, pitcher, psal

Possible Meanings:
  • sink (semantic_range)
  • drop down (semantic_range)
  • languish (semantic_range)
  • wither and fall (semantic_range)
  • fade (semantic_range)
H2789 חֶרֶשׂ
Definition:

219t.,חָ֑רֶשׂNumbers 5:174t.; plural constructחַרְשֵׂיIsaiah 45:9; suffixחֲרָשֶׂיהָEzekiel 23:34. —1earthenware:׳כְּלִיאחearthen vesselJeremiah 32:14; especially PLeviticus 6:21;Leviticus 11:33;Leviti 219t.,חָ֑רֶשׂNumbers 5:174t.; plural constructחַרְשֵׂיIsaiah 45:9; suffixחֲרָשֶׂיהָEzekiel 23:34. —1earthenware:׳כְּלִיאחearthen vesselJeremiah 32:14; especially PLeviticus 6:21;Leviticus 11:33;Leviti

Possible Meanings:
  • magic art (semantic_range)
  • magic drug (semantic_range)
  • skilled in magic arts (semantic_range)
  • drugs (semantic_range)
H4639 מַעֲשֶׂה
Definition:

9deed, work; — absolute׳מGenesis 44:15+, constructמַעֲשֵׂהIsaiah 5:12+; suffixמַעֲשֵׂהוּJudges 13:12+, etc.; pluralמַעֲשִׂיםGenesis 20:9+; constructמַעֲשֵׂיJeremiah 1:16+; suffixמַעֲשָׂיו1 Samuel 19:4 9deed, work; — absolute׳מGenesis 44:15+, constructמַעֲשֵׂהIsaiah 5:12+; suffixמַעֲשֵׂהוּJudges 13:12+, etc.; pluralמַעֲשִׂיםGenesis 20:9+; constructמַעֲשֵׂיJeremiah 1:16+; suffixמַעֲשָׂיו1 Samuel 19:4

H3027 יָד
Definition:

26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G 26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G

Possible Meanings:
  • power (semantic_range)
H3335 יָצַר
Definition:

10;יָצָ֑רGenesis 2:8; suffixיְצָרָהּIsaiah 45:18; 2masculineיָצַרְתָּPsalm 104:268t. Perfect;Imperfect3masculineוַיִּ֫יצֶרGenesis 2:7;וַיִּ֫צֶרGenesis 2:19; suffixיִצְּרֵהוּIsaiah 44:12; 1singular suf 10;יָצָ֑רGenesis 2:8; suffixיְצָרָהּIsaiah 45:18; 2masculineיָצַרְתָּPsalm 104:268t. Perfect;Imperfect3masculineוַיִּ֫יצֶרGenesis 2:7;וַיִּ֫צֶרGenesis 2:19; suffixיִצְּרֵהוּIsaiah 44:12; 1singular suf

Possible Meanings:
  • form (semantic_range)
  • framing (semantic_range)
  • purpose (semantic_range)
  • pottery (semantic_range)

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