Lamentations 4:9
"They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger,.... Not that they are better with respect to their state after death, but with respect to their manner of dying. They that were slain by the sword of the Chaldeans, as many were, either upon the walls, or in sallies out against the enemy, these felt less pain, and had less terror of mind in dying, than those did who perished by famine;

they died a lingering death, as it were by inches, and were in continual pain of body and uneasiness of mind: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field: that is, those that died by famine gradually wasted or "flowed" away, their fluid parts by degrees went off; and though they were not run through with the sword, they were stabbed by famine, and were so distressed in body and mind as if a sword had pierced them; not having the fruits of the field, the corn and the wine, to support nature, and keep them alive. Jarchi's note is, "they that were slain with hunger were inflated at the smell of the fruits of the field, when the enemies were roasting their flesh upon the grass without the wall; the smell entered into those that swelled by famine, and their bellies burst, and their excrements flowed out; and this is the death worse than that of being slain with the sword.'' And to this agrees the Targum, "more happy are they that are slain with the sword than they that are slain with famine; for they that are slain with the sword flowed when their bellies were burst, by that which they ate of the fruits of the field; and those that were inflated with famine, their bellies burst through "want" of food.'' Most interpreters refer this clause to those that died of famine: but Gussetius (z) interprets it of those that were killed with the sword; and renders and paraphrases the words thus, "for they being stabbed, sent out"; by the open wounds, "a flux, which arose from the fruits of the field"; their food and nourishment being yet in their belly and veins, and so did not pine away through penury and famine; and their misery was short and light, in comparison of others: and so Abendana. (z) Comment. Ebr. p. 225.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (11 words)

H2896 טוֹב
Definition:

Fromtowb; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the Fromtowb; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the

Possible Meanings:
  • good things (semantic_range)
  • goods (semantic_range)
  • goodness (semantic_range)
H1961 הָיָה
Definition:

1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu 1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu

Possible Meanings:
  • fall out (semantic_range)
  • come to pass (semantic_range)
  • become (semantic_range)
  • be (semantic_range)
  • Fall out (semantic_range)
H2491 חָלָל
Definition:

Fromchalal; pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted -- kill, profane, slain (man), X slew, (deadly) wounded.see HEBREWchalalBrown-Driver-BriggsI.חָלָל90noun masculinepierced,׳חabsoluteDe Fromchalal; pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted -- kill, profane, slain (man), X slew, (deadly) wounded.see HEBREWchalalBrown-Driver-BriggsI.חָלָל90noun masculinepierced,׳חabsoluteDe

Possible Meanings:
  • profaned (semantic_range)
H2719 חֶרֶב
Definition:

15sword(as weapon; Aramaicחַרְבָּא,, Zinjirliחרב; Arabicdart, javelin) — absoluteחֶ֫רֶבGenesis 3:24+;חָ֑רֶבExodus 17:13+; constructחֶ֫רֶבDeuteronomy 33:29+; suffixחַרְבִּיExodus 15:913t.;חַרְבְּךָGene 15sword(as weapon; Aramaicחַרְבָּא,, Zinjirliחרב; Arabicdart, javelin) — absoluteחֶ֫רֶבGenesis 3:24+;חָ֑רֶבExodus 17:13+; constructחֶ֫רֶבDeuteronomy 33:29+; suffixחַרְבִּיExodus 15:913t.;חַרְבְּךָGene

Possible Meanings:
  • be waste (semantic_range)
H2491 חָלָל
Definition:

Fromchalal; pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted -- kill, profane, slain (man), X slew, (deadly) wounded.see HEBREWchalalBrown-Driver-BriggsI.חָלָל90noun masculinepierced,׳חabsoluteDe Fromchalal; pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted -- kill, profane, slain (man), X slew, (deadly) wounded.see HEBREWchalalBrown-Driver-BriggsI.חָלָל90noun masculinepierced,׳חabsoluteDe

Possible Meanings:
  • profaned (semantic_range)
H7458 רָעָב
Definition:

1famine, hunger; — absolute׳רGenesis 12:10+; suffixרְעָבָםNehemiah 9:15;1famine(in land, nation or city),Genesis 12:10;Genesis 26:1;Genesis 41:30,31;Exodus 16:3;2 Samuel 21:1;2 Samuel 24:13=2 Kings 4: 1famine, hunger; — absolute׳רGenesis 12:10+; suffixרְעָבָםNehemiah 9:15;1famine(in land, nation or city),Genesis 12:10;Genesis 26:1;Genesis 41:30,31;Exodus 16:3;2 Samuel 21:1;2 Samuel 24:13=2 Kings 4:

Possible Meanings:
  • hungry (semantic_range)
H1992 הֵם
Definition:

Or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural fromhalak; they (only used when emphatic) -- it, like, X (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such, their, them, these, t Or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural fromhalak; they (only used when emphatic) -- it, like, X (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such, their, them, these, t

Possible Meanings:
  • of their moaning (semantic_range)
  • wailing (semantic_range)
  • wealth (semantic_range)
H2100 זוּב
Definition:

25etc.;ParticipleזָבJeremiah 49:9f.זָבָ֫הLeviticus 15:19etc.; —1flow, gush(poetry), of water from the smitten rockPsalm 78:20(""שָׁטַף),Psalm 105:41(""הָלַךְ),Isaiah 48:21(""נָזַל).2Participlefrequent 25etc.;ParticipleזָבJeremiah 49:9f.זָבָ֫הLeviticus 15:19etc.; —1flow, gush(poetry), of water from the smitten rockPsalm 78:20(""שָׁטַף),Psalm 105:41(""הָלַךְ),Isaiah 48:21(""נָזַל).2Participlefrequent

Possible Meanings:
  • issue (semantic_range)
H1856 דֶּקֶר
Definition:

10;suffixוּדְקָרֻנִיconsecutive1 Samuel 31:4,וּדְקָרֻהוּconsecutiveZechariah 13:3;ImperfectוַיִּדְקֹרNumbers 25:8,וַיִּדְקְרֵהוּJudges 9:54—pierce, run through(always with accusative): as retributive 10;suffixוּדְקָרֻנִיconsecutive1 Samuel 31:4,וּדְקָרֻהוּconsecutiveZechariah 13:3;ImperfectוַיִּדְקֹרNumbers 25:8,וַיִּדְקְרֵהוּJudges 9:54—pierce, run through(always with accusative): as retributive

Possible Meanings:
  • piercing (semantic_range)
  • sharp weapon (semantic_range)
  • pick (semantic_range)
  • mattock (semantic_range)
H8570 תְּנוּבָה
Definition:

6; constructתְּנוּבֵתEzekiel 36:30;תְּנוּבָתִיJudges 9:11; pluralתְּנוּבֹתDeuteronomy 32:13,וֺת-Lamentations 4:9; especiallyשָׂדַי׳תfruit, produce, of fieldDeuteronomy 32:13;Lamentations 4:9; compareה 6; constructתְּנוּבֵתEzekiel 36:30;תְּנוּבָתִיJudges 9:11; pluralתְּנוּבֹתDeuteronomy 32:13,וֺת-Lamentations 4:9; especiallyשָׂדַי׳תfruit, produce, of fieldDeuteronomy 32:13;Lamentations 4:9; compareה

H7704 שָׂדֶה
Definition:

12field, land(rare original form ofשָׂדֶה(q. v. below), only in poetry); — absolute׳שׂJeremiah 4:17,שָׂדָ֑יHosea 10:4+; —1cultivatedfieldHosea 12:12, alsoHosea 10:4(si vera lectio, but see Now), yield 12field, land(rare original form ofשָׂדֶה(q. v. below), only in poetry); — absolute׳שׂJeremiah 4:17,שָׂדָ֑יHosea 10:4+; —1cultivatedfieldHosea 12:12, alsoHosea 10:4(si vera lectio, but see Now), yield

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