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id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/lamentations/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/lamentations/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the peoples of the world, that enemies and foes could enter the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/lamentations/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Not a king in all the earth— no one in all the world— would have believed that an enemy could march through the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/lamentations/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/lamentations/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any people of the world, that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/lamentations/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/lamentations/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The kings of the earth, And all inhabitants of the world, Would not have believed That the adversary and the enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/lamentations/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The kings of the earth did not believe, Nor <i>did</i> any of the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy Would enter the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/lamentations/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The kings of the earth did not believe, Nor did any of the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/lamentations/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />The kings of the earth did not believe, Nor <i>did</i> any of the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/lamentations/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The kings of the earth did not believe, Nor <i>did</i> any of the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/lamentations/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The kings of the earth did not believe, Nor did any of the inhabitants of the earth, That the adversary (oppressor) and enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/lamentations/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The kings of the earth and all the world’s inhabitants did not believe that an enemy or adversary could enter Jerusalem’s gates.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/lamentations/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The kings of the earth and all the world&#8217s inhabitants did not believe that an enemy or adversary could enter Jerusalem&#8217s gates. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/lamentations/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The kings of the earth believed not, neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/lamentations/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Not a king on this earth or the people of any nation believed enemies could break through her gates. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/lamentations/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The kings of the earth believed not, neither all the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary and the enemy should enter into the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/lamentations/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Neither the kings of the earth nor anyone living on earth could believe that enemies or invaders would ever get through the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/lamentations/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />No one anywhere, not even rulers of foreign nations, believed that any invader could enter Jerusalem's gates. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/lamentations/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />None of the kings of the earth would have believed, nor the world's inhabitants, that the adversary and the enemy could have breached the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/lamentations/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any people of the world, that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/lamentations/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Neither the kings of the earth nor the people of the lands ever thought that enemy or foe would enter the gates of Jerusalem. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/lamentations/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The kings of the earth did not believe, neither all the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary or the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/lamentations/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy would have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/lamentations/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The kings of the earth didn’t believe, neither did all the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/lamentations/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />The kings of earth did not believe, "" And any of the inhabitants of the world, "" That an adversary and enemy would come "" Into the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/lamentations/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Believe not did the kings of earth, And any of the inhabitants of the world, That come would an adversary and enemy Into the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/lamentations/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />The kings of the earth believed not, and all those dwelling in the habitable globe, that the enemy will come in to the gates of Jerusalem.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/lamentations/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Lamed. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world would not have believed, that the adversary and the enemy should enter in by the gates of Jerusalem. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/lamentations/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />LAMED. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, did not believe that the adversary and the enemy would enter through the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/lamentations/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any of the world’s inhabitants, That foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/lamentations/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/lamentations/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />The kings of the earth did not believe, nor all the inhabitants of the world, that the enemy and the oppressor could come and enter into the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/lamentations/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Lamed The Kings of the Earth and all the inhabitants of the world did not believe that the enemy and the oppressor comes and enters the gates of Jerusalem<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/lamentations/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />The kings of the earth believed not, Neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter Into the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/lamentations/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />LAMED. The kings of the earth, <i>even</i> all that dwell in the world, believed not that an enemy and oppressor would enter through the gates of Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/lamentations/4-12.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rKrWuOkEqzQ?start=1186" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/lamentations/4.htm">The Distress of Zion</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">11</span>The LORD has exhausted His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has consumed her foundations. <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: mal·ḵê- (N-mpc) -- King. From malak; a king.">The kings</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: ’e·reṣ (N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">of the earth</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">did not</a> <a href="/hebrew/539.htm" title="539: he·’ĕ·mî·nū (V-Hifil-Perf-3cp) -- To confirm, support. ">believe,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: wə·ḵå̄l (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">nor any</a> <a href="/hebrew/3427.htm" title="3427: yō·šə·ḇê (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- A primitive root; properly, to sit down; by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry.">people</a> <a href="/hebrew/8398.htm" title="8398: ṯê·ḇêl (N-fs) -- From yabal; the earth; by extension, the globe; by implication, its inhabitants; specifically, a partic. Land, as Babylonia, Palestine.">of the world,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/6862.htm" title="6862: ṣar (N-ms) -- Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent. Or tsar; from tsarar; narrow; a tight place; also a pebble; an opponent.">an enemy</a> <a href="/hebrew/341.htm" title="341: wə·’ō·w·yêḇ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- Hating, an adversary. Or owyeb; active participle of 'ayab; hating; an adversary.">or a foe</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: yā·ḇō (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">could enter</a> <a href="/hebrew/8179.htm" title="8179: bə·ša·‘ă·rê (Prep-b:: N-mpc) -- A gate. From sha'ar in its original sense; an opening, i.e. Door or gate.">the gates</a> <a href="/hebrew/3389.htm" title="3389: yə·rū·šā·lim (N-proper-fs) -- Probably foundation of peace, capital city of all Isr. ">of Jerusalem.</a> </span><span class="reftext">13</span>But this was for the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/21-13.htm">Jeremiah 21:13</a></span><br />Behold, I am against you who dwell above the valley, atop the rocky plateau—declares the LORD—you who say, “Who can come against us? Who can enter our dwellings?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-10.htm">Jeremiah 5:10</a></span><br />Go up through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not finish them off. Strip off her branches, for they do not belong to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/39-1.htm">Jeremiah 39:1-3</a></span><br />In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to the city. / And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city was breached. / Then all the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-sarsekim the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/64-10.htm">Isaiah 64:10-11</a></span><br />Your holy cities have become a wilderness. Zion has become a wasteland and Jerusalem a desolation. / Our holy and beautiful temple, where our fathers praised You, has been burned with fire, and all that was dear to us lies in ruins.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/7-20.htm">Ezekiel 7:20-22</a></span><br />His beautiful ornaments they transformed into pride and used them to fashion their vile images and detestable idols. Therefore I will make these into something unclean for them. / And I will hand these things over as plunder to foreigners and loot to the wicked of the earth, who will defile them. / I will turn My face away from them, and they will defile My treasured place. Violent men will enter it, and they will defile it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/25-1.htm">2 Kings 25:1-4</a></span><br />So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. / And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year. / By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/52-4.htm">Jeremiah 52:4-7</a></span><br />So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. / And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year. / By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/13-19.htm">Isaiah 13:19</a></span><br />And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/26-15.htm">Ezekiel 26:15-21</a></span><br />This is what the Lord GOD says to Tyre: ‘Will not the coastlands quake at the sound of your downfall, when the wounded groan at the slaughter in your midst? / All the princes of the sea will descend from their thrones, remove their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled over you. / Then they will lament for you, saying, “How you have perished, O city of renown inhabited by seafaring men—she who was powerful on the sea, along with her people, who imposed terror on all peoples! ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-2.htm">Matthew 24:2</a></span><br />“Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/21-20.htm">Luke 21:20-24</a></span><br />But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near. / Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city. / For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-10.htm">Revelation 18:10</a></span><br />In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-17.htm">Revelation 18:17-19</a></span><br />For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance / and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. “What city was ever like this great city?” they will exclaim. / Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-37.htm">Matthew 23:37-39</a></span><br />O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! / Look, your house is left to you desolate. / For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/13-1.htm">Mark 13:1-2</a></span><br />As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!” / “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/29-24.htm">Deuteronomy 29:24-28</a></b></br> Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what <i>meaneth</i> the heat of this great anger? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/9-8.htm">1 Kings 9:8,9</a></b></br> And at this house, <i>which</i> is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/48-4.htm">Psalm 48:4-6</a></b></br> For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/lamentations/2-4.htm">Adversary</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-3.htm">Attackers</a> <a href="/jeremiah/40-14.htm">Believe</a> <a href="/jeremiah/40-14.htm">Believed</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-9.htm">Doors</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-34.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-62.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-22.htm">Enemy</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-13.htm">Enter</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-10.htm">Entered</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-5.htm">Foe</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-17.htm">Foes</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-9.htm">Gates</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-46.htm">Haters</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-37.htm">Inhabitants</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-15.htm">Jerusalem</a> <a href="/jeremiah/52-32.htm">Kings</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-8.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/jeremiah/40-4.htm">Seem</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-15.htm">World</a> <a href="/revelation/18-23.htm">World's</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/amos/3-11.htm">Adversary</a> <a href="/lamentations/5-5.htm">Attackers</a> <a href="/jonah/3-5.htm">Believe</a> <a href="/daniel/6-23.htm">Believed</a> <a href="/ezekiel/21-15.htm">Doors</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-15.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-27.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/ezekiel/36-2.htm">Enemy</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-4.htm">Enter</a> <a href="/ezekiel/2-2.htm">Entered</a> <a href="/habakkuk/1-15.htm">Foe</a> <a href="/micah/5-9.htm">Foes</a> <a href="/ezekiel/21-15.htm">Gates</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-27.htm">Haters</a> <a href="/ezekiel/11-15.htm">Inhabitants</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-1.htm">Jerusalem</a> <a href="/ezekiel/26-7.htm">Kings</a> <a href="/ezekiel/37-3.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/ezekiel/21-23.htm">Seem</a> <a href="/ezekiel/20-32.htm">World</a> <a href="/matthew/13-35.htm">World's</a><div class="vheading2">Lamentations 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/lamentations/4-1.htm">Zion bewails her pitiful estate</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/lamentations/4-13.htm">She confesses her sins</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/lamentations/4-21.htm">Edom is threatened and Zion comforted.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/lamentations/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/lamentations/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/lamentations/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>The kings of the earth did not believe</b><br>This phrase highlights the disbelief among the rulers of surrounding nations regarding the fall of Jerusalem. Historically, Jerusalem was considered a stronghold due to its strategic location and formidable defenses. The city was seen as divinely protected, especially after miraculous deliverances in the past, such as during the reign of King Hezekiah when the Assyrian army was supernaturally defeated (<a href="/2_kings/19-35.htm">2 Kings 19:35-36</a>). The disbelief of the kings underscores the unexpected nature of Jerusalem's downfall, emphasizing the severity of the judgment against it.<p><b>nor any people of the world</b><br>This broadens the scope of disbelief to include all nations, not just the rulers. Jerusalem was renowned for its religious significance and its association with the God of Israel, who was known for His mighty acts. The phrase suggests that the city's fall was a shock to the international community, which had heard of or witnessed the power of Israel's God. This disbelief reflects the widespread reputation Jerusalem had as a city under divine protection, making its conquest seem impossible.<p><b>that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem</b><br>The gates of Jerusalem symbolize the city's security and strength. Historically, the gates were heavily fortified and guarded, serving as the primary points of defense against invaders. The idea that an enemy could breach these gates was unthinkable, especially given the city's past deliverances. This phrase also connects to the prophetic warnings given by prophets like Jeremiah, who foretold the city's destruction due to its people's unfaithfulness (<a href="/jeremiah/21-10.htm">Jeremiah 21:10</a>). The entry of enemies into Jerusalem serves as a fulfillment of these prophecies and a demonstration of God's judgment. Additionally, this breach can be seen as a type of Christ's later entry into Jerusalem, where He would confront the spiritual corruption within, offering a path to redemption rather than destruction.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The capital city of Judah, known for its strong fortifications and the location of the Temple, the center of Jewish worship.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/k/kings_of_the_earth.htm">Kings of the Earth</a></b><br>Refers to the rulers of various nations who would have been aware of Jerusalem's reputation for being a well-defended city.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/p/people_of_the_world.htm">People of the World</a></b><br>Represents the general populace beyond Israel, indicating a widespread disbelief in Jerusalem's vulnerability.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/e/enemy_or_foe.htm">Enemy or Foe</a></b><br>The Babylonians, who ultimately breached Jerusalem's defenses, leading to its destruction and the exile of its people.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_prophet_jeremiah.htm">The Prophet Jeremiah</a></b><br>Traditionally credited as the author of Lamentations, he witnessed the fall of Jerusalem and expressed profound grief over the event.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_illusion_of_invincibility.htm">The Illusion of Invincibility</a></b><br>The belief that Jerusalem could not fall serves as a warning against overconfidence in human strength and security. We must remember that true security comes from God alone.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a></b><br>The fall of Jerusalem was a direct result of the people's disobedience to God. This reminds us of the importance of living in accordance with God's will to avoid spiritual downfall.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_nations.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Nations</a></b><br>Despite human expectations, God can use any nation or circumstance to fulfill His purposes. We should trust in His sovereignty and seek His guidance in all things.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_judgment.htm">The Reality of Judgment</a></b><br>The disbelief of the kings and people highlights a common tendency to ignore warnings of judgment. We must take God's warnings seriously and live in a way that honors Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_desolation.htm">Hope in Desolation</a></b><br>Even in the midst of destruction, Lamentations points to the possibility of restoration. We can find hope in God's faithfulness and His promises of redemption.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_lamentations_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Lamentations 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_did_jesus_mean_by_'an_open_door'.htm">What are the Five Festival Scrolls in Judaism?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_ezekiel_7_5-6's_doom_match_history.htm">Ezekiel 7:5–6 predicts a doom that is “unique” and “coming”—were there any historical events matching this prophecy, and if not, does that undermine its credibility? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_was_jesus'_place_of_residence.htm">What defines a psalm?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_reconcile_david's_faith_with_history.htm">How do we reconcile David's confidence in divine intervention (Psalm 5:3, 8) with known historical conflicts where God's protection was not apparent?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/lamentations/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(12) <span class= "bld">Would not have believed.</span>--In. looking to the fact that Jerusalem had been taken by Shishak (<a href="/1_kings/14-26.htm" title="And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.">1Kings 14:26</a>), Joash (<a href="/2_kings/14-13.htm" title="And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.">2Kings 14:13</a>), the statement seems at first hyperbolical. It has to be remembered, however, that since the latter of these two the city had been strongly fortified by Uzziah, Hezekiah, and Manasseh, and the failure of Sennacherib's attempt had probably led to the impression that it was impregnable.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/lamentations/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 12.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The kings of the earth,</span> etc. And yet Jerusalem had been taken twice before its capture by Nebuchadnezzar (see <a href="/1_kings/14-26.htm">1 Kings 14:26</a>; <a href="/2_kings/14.htm">2 Kings 14</a>:131. How is the language of the second part to be accounted for? It will help us to an answer if we observe that the later Jews seem to have acquired an exorbitant confidence in their national future ever since the Book of Deuteronomy had become as it were canonical in the reign of Josiah. "The temple of Jehovah" was ever in their mouths (<a href="/jeremiah/7-9.htm">Jeremiah 7:9</a>), and the strong outward regard paid to the directions of the Law seemed to them to justify their believing in the fulfilment of its promises. And, in fact, the grand deliverance of Jerusalem in the reign of Hezekiah might, even without this misunderstanding of Deuteronomy, have inspired a firm faith in the security of Jerusalem. A sacred poet had already, on the occasion of that deliverance, declared of the holy city that "God upholdeth the same forever" (<a href="/psalms/48-8.htm">Psalm 48:8</a>), and also (in vers. 4, 5) used the same hyperbole as the author of this lamentation to express the wide reaching interest felt in the fortunes of Jerusalem. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/lamentations/4-12.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">The kings</span><br /><span class="heb">מַלְכֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(mal·ḵê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the earth</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶ֔רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(’e·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">did not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֤א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">believe,</span><br /><span class="heb">הֶאֱמִ֙ינוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(he·’ĕ·mî·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_539.htm">Strong's 539: </a> </span><span class="str2">To confirm, support</span><br /><br /><span class="word">nor any</span><br /><span class="heb">כֹּ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(kōl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">people</span><br /><span class="heb">יֹשְׁבֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(yō·šə·ḇê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3427.htm">Strong's 3427: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the world,</span><br /><span class="heb">תֵבֵ֑ל</span> <span class="translit">(ṯê·ḇêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8398.htm">Strong's 8398: </a> </span><span class="str2">The earth, the globe, its inhabitants, a particular land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">an enemy</span><br /><span class="heb">צַ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(ṣar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6862.htm">Strong's 6862: </a> </span><span class="str2">Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or a foe</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאוֹיֵ֔ב</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’ō·w·yêḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_341.htm">Strong's 341: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hating, an adversary</span><br /><br /><span class="word">could enter</span><br /><span class="heb">יָבֹא֙</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḇō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the gates</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ša·‘ă·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8179.htm">Strong's 8179: </a> </span><span class="str2">An opening, door, gate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Jerusalem.</span><br /><span class="heb">יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(yə·rū·šā·lim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3389.htm">Strong's 3389: </a> </span><span class="str2">Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/lamentations/4-12.htm">Lamentations 4:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/lamentations/4-12.htm">Lamentations 4:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/lamentations/4-12.htm">Lamentations 4:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/lamentations/4-12.htm">Lamentations 4:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/lamentations/4-12.htm">Lamentations 4:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/lamentations/4-12.htm">Lamentations 4:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/lamentations/4-12.htm">Lamentations 4:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/lamentations/4-12.htm">Lamentations 4:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/lamentations/4-12.htm">Lamentations 4:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/lamentations/4-12.htm">Lamentations 4:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/lamentations/4-12.htm">OT Prophets: Lamentations 4:12 The kings of the earth didn't believe (Lam. La Lm) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/lamentations/4-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Lamentations 4:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Lamentations 4:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/lamentations/4-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Lamentations 4:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Lamentations 4:13" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>