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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Lamentations 4:14 They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/lamentations/4-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/25_Lam_04_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Lamentations 4:14 - The Distress of Zion" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/lamentations/4-14.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/lamentations/4-14.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/lamentations/">Lamentations</a> > <a href="/lamentations/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 14</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad14.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/lamentations/4-13.htm" title="Lamentations 4:13">◄</a> Lamentations 4:14 <a href="/lamentations/4-15.htm" title="Lamentations 4:15">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div 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 />Now they grope through the streets as if they were blind. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/lamentations/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />They wandered blindly through the streets, so defiled by blood that no one dared touch them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/lamentations/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />They wandered, blind, through the streets; they were so defiled with blood that no one was able to touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/lamentations/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/lamentations/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />They have wandered <i>as</i> blind <i>men</i> in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/lamentations/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />They wandered blind in the streets; They have defiled themselves with blood, So that no one would touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/lamentations/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />They wandered, blind, in the streets; They were defiled with blood, Such that no one could touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/lamentations/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />They wandered, blind, in the streets; They were defiled with blood So that no one could touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/lamentations/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />They wandered, blind, in the streets; They were defiled with blood So that no one could touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/lamentations/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />They wandered, blind, in the streets; They were defiled with blood So that no one could touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/lamentations/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />They wandered, blind, in the streets; They were defiled with blood So that no one could touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/lamentations/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Blind, they stumbled in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/lamentations/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Blind, they stumbled in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/lamentations/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, So that men cannot touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/lamentations/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Yes, her prophets and priests were covered with blood; no one would come near them, as they wandered from street to street. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/lamentations/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />They wander as blind men in the streets, that are polluted with blood, so that men cannot touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/lamentations/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />My people staggered blindly through the streets. They were so contaminated with bloodstains that no one would touch their clothes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/lamentations/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Her leaders wandered through the streets as though blind, so stained with blood that no one would touch them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/lamentations/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />people stagger around in the streets like the blind, defiled by blood unclean so that no one is able to touch their clothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/lamentations/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/lamentations/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They wander blindly through the streets, defiled by the blood they shed, while no one dares to touch their garments. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/lamentations/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, so that men can't touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/lamentations/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/lamentations/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />They wander as blind men in the streets. They are polluted with blood, So that men can’t touch their garments. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/lamentations/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />They have wandered naked in out-places, "" They have been defiled with blood, "" Without [any] being able to touch their clothing,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/lamentations/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> They have wandered naked in out-places, They have been polluted with blood, Without any being able to touch their clothing,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/lamentations/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />The blind were shaken in the streets, they were stained with blood, so that they shall not be able to touch upon their garments.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/lamentations/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Nun. They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they were defiled with blood: and when they could not help walking in it, they held up their skirts. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/lamentations/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />NUN. They have wandered in the streets like the blind; they have been defiled with blood. And when they were not able, they held their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/lamentations/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />They staggered blindly in the streets, defiled with blood, So that people could not touch even their garments: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/lamentations/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Blindly they wandered through the streets, so defiled with blood that no one was able to touch their garments.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/lamentations/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Her princes wander in her streets, they wallow in blood, so that no one could touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/lamentations/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Nun Her Princes wandered in her streets and they wallowed in blood, and they were unable to touch their garments<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/lamentations/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />They wander as blind men in the streets, They are polluted with blood, So that men cannot Touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/lamentations/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />NUN. her watchmen staggered in the streets, they were defiled with blood in their weakness, they touched their raiment <i>with it</i>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/lamentations/4-14.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=1204" 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">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. <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5128.htm" title="5128: nā·‘ū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to waver, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively.">They wandered</a> <a href="/hebrew/5787.htm" title="5787: ‘iw·rîm (Adj-mp) -- Blind. Intensive from avar; blind.">blind</a> <a href="/hebrew/2351.htm" title="2351: ba·ḥū·ṣō·wṯ (Prep-b, Art:: N-mp) -- The outside, a street. Or chuts; from an unused root meaning to sever; properly, separate by a wall, i.e. Outside, outdoors.">in the streets,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1351.htm" title="1351: nə·ḡō·’ă·lū (V-Nifal-Perf-3cp) -- To defile. A primitive root,; to soil or desecrate.">defiled</a> <a href="/hebrew/1818.htm" title="1818: bad·dām (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Blood. From damam; blood of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively bloodshed.">by this blood,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: bə·lō (Prep-b:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">so that no</a> <a href="/hebrew/3201.htm" title="3201: yū·ḵə·lū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To be able, have power. Or yakowl; a primitive root; to be able, literally or morally.">one dared</a> <a href="/hebrew/5060.htm" title="5060: yig·gə·‘ū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- A primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. Lay the hand upon; by implication, to reach; violently, to strike.">to touch</a> <a href="/hebrew/3830.htm" title="3830: bil·ḇu·šê·hem (Prep-b:: N-mpc:: 3mp) -- A garment, clothing, raiment. Or lbush; from labash; a garment; by implication A wife.">their garments.</a> </span><span class="reftext">15</span>“Go away! Unclean!” men shouted at them. “Away, away! Do not touch us!” So they fled and wandered. Among the nations it was said, “They can stay here no longer.”…<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="/isaiah/59-10.htm">Isaiah 59:10</a></span><br />Like the blind, we feel our way along the wall, groping like those without eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; among the vigorous we are like the dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-28.htm">Deuteronomy 28:28-29</a></span><br />The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness, and confusion of mind, / and at noon you will grope about like a blind man in the darkness. You will not prosper in your ways. Day after day you will be oppressed and plundered, with no one to save you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/14-18.htm">Jeremiah 14:18</a></span><br />If I go out to the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, I see those ravaged by famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land they do not know.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/23-12.htm">Jeremiah 23:12</a></span><br />“Therefore their path will become slick; they will be driven away into the darkness and fall into it. For I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-9.htm">Isaiah 29:9-10</a></span><br />Stop and be astonished; blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not from strong drink. / For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/22-26.htm">Ezekiel 22:26</a></span><br />Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zephaniah/1-17.htm">Zephaniah 1:17</a></span><br />I will bring such distress on mankind that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-5.htm">Hosea 4:5</a></span><br />You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so I will destroy your mother—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/3-6.htm">Micah 3:6-7</a></span><br />Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them. / Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be disgraced. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/8-9.htm">Amos 8:9</a></span><br />And in that day, declares the Lord GOD, I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the daytime.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/15-14.htm">Matthew 15:14</a></span><br />Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/9-39.htm">John 9:39-41</a></span><br />Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.” / Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?” / “If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-8.htm">Romans 11:8-10</a></span><br />as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” / And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them. / May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/4-3.htm">2 Corinthians 4:3-4</a></span><br />And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. / The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/2-11.htm">1 John 2:11</a></span><br />But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.</p><p class="hdg">have wandered</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/28-28.htm">Deuteronomy 28:28,29</a></b></br> The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/29-10.htm">Isaiah 29:10-12</a></b></br> For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/56-10.htm">Isaiah 56:10</a></b></br> His watchmen <i>are</i> blind: they are all ignorant, they <i>are</i> all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.</p><p class="hdg">they have polluted</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/35-33.htm">Numbers 35:33</a></b></br> So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye <i>are</i>: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/1-15.htm">Isaiah 1:15</a></b></br> And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/2-34.htm">Jeremiah 2:34</a></b></br> Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/19-16.htm">Numbers 19:16</a></b></br> And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2</a></b></br> By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.</p><p class="hdg">depart ye</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/16-26.htm">Numbers 16:26</a></b></br> And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/19-16.htm">Numbers 19:16</a></b></br> And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/6-8.htm">Psalm 6:8</a></b></br> Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.</p><p class="hdg">it is unclean.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/13-45.htm">Leviticus 13:45</a></b></br> And the leper in whom the plague <i>is</i>, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/lamentations/3-37.htm">Able</a> <a href="/jeremiah/31-8.htm">Blind</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-13.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/jeremiah/52-33.htm">Clothing</a> <a href="/proverbs/29-24.htm">Dares</a> <a href="/jeremiah/32-34.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/jeremiah/52-33.htm">Garments</a> <a href="/isaiah/59-10.htm">Grope</a> <a href="/jeremiah/48-6.htm">Naked</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-8.htm">Out-Places</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-2.htm">Polluted</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-32.htm">Robes</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-8.htm">Streets</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-10.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/jeremiah/14-15.htm">Touch</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-18.htm">Touched</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-17.htm">Unclean</a> <a href="/jeremiah/50-8.htm">Wander</a> <a href="/jeremiah/50-6.htm">Wandered</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-19.htm">Wandering</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezekiel/7-19.htm">Able</a> <a href="/zephaniah/1-17.htm">Blind</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-18.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-13.htm">Clothing</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/11-21.htm">Dares</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-13.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-16.htm">Garments</a> <a href="/acts/17-27.htm">Grope</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-21.htm">Naked</a> <a href="/ezekiel/11-6.htm">Out-Places</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-14.htm">Polluted</a> <a href="/ezekiel/5-3.htm">Robes</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-18.htm">Streets</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-15.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-15.htm">Touch</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-9.htm">Touched</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-15.htm">Unclean</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-15.htm">Wander</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-15.htm">Wandered</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-15.htm">Wandering</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>They wandered blind in the streets</b><br>This phrase captures the disorientation and confusion of the people of Jerusalem after the Babylonian siege. The blindness is both physical and spiritual, symbolizing a lack of direction and understanding. In biblical context, blindness often represents spiritual ignorance or judgment (<a href="/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18-20</a>). The streets of Jerusalem, once bustling with life, now serve as a backdrop for this tragic scene. The wandering reflects the aimlessness of a people who have lost their way, both literally and spiritually, reminiscent of the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness (<a href="/numbers/14-33.htm">Numbers 14:33</a>).<p><b>defiled by this blood</b><br>The defilement by blood indicates a state of ritual impurity, which in the Jewish law rendered one unclean and unfit for worship (<a href="/leviticus/17-11.htm">Leviticus 17:11</a>). This blood could refer to the bloodshed during the siege or the guilt of innocent blood, as Jerusalem was often condemned for its violence and injustice (<a href="/jeremiah/2-34.htm">Jeremiah 2:34</a>). Theologically, it underscores the consequences of sin and the resulting separation from God. The imagery of blood also foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, whose blood cleanses from all sin (1 <a href="/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7</a>).<p><b>so that no one dared to touch their garments</b><br>In ancient Israel, touching something unclean would render a person ceremonially unclean (<a href="/leviticus/5-2.htm">Leviticus 5:2-3</a>). The fear of contamination reflects the severity of their defilement. Garments in Scripture often symbolize one's status or righteousness (<a href="/isaiah/61-10.htm">Isaiah 61:10</a>). The untouchable state of their garments signifies a complete loss of purity and honor. This separation from others highlights the social and spiritual isolation resulting from sin. It contrasts with the New Testament call to be clothed in Christ's righteousness, where believers are made clean and whole (<a href="/galatians/3-27.htm">Galatians 3:27</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_people_of_jerusalem.htm">The People of Jerusalem</a></b><br>The verse refers to the inhabitants of Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege, who are depicted as wandering blindly, symbolizing their spiritual and moral confusion.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_streets_of_jerusalem.htm">The Streets of Jerusalem</a></b><br>The setting is the streets of Jerusalem, which have become a place of chaos and defilement due to the sins and the resulting judgment upon the city.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_babylonian_siege.htm">The Babylonian Siege</a></b><br>This event is the backdrop of the Book of Lamentations, where the Babylonians have besieged and destroyed Jerusalem, leading to the suffering and lament expressed in the text.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_blindness.htm">Spiritual Blindness</a></b><br>Just as the people of Jerusalem wandered blindly, we must be vigilant against spiritual blindness in our own lives, seeking God's truth and guidance through His Word.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_sin.htm">Consequences of Sin</a></b><br>The defilement and judgment upon Jerusalem serve as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of sin. We are called to repentance and holiness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_responsibility.htm">Community Responsibility</a></b><br>The communal aspect of sin and its consequences is evident. As believers, we have a responsibility to uphold righteousness within our communities.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness_in_judgment.htm">God's Faithfulness in Judgment</a></b><br>Even in judgment, God remains faithful. Lamentations calls us to trust in God's ultimate justice and mercy, even when we face difficult circumstances.<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/why_are_many_christian_leaders_scandalous.htm">Why have so many Christian leaders been involved in sexual scandals and financial fraud?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_the_bible_comfort_grief.htm">How does God provide deliverance from troubles?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_constitutes_the_sin_of_unbelief.htm">What constitutes the sin of unbelief?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_an_open_heaven.htm">What does 'vagabond' mean in the Bible?</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>(14) <span class= "bld">They have wandered . . .</span>--Literally, <span class= "ital">reeled. </span>The blindness, <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>either that of the insatiable lust of blood, or of hopeless despair, or both. (Comp. <a href="/deuteronomy/28-28.htm" title="The LORD shall smite you with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:">Deuteronomy 28:28</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/23-12.htm" title="Why their way shall be to them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil on them, even the year of their visitation, said the LORD.">Jeremiah 23:12</a>; <a href="/isaiah/29-10.htm" title="For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers has he covered.">Isaiah 29:10</a>.) The horror of the picture is heightened by the fact that the very garments of the priests were so dripping with blood that men shrank from touching them.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/lamentations/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 14.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">They</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the prophets and priests. <span class="cmt_word">Wandered as blind</span> men. The leaders of the people are blinded by ignorance, for they know not the only true way of averting calamity, and by passion, for they have not that "eye" of the soul (<a href="/matthew/6-22.htm">Matthew 6:22, 23</a>) which alone enables a man to see the good and the right course for himself individually, The" wandering," or, rather, "staggering" (comp. <a href="/psalms/107-27.htm">Psalm 107:27</a>, Authorized Version), however, may also refer to the panic stricken condition of those self. deceived deceivers when overtaken by God's punishment; comp. "wine of reeling" (Authorized Version, "astonishment"), <a href="/psalms/60-3.htm">Psalm 60:3</a>; also the prophecies in <a href="/deuteronomy/28-28.htm">Deuteronomy 28:28, 29</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/23-12.htm">Jeremiah 23:12</a>. The doubt is whether "have wandered" refers to some period before the final catastrophe, or to the consternation produced by that awful surprise. The latter view seems the more probable. <span class="cmt_word">They have polluted themselves,</span> etc. Their acts of violence have been continued to the very end of their term of power. Their garments are still stained with blood when the summons to depart into exile reaches them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/lamentations/4-14.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">They wandered</span><br /><span class="heb">נָע֤וּ</span> <span class="translit">(nā·‘ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5128.htm">Strong's 5128: </a> </span><span class="str2">To quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">blind</span><br /><span class="heb">עִוְרִים֙</span> <span class="translit">(‘iw·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5787.htm">Strong's 5787: </a> </span><span class="str2">Blind</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the streets,</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּֽחוּצ֔וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(ba·ḥū·ṣō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2351.htm">Strong's 2351: </a> </span><span class="str2">Separate by a, wall, outside, outdoors</span><br /><br /><span class="word">defiled</span><br /><span class="heb">נְגֹֽאֲל֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(nə·ḡō·’ă·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1351.htm">Strong's 1351: </a> </span><span class="str2">To soil, desecrate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by this blood,</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּדָּ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(bad·dām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1818.htm">Strong's 1818: </a> </span><span class="str2">Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed</span><br /><br /><span class="word">so that no</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּלֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(bə·lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | 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">one dared</span><br /><span class="heb">יֽוּכְל֔וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yū·ḵə·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3201.htm">Strong's 3201: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be able, have power</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to touch</span><br /><span class="heb">יִגְּע֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yig·gə·‘ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5060.htm">Strong's 5060: </a> </span><span class="str2">To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their garments.</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּלְבֻשֵׁיהֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(bil·ḇu·šê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3830.htm">Strong's 3830: </a> </span><span class="str2">A garment, clothing, raiment</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/lamentations/4-14.htm">Lamentations 4:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/lamentations/4-14.htm">Lamentations 4:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/lamentations/4-14.htm">Lamentations 4:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/lamentations/4-14.htm">Lamentations 4:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/lamentations/4-14.htm">Lamentations 4:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/lamentations/4-14.htm">Lamentations 4:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/lamentations/4-14.htm">Lamentations 4:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/lamentations/4-14.htm">Lamentations 4:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/lamentations/4-14.htm">Lamentations 4:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/lamentations/4-14.htm">Lamentations 4:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/lamentations/4-14.htm">OT Prophets: Lamentations 4:14 They wander as blind men (Lam. La Lm) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/lamentations/4-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Lamentations 4:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Lamentations 4:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/lamentations/4-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Lamentations 4:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Lamentations 4:15" /></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>