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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 4:6 The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/lamentations/4-6.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/25_Lam_04_06.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Lamentations 4:6 - The Distress of Zion" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a 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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 />The punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment without a hand turned to help her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/lamentations/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The guilt of my people is greater than that of Sodom, where utter disaster struck in a moment and no hand offered help.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/lamentations/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />For the chastisement of the daughter of my people has been greater than the punishment of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and no hands were wrung for her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/lamentations/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/lamentations/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/lamentations/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people Is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown in a moment, With no hand to help her!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/lamentations/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For the wrongdoing of the daughter of my people Is greater than the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown as in a moment, And no hands were turned toward her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/lamentations/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />For the iniquity of the daughter of my people Is greater than the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown as in a moment, And no hands were turned toward her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/lamentations/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />For the iniquity of the daughter of my people Is greater than the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown as in a moment, And no hands were turned toward her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/lamentations/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So the iniquity of the daughter of my people Is greater than the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown as in a moment, And no hands whirled toward her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/lamentations/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />For the [punishment of the] wickedness of the daughter of my people [Jerusalem] Is greater than the [punishment for the] sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown in a moment, And no hands were turned toward her [to offer help].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/lamentations/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The punishment of my dear people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand laid on it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/lamentations/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The punishment of my dear people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand laid on it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/lamentations/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/lamentations/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />My nation was punished worse than the people of Sodom, whose city was destroyed in a flash without the help of human hands. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/lamentations/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/lamentations/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The punishment for my people's wickedness has been more severe than the punishment for the sins of Sodom. Sodom was destroyed instantly, without one human hand touching it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/lamentations/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />My people have been punished even more than the inhabitants of Sodom, which met a sudden downfall at the hands of God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/lamentations/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The guilt of my cherished people surpasses the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, without a hand to help her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/lamentations/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/lamentations/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The punishment of my people exceeded that of of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment with no one to help her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/lamentations/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant, and no hands were laid on her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/lamentations/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/lamentations/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown as in a moment. No hands were laid on her. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/lamentations/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And greater is the iniquity of the daughter of my people, "" Than the sin of Sodom, "" That was overturned as [in] a moment, "" And no hands were stayed on her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/lamentations/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And greater is the iniquity of the daughter of my people, Than the sin of Sodom, That was overturned as in a moment, And no hands were stayed on her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/lamentations/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For the iniquity of the daughter of my people will be great above the sin of Sodom being overthrown as in a moment, and no hands waited for her.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/lamentations/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Vau. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people is made greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and hands took nothing in her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/lamentations/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />VAU. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people has been made greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and yet hands did not take captives in her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/lamentations/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The punishment of the daughter of my people surpassed the penalty of Sodom, Which was overthrown in an instant with no hand laid on it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/lamentations/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />For the chastisement of my people has been greater than the punishment of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, though no hand was laid on it.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/lamentations/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment and no hands were weary in destroying it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/lamentations/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Waw And greater is the evil of the daughter of my people than the sin of Sadom that was overthrown suddenly, and there was no labor in her hands<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/lamentations/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater Than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, And no hands fell upon her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/lamentations/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />VAU. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people has been increased beyond the iniquities of Sodoma, <i>the city</i> that was overthrown very suddenly, and none laboured against her <i>with their</i> hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/lamentations/4-6.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=1117" 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">5</span>Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps. <span class="reftext">6</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5771.htm" title="5771: ‘ă·wōn (N-csc) -- Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity. Or oavown; from avah; perversity, i.e. evil.">The punishment</a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: baṯ- (N-fsc) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">of the daughter</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: ‘am·mî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">of my people</a> <a href="/hebrew/1431.htm" title="1431: way·yiḡ·dal (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To grow up, become great. A primitive root; properly, to twist, i.e. To be large.">is greater</a> <a href="/hebrew/2403.htm" title="2403: mê·ḥaṭ·ṭaṯ (Prep-m:: N-fsc) -- Or chattacth; from chata'; an offence, and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also an offender.">than that</a> <a href="/hebrew/5467.htm" title="5467: sə·ḏōm (N-proper-fs) -- A Canaanite city near the Dead Sea. From an unused root meaning to scorch; burnt district; Sedom, a place near the Dead Sea.">of Sodom,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2015.htm" title="2015: ha·hă·p̄ū·ḵāh (Art:: V-Qal-QalPassPrtcpl-fs) -- To turn, overturn. A primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert.">which was overthrown</a> <a href="/hebrew/3644.htm" title="3644: ḵə·mōw- (Prep) -- Like, as, when. Or kamow; a form of the prefix k-, but used separately; as, thus, so.">in</a> <a href="/hebrew/7281.htm" title="7281: rā·ḡa‘ (N-ms) -- A moment. From raga'. A wink, i.e. A very short space of time.">an instant</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō- (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">without</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: yā·ḏā·yim (N-fd) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)">a hand</a> <a href="/hebrew/2342.htm" title="2342: ḥā·lū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- Or chiyl; a primitive root; properly, to twist or whirl, i.e. to dance, to writhe in pain or fear; figuratively, to wait, to pervert.">turned to help</a> <a href="/hebrew/ḇāh (Prep:: 3fs) -- ">her.</a> </span><span class="reftext">7</span>Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.…<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="/genesis/19-24.htm">Genesis 19:24-25</a></span><br />Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. / Thus He destroyed these cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/29-23.htm">Deuteronomy 29:23</a></span><br />All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown and unproductive, with no plant growing on it, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-9.htm">Isaiah 1:9</a></span><br />Unless the LORD of Hosts had left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/20-16.htm">Jeremiah 20:16</a></span><br />May that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without compassion. May he hear an outcry in the morning and a battle cry at noon,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/16-48.htm">Ezekiel 16:48-50</a></span><br />As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did as you and your daughters have done. / Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy. / Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them, as you have seen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/11-23.htm">Matthew 11:23-24</a></span><br />And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. / But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/10-12.htm">Luke 10:12</a></span><br />I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/2-6.htm">2 Peter 2:6</a></span><br />if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jude/1-7.htm">Jude 1:7</a></span><br />In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/3-9.htm">Isaiah 3:9</a></span><br />The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/23-14.htm">Jeremiah 23:14</a></span><br />And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/4-11.htm">Amos 4:11</a></span><br />“Some of you I overthrew as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zephaniah/2-9.htm">Zephaniah 2:9</a></span><br />Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-29.htm">Romans 9:29</a></span><br />It is just as Isaiah foretold: “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/11-8.htm">Revelation 11:8</a></span><br />Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/1-9.htm">Isaiah 1:9,10</a></b></br> Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, <i>and</i> we should have been like unto Gomorrah… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/16-48.htm">Ezekiel 16:48-50</a></b></br> <i>As</i> I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/11-23.htm">Matthew 11:23,24</a></b></br> And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day… </p><p class="hdg">the punishment</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/lamentations/4-9.htm">Lamentations 4:9</a></b></br> <i>They that be</i> slain with the sword are better than <i>they that be</i> slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for <i>want of</i> the fruits of the field.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/19-25.htm">Genesis 19:25</a></b></br> And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/daniel/9-12.htm">Daniel 9:12</a></b></br> And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/30-14.htm">Chastisement</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-3.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-12.htm">Falling</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-7.htm">Fell</a> <a href="/isaiah/30-26.htm">Greater</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-3.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-2.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-56.htm">Help</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-14.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-28.htm">Laid</a> <a href="/jeremiah/18-9.htm">Moment</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-58.htm">Overthrown</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-20.htm">Overturned</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-39.htm">Punishment</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-64.htm">Reward</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-39.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/jeremiah/50-40.htm">Sodom</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-8.htm">Suddenly</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-50.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-6.htm">Violently</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/habakkuk/1-12.htm">Chastisement</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-10.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/lamentations/5-13.htm">Falling</a> <a href="/lamentations/5-13.htm">Fell</a> <a href="/ezekiel/8-6.htm">Greater</a> <a href="/lamentations/5-6.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-10.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-17.htm">Help</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-22.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-19.htm">Laid</a> <a href="/ezekiel/26-16.htm">Moment</a> <a href="/daniel/8-11.htm">Overthrown</a> <a href="/ezekiel/21-27.htm">Overturned</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-22.htm">Punishment</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-22.htm">Reward</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-22.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-46.htm">Sodom</a> <a href="/daniel/5-5.htm">Suddenly</a> <a href="/lamentations/5-2.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/ezekiel/13-21.htm">Violently</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 = 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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 punishment of the daughter of my people</b><br>This phrase refers to the severe judgment faced by the people of Judah, often symbolized as a daughter. The imagery of a daughter highlights the intimate relationship between God and His people, akin to a father and child. The punishment is a result of persistent disobedience and idolatry, as outlined in the covenantal curses in <a href="/deuteronomy/28.htm">Deuteronomy 28</a>. The historical context is the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, a pivotal event in Jewish history.<p><b>is greater than that of Sodom</b><br>Sodom's destruction is a well-known biblical event, symbolizing ultimate divine judgment due to extreme wickedness (Genesis 19). The comparison suggests that Judah's sins were seen as more grievous, warranting a harsher punishment. This reflects the principle that greater revelation and privilege bring greater responsibility (<a href="/luke/12-48.htm">Luke 12:48</a>). Theologically, it underscores the seriousness of covenant unfaithfulness.<p><b>which was overthrown in an instant</b><br>Sodom's destruction was sudden and complete, as described in <a href="/genesis/19-24.htm">Genesis 19:24-25</a>. This phrase emphasizes the swiftness and decisiveness of God's judgment. In contrast, Jerusalem's fall was preceded by prolonged suffering and siege, highlighting the severity of their punishment. The suddenness of Sodom's end serves as a warning of the potential for unexpected divine intervention.<p><b>without a hand turned to help her</b><br>This indicates the total abandonment and lack of rescue for Sodom, as no human intervention could prevent its destruction. For Jerusalem, this implies that despite their cries for help, no aid came, reflecting the fulfillment of prophetic warnings (<a href="/jeremiah/7-16.htm">Jeremiah 7:16</a>). It also points to the futility of relying on human alliances or strength instead of God. Theologically, it underscores the concept of divine justice and the consequences of forsaking God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/d/daughter_of_my_people.htm">Daughter of My People</a></b><br>This phrase refers to the people of Jerusalem or Judah, personified as a daughter. It highlights the intimate relationship between God and His people, as well as their current state of suffering and punishment.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/s/sodom.htm">Sodom</a></b><br>An ancient city known for its wickedness and subsequent destruction by God. It serves as a benchmark for divine judgment and is often referenced in the Bible as a symbol of ultimate moral and spiritual decay.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jeremiah.htm">Jeremiah</a></b><br>Traditionally considered the author of Lamentations, Jeremiah was a prophet who warned Judah of impending judgment due to their disobedience and idolatry.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/babylonian_siege.htm">Babylonian Siege</a></b><br>The historical context of Lamentations is the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., which led to immense suffering and exile for the people of Judah.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/d/divine_judgment.htm">Divine Judgment</a></b><br>The overarching theme of <a href="/lamentations/4-6.htm">Lamentations 4:6</a> is the severe judgment of God upon His people, which is portrayed as even more severe than the swift destruction of Sodom.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_severity_of_sin_and_judgment.htm">The Severity of Sin and Judgment</a></b><br>The comparison to Sodom underscores the gravity of Judah's sin and the severity of their punishment. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_responsibility_of_knowledge.htm">The Responsibility of Knowledge</a></b><br>With greater knowledge of God comes greater responsibility. Judah's punishment was severe because they had the Law and the prophets, yet chose to rebel.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_repentance.htm">Hope in Repentance</a></b><br>While the judgment is severe, the book of Lamentations as a whole points to the possibility of restoration through repentance and turning back to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_justice_and_mercy.htm">God's Justice and Mercy</a></b><br>God's justice is evident in His judgment, but His mercy is also present, as He does not completely destroy His people but leaves room for future redemption.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/reflecting_on_our_own_lives.htm">Reflecting on Our Own Lives</a></b><br>This passage encourages self-examination regarding our own faithfulness to God and the potential consequences of our actions.<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_allow_lot's_daughters'_incest.htm">Why does God allow Lot's daughters to commit incest, yet punish others for lesser sexual sins?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_lamentations_4_10_literal_or_hyperbole.htm">(Lamentations 4:10) Is the claim that mothers cooked their children historically accurate or a hyperbolic contradiction of a loving God?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_scripture_show_collective_punishment.htm">Ezekiel 33:17 - If God's ways are truly just, why do we see instances of collective punishment and suffering elsewhere in Scripture?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_blame_women_in_hosea_4_14.htm">Hosea 4:14: Why does the text condemn daughters and brides for their actions when the men and priests seem equally at fault?</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>(6) <span class= "bld">The punishment of the iniquity.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">The iniquity of the daughter of my people was greater than the sin of Sodom. </span>The words in both cases point to guilt rather than its penalty, though, as the context shows, the greatness of the former is inferred from that of the latter. The point of comparison was that Sodom was not doomed to a protracted misery, like that which had been the lot of Jerusalem.<p><span class= "bld">No hands stayed on her . . .</span>--Literally, no <span class= "ital">hands went round about her: i.e., </span>her destruction was the direct work of God, and not of human agents, with their more merciless tortures. (Comp. <a href="/2_samuel/24-14.htm" title="And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.">2Samuel 24:14</a>.) The main thought may be noticed as reproduced in <a href="/matthew/10-15.htm" title="Truly I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.">Matthew 10:15</a>; <a href="/matthew/11-24.htm" title="But I say to you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.">Matthew 11:24</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/lamentations/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 6.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The punishment of the iniquity... the punishment of the sin.</span> This is a possible rendering (see <a href="/genesis/4-13.htm">Genesis 4:13</a>; <a href="/zechariah/14-19.htm">Zechariah 14:19</a>), but the renderings, "the iniquity," "the sin? are preferable, and yield a finer meaning, viz. that the punishment having been so severe, the guilt must have been in proportion. <span class="cmt_word">And no hands stayed on her.</span> To make the picture of sudden destruction more vivid, the poet alludes to the ordinary circumstances of the capture of a city, the "hands" of a fierce soldiery ever "whirling" a destroying sword. Comp. "the swinging of the hand of Jehovah Sabaoth, which he swingeth against it" (<a href="/isaiah/19-16.htm">Isaiah 19:16</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/lamentations/4-6.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 punishment</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲוֺ֣ן</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·wōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5771.htm">Strong's 5771: </a> </span><span class="str2">Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the daughter</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּת־</span> <span class="translit">(baṯ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> </span><span class="str2">A daughter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of my people</span><br /><span class="heb">עַמִּ֔י</span> <span class="translit">(‘am·mî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is greater</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּגְדַּל֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiḡ·dal)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1431.htm">Strong's 1431: </a> </span><span class="str2">To grow up, become great</span><br /><br /><span class="word">than [that]</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵֽחַטַּ֖את</span> <span class="translit">(mê·ḥaṭ·ṭaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2403.htm">Strong's 2403: </a> </span><span class="str2">An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Sodom,</span><br /><span class="heb">סְדֹ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(sə·ḏōm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5467.htm">Strong's 5467: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sodom -- a Canaanite city near the Dead Sea</span><br /><br /><span class="word">which was overthrown</span><br /><span class="heb">הַֽהֲפוּכָ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(ha·hă·p̄ū·ḵāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2015.htm">Strong's 2015: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in</span><br /><span class="heb">כְמוֹ־</span> <span class="translit">(ḵə·mōw-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3644.htm">Strong's 3644: </a> </span><span class="str2">Like, as, when</span><br /><br /><span class="word">an instant</span><br /><span class="heb">רָ֔גַע</span> <span class="translit">(rā·ḡa‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7281.htm">Strong's 7281: </a> </span><span class="str2">A wink, a very short space of time</span><br /><br /><span class="word">without</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | 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">a hand</span><br /><span class="heb">יָדָֽיִם׃</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḏā·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - fd<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3027.htm">Strong's 3027: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">turned toward her.</span><br /><span class="heb">חָ֥לוּ</span> <span class="translit">(ḥā·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2342.htm">Strong's 2342: </a> </span><span class="str2">To twist, whirl, to dance, to writhe in pain, fear, to wait, to pervert</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/lamentations/4-6.htm">Lamentations 4:6 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/lamentations/4-6.htm">Lamentations 4:6 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/lamentations/4-6.htm">Lamentations 4:6 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/lamentations/4-6.htm">Lamentations 4:6 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/lamentations/4-6.htm">Lamentations 4:6 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/lamentations/4-6.htm">Lamentations 4:6 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/lamentations/4-6.htm">Lamentations 4:6 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/lamentations/4-6.htm">Lamentations 4:6 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/lamentations/4-6.htm">Lamentations 4:6 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/lamentations/4-6.htm">Lamentations 4:6 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/lamentations/4-6.htm">OT Prophets: Lamentations 4:6 For the iniquity of the daughter (Lam. La Lm) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/lamentations/4-5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Lamentations 4:5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Lamentations 4:5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/lamentations/4-7.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Lamentations 4:7"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Lamentations 4:7" /></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>