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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 />But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/lamentations/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the sins of her priests, who defiled the city by shedding innocent blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/lamentations/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />This was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed in the midst of her the blood of the righteous.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/lamentations/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />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="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/lamentations/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For the sins of her prophets, <i>and</i> the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/lamentations/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Because of the sins of her prophets <i>And</i> the iniquities of her priests, Who shed in her midst The blood of the just.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/lamentations/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Because of the sins of her prophets <i>And</i> the wrongdoings of her priests, Who have shed in her midst The blood of the righteous,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/lamentations/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Because of the sins of her prophets And the iniquities of her priests, Who have shed in her midst The blood of the righteous;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/lamentations/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Because of the sins of her prophets <i>And</i> the iniquities of her priests, Who have shed in her midst The blood of the righteous,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/lamentations/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Because of the sins of her prophets <i>And</i> the iniquities of her priests, Who have shed in her midst The blood of the righteous;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/lamentations/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Because of the sins of her [counterfeit] prophets And the wickedness of her [unfaithful] priests, Who have shed in her midst The blood of the just <i>and</i> righteous;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/lamentations/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous within her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/lamentations/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous within her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/lamentations/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/lamentations/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Jerusalem was punished because her prophets and her priests had sinned and caused the death of innocent victims. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/lamentations/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/lamentations/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />[They got through] because of the sins of Jerusalem's prophets and the crimes of its priests, who spilled the blood of righteous people within it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/lamentations/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But it happened, because her prophets sinned and her priests were guilty of causing the death of innocent people. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/lamentations/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Due to the sins committed by her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests who shed in her midst, the blood of the righteous,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/lamentations/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />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="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/lamentations/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But it happened due to the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who poured out in her midst the blood of the righteous. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/lamentations/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of 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 sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/lamentations/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />It is because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the middle of her. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/lamentations/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Because of the sins of her prophets, "" The iniquities of her priests, "" Who are shedding in her midst the blood of the righteous,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/lamentations/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Because of the sins of her prophets, The iniquities of her priests, Who are shedding in her midst the blood of the righteous,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/lamentations/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />From the sins of her prophets the iniquities of her priests shedding the blood of the just in her midst,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/lamentations/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Mem. For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/lamentations/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />MEM. It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, who have shed the blood of the just in her midst.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/lamentations/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Except for the sins of her prophets and the crimes of her priests, Who poured out in her midst the blood of the just. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/lamentations/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />It was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in the midst of her.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/lamentations/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />It happened for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who have shed in the midst of her the blood of the righteous.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/lamentations/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Mem Because of the sin of her Prophets and the evil of her Priests who shed the blood of the righteous ones within her<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/lamentations/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />It is because of the sins of her prophets, And the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just In the midst of her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/lamentations/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />MEM. For the sins of her prophets, <i>and</i> iniquities of her priests, who shed righteous blood in the midst of her,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/lamentations/4-13.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=1195" 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">12</span>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="reftext">13</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2403.htm" title="2403: mê·ḥaṭ·ṭōṯ (Prep-m:: N-fpc) -- Or chattacth; from chata'; an offence, and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also an offender.">But this was for the sins</a> <a href="/hebrew/5030.htm" title="5030: nə·ḇî·’e·hā (N-mpc:: 3fs) -- A spokesman, speaker, prophet. From naba'; a prophet or inspired man.">of her prophets</a> <a href="/hebrew/5771.htm" title="5771: ‘ă·wō·nō·wṯ (N-cpc) -- Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity. Or oavown; from avah; perversity, i.e. evil.">and the guilt</a> <a href="/hebrew/3548.htm" title="3548: kō·hă·ne·hā (N-mpc:: 3fs) -- Priest. Active participle of kahan; literally, one officiating, a priest; also an acting priest.">of her priests,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8210.htm" title="8210: haš·šō·p̄ə·ḵîm (Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To pour out, pour. A primitive root; to spill forth; also to expend; intensively, to sprawl out.">who shed</a> <a href="/hebrew/1818.htm" title="1818: dam (N-msc) -- Blood. From damam; blood of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively bloodshed.">the blood</a> <a href="/hebrew/6662.htm" title="6662: ṣad·dî·qîm (Adj-mp) -- Just, righteous. From tsadaq; just.">of the righteous</a> <a href="/hebrew/7130.htm" title="7130: bə·qir·bāh (Prep-b:: N-msc:: 3fs) -- Inward part, midst. From qarab; properly, the nearest part, i.e. The center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial.">in her midst.</a> </span><span class="reftext">14</span>They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.…<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/23-11.htm">Jeremiah 23:11-15</a></span><br />“For both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the LORD. / “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. / “Among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/22-25.htm">Ezekiel 22:25-28</a></span><br />The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her. / 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. / Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-29.htm">Matthew 23:29-36</a></span><br />Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. / And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ / So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-31.htm">Jeremiah 5:31</a></span><br />The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/3-5.htm">Micah 3:5-7</a></span><br />This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths: / 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="/matthew/23-37.htm">Matthew 23:37</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!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/14-14.htm">Jeremiah 14:14-16</a></span><br />“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds. / Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets who prophesy in My name: I did not send them, yet they say, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ By sword and famine these very prophets will meet their end! / And the people to whom they prophesy will be thrown into the streets of Jerusalem because of famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them or their wives, their sons or their daughters. I will pour out their own evil upon them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/9-7.htm">Hosea 9:7-8</a></span><br />The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived—let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility. / The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman, along with my God, yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths. Hostility is in the house of his God!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/11-47.htm">Luke 11:47-51</a></span><br />Woe to you! For you build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them. / So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. / Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zephaniah/3-4.htm">Zephaniah 3:4</a></span><br />Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/6-13.htm">Jeremiah 6:13-15</a></span><br />“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit. / They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. / Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-33.htm">Matthew 21:33-41</a></span><br />Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. / When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit. / But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/9-14.htm">Isaiah 9:14-16</a></span><br />So the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day. / The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies. / For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51-52</a></span><br />You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. / Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/8-10.htm">Jeremiah 8:10-12</a></span><br />Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit. / They dress the wound of the daughter of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. / Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse, says the LORD.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the middle of her,</p><p class="hdg">the sins</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/lamentations/2-14.htm">Lamentations 2:14</a></b></br> Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/5-31.htm">Jeremiah 5:31</a></b></br> The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love <i>to have it</i> so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/6-13.htm">Jeremiah 6:13</a></b></br> For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one <i>is</i> given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.</p><p class="hdg">that</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/2-20.htm">Jeremiah 2:20</a></b></br> For of old time I have broken thy yoke, <i>and</i> burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/26-8.htm">Jeremiah 26:8,9</a></b></br> Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded <i>him</i> to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/23-31.htm">Matthew 23:31,33-37</a></b></br> Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/51-35.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-12.htm">Drained</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-22.htm">Evil-Doing</a> <a href="/jeremiah/33-8.htm">Iniquities</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-45.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-19.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-14.htm">Prophets</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-18.htm">Righteous</a> <a href="/jeremiah/22-17.htm">Shed</a> <a href="/jeremiah/22-17.htm">Shedding</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-39.htm">Sins</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-18.htm">Upright</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-20.htm">Within</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/lamentations/4-14.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/ezekiel/21-32.htm">Drained</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-22.htm">Evil-Doing</a> <a href="/lamentations/5-7.htm">Iniquities</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-1.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-16.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/ezekiel/13-2.htm">Prophets</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-20.htm">Righteous</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-38.htm">Shed</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-38.htm">Shedding</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-22.htm">Sins</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-21.htm">Upright</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-5.htm">Within</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>But this was for the sins of her prophets</b><br>The phrase highlights the responsibility of the prophets in the downfall of Jerusalem. Prophets were meant to be God's messengers, guiding the people in truth and righteousness. However, during the time leading up to the Babylonian exile, many prophets in Judah were false, leading the people astray with messages that contradicted God's will (<a href="/jeremiah/23-11.htm">Jeremiah 23:11-14</a>). Their failure to speak truth contributed to the moral and spiritual decay of the nation.<p><b>and the guilt of her priests</b><br>The priests, who were supposed to be the spiritual leaders and mediators between God and the people, also failed in their duties. They were guilty of corruption and neglecting the law (<a href="/malachi/2-7.htm">Malachi 2:7-8</a>). The priesthood had become complicit in the nation's sins, prioritizing their own interests over their sacred responsibilities. This failure is reminiscent of the corrupt priesthood during the time of Eli (<a href="/1_samuel/2-12.htm">1 Samuel 2:12-17</a>).<p><b>who shed the blood of the righteous</b><br>This phrase indicates the severity of the leaders' sins, as they were responsible for the persecution and even murder of those who were righteous. This echoes the fate of many prophets and righteous individuals throughout Israel's history, such as Zechariah son of Jehoiada (<a href="/2_chronicles/24-20.htm">2 Chronicles 24:20-22</a>) and the prophet Uriah (<a href="/jeremiah/26-20.htm">Jeremiah 26:20-23</a>). It foreshadows the ultimate rejection and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, by the religious leaders of His time (<a href="/matthew/23-29.htm">Matthew 23:29-37</a>).<p><b>in her midst</b><br>The phrase "in her midst" underscores the fact that these atrocities were committed openly within the community, highlighting the pervasive corruption and moral decay. Jerusalem, the city meant to be a beacon of God's presence and holiness, had become a place of injustice and bloodshed. This internal corruption led to the city's downfall, fulfilling the warnings given by prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel about the consequences of turning away from God (<a href="/ezekiel/22-2.htm">Ezekiel 22:2-4</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/prophets.htm">Prophets</a></b><br>In the context of Lamentations, these were individuals who were supposed to be God's messengers, guiding the people of Judah. However, they failed in their duties, leading the people astray.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/p/priests.htm">Priests</a></b><br>Religious leaders responsible for maintaining the spiritual well-being of the nation. Their iniquities contributed to the moral and spiritual decay of Judah.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/r/righteous.htm">Righteous</a></b><br>Refers to those who were innocent and faithful to God, yet suffered due to the corruption and sins of the leaders.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where these events took place, representing the heart of Judah's spiritual and political life.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a></b><br>The southern kingdom of Israel, which faced destruction and exile due to its leaders' sins.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_responsibility_of_leadership.htm">The Responsibility of Leadership</a></b><br>Leaders, especially spiritual ones, have a profound responsibility to guide their people in truth and righteousness. Their failure can lead to widespread suffering and judgment.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_sin.htm">The Consequences of Sin</a></b><br>The sins of the leaders had dire consequences not only for themselves but for the entire nation. Sin has a ripple effect that can impact many lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_value_of_righteousness.htm">The Value of Righteousness</a></b><br>Even in times of widespread corruption, God values and sees the righteous. Their suffering is not unnoticed by Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/accountability_before_god.htm">Accountability Before God</a></b><br>Everyone, especially leaders, will be held accountable for their actions. It is crucial to live with integrity and faithfulness to God's commands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_discernment.htm">The Importance of Discernment</a></b><br>Believers must be discerning about whom they follow and ensure that their leaders are aligned with God's Word.<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/how_does_lamentations_4_13_align_with_communal_guilt.htm">(Lamentations 4:13) How does blaming prophets and priests for the downfall align or conflict with other biblical teachings on communal guilt? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_a_kind_god_allow_destruction.htm">How can a compassionate God (Lamentations 3:22) allow such overwhelming destruction in Jerusalem?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_isaiah_18_4's_imagery_align.htm">Isaiah 18:4: How does the imagery of God quietly observing nations square with other passages where God is depicted as actively intervening?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_psalm_59_4_claim_david's_innocence.htm">If Psalm 59:4 claims innocence on David's part, why do other passages (e.g., 2 Samuel 11) contradict this portrayal of his character?</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>(13) <span class= "bld">That have shed the blood of the just . . .</span>--The words point to incidents like the death of Zechariah the son of Jehoiada (<a href="/2_chronicles/24-21.htm" title="And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.">2Chronicles 24:21</a>); the "innocent blood" shed by Manasseh (<a href="/2_kings/21-16.htm" title="Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin with which he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.">2Kings 21:16</a>); the attempts on Jeremiah's own life (<a href="/jeremiah/26-7.htm" title="So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.">Jeremiah 26:7</a>); possibly to some unrecorded atrocities during the siege on the part of the priests and false prophets, who looked on the true prophets as traitors (<a href="/jeremiah/26-23.htm" title="And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him to Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.">Jeremiah 26:23</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/lamentations/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 13.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For the sins of her prophets,</span> etc. Instead of connecting this verse by a comma with the following, we should rather view it as a unit in itself, and understand at the beginning, "All this hath happened" The sins of the prophets and priests are mentioned together by Jeremiah (<a href="/jeremiah/6-13.htm">Jeremiah 6:13</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/23-11.htm">Jeremiah 23:11</a>), as well as by Isaiah (<a href="/isaiah/28-7.htm">Isaiah 28:7</a>). But we are nowhere else told that the spiritual leaders of the people, in these closing years of the Jewish state, were guilty of shedding innocent blood, unless this is to be inferred from the incident related in <a href="/jeremiah/26-7.htm">Jeremiah 26:7</a>, etc. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/lamentations/4-13.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">[But this was] for the sins</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵֽחַטֹּ֣את</span> <span class="translit">(mê·ḥaṭ·ṭōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural 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 her prophets</span><br /><span class="heb">נְבִיאֶ֔יהָ</span> <span class="translit">(nə·ḇî·’e·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5030.htm">Strong's 5030: </a> </span><span class="str2">A spokesman, speaker, prophet</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and the guilt</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲוֺנ֖וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·wō·nō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common plural 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 her priests,</span><br /><span class="heb">כֹּהֲנֶ֑יהָ</span> <span class="translit">(kō·hă·ne·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3548.htm">Strong's 3548: </a> </span><span class="str2">Priest</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who shed</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשֹּׁפְכִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(haš·šō·p̄ə·ḵîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8210.htm">Strong's 8210: </a> </span><span class="str2">To spill forth, to expend, to sprawl out</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the blood</span><br /><span class="heb">דַּ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(dam)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<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">of the righteous</span><br /><span class="heb">צַדִּיקִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(ṣad·dî·qîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6662.htm">Strong's 6662: </a> </span><span class="str2">Just, righteous</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in her midst.</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּקִרְבָּ֖הּ</span> <span class="translit">(bə·qir·bāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7130.htm">Strong's 7130: </a> </span><span class="str2">The nearest part, the center</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/lamentations/4-13.htm">Lamentations 4:13 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/lamentations/4-13.htm">Lamentations 4:13 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/lamentations/4-13.htm">Lamentations 4:13 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/lamentations/4-13.htm">Lamentations 4:13 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/lamentations/4-13.htm">Lamentations 4:13 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/lamentations/4-13.htm">Lamentations 4:13 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/lamentations/4-13.htm">Lamentations 4:13 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/lamentations/4-13.htm">Lamentations 4:13 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/lamentations/4-13.htm">Lamentations 4:13 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/lamentations/4-13.htm">Lamentations 4:13 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/lamentations/4-13.htm">OT Prophets: Lamentations 4:13 It is because of the sins (Lam. La Lm) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/lamentations/4-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Lamentations 4:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Lamentations 4:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/lamentations/4-14.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Lamentations 4:14"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Lamentations 4:14" /></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>