The big picture
Lamentations 1 opens in verse 1 with “How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to…”, and closes in verse 22 with “Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, become, enemy, gone, people. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Lamentations · King James Version · 22Lamentations 1:1-8
1–8: How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she…
Lamentations 1:1–8 opens with “How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that…” and reaches “Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jerusalem personified as a solitary grieving woman among empty streets and ruined gates, with particular weight carried by become, gone, adversaries.
Context that brings the passage to life
“How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include become, city, full. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen…” Naming Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her…” Naming Her keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the…” Naming Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Lamentations 1:1-8
King James Version1How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!
2She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.
3Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.
4The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
5Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
6And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
7Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.
8Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
Lamentations 1:9-16
9–16: Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end…
Lamentations 1:9–16 opens with “Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down…” and reaches “For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jerusalem personified as a solitary grieving woman among empty streets and ruined gates, with particular weight carried by LORD, comforter, desolate.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no…” Naming Her keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD…” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath…” The line’s distinctive content terms include back, bones, desolate. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.
“The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush…” Naming Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Lamentations 1:9-16
King James Version9Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD , behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.
10The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.
11All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD , and consider; for I am become vile.
12Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
13From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.
14The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.
15The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.
16For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.
Lamentations 1:17-22
17–22: Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the…
Lamentations 1:17–22 opens with “Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded…” and reaches “Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jerusalem personified as a solitary grieving woman among empty streets and ruined gates, with particular weight carried by LORD, comfort, heart.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my…” The line’s distinctive content terms include captivity, commandment, gone. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.
“I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they…” The line’s distinctive content terms include city, deceived, elders. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.
Lamentations 1:17-22
King James Version17Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.
18The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
19I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.
20Behold, O LORD ; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.
21They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.
22Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Lamentations 1:1 begins with “How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the…”
Where the chapter turns
Lamentations 1:12 forms a natural hinge: “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath…”
The final note
Lamentations 1:22 leaves the reader with “Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, become, enemy, gone, people, adversaries help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who receives the image and the blessing?
Both male and female in verses 27-28. Human worth precedes achievement.
What limits human dominion?
The world belongs to its Creator and is already declared good. Compare the charge to tend and keep in 2:15.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.