Lamentations 2:3 Meaning and Explanation
“He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy, and he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →In fierce anger the LORD has broken Israel's strength and withdrawn his protecting hand, burning against Jacob like a consuming fire.
What Does Lamentations 2:3 Mean?
The 'horn' is the Bible's image for strength and dignity, drawn from the horned animal whose power is its pride. To cut off the horn is to break the nation's might at its root. Israel is left defenseless, her strength severed by the hand that once gave it.
Most piercing is that God 'hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy.' The hand that had so often fought for Israel is now withheld, no longer raised in her defense. And more than withheld, it turns: he burns against Jacob like flaming fire. When the Defender steps back, the floodwaters of judgment that he once held off rush in. The verse names the worst loss of all, the withdrawal of the protecting presence.
Lamentations 2:3 in the Original Language
qeren (קֶרֶן), 'horn' -- the symbol of strength and honor, now cut off from Israel.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lamentations 2:3
What does Lamentations 2:3 mean?
In fierce anger the LORD has broken Israel's strength and withdrawn his protecting hand, burning against Jacob like a consuming fire.