Lamentations 2:5 Meaning and Explanation
“The LORD was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The LORD has acted as an enemy, swallowing up Israel and her palaces and multiplying mourning throughout Judah.
What Does Lamentations 2:5 Mean?
The hard phrase is repeated and intensified: 'The LORD was as an enemy.' Twice more the verb 'swallowed up' falls, on Israel and on her palaces, as if the land were devoured in great gulps. The strongholds called 'his' — for they were meant to guard his people — are themselves destroyed by him. The judgment turns the nation's every defense to rubble.
The final clause names the harvest of all this: he 'hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.' Where there had been feasting and song, God has multiplied grief. It is a sobering thing that the increase here is of sorrow. Yet the very book we read is that lamentation given voice, and Scripture preserves it, which tells us such grief is not despised by God but received.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lamentations 2:5
What does Lamentations 2:5 mean?
The LORD has acted as an enemy, swallowing up Israel and her palaces and multiplying mourning throughout Judah.