Lamentations 4:7 Meaning and Explanation
“Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Her consecrated ones were once radiant with health and purity, glowing like jewels.
What Does Lamentations 4:7 Mean?
The poet recalls the former glory of Jerusalem's consecrated ones — those set apart to God, here called Nazarites, perhaps her nobles and devoted ones. They were 'purer than snow,' 'whiter than milk,' 'more ruddy in body than rubies,' glowing with the radiance of health, vitality, and holiness. The piling up of images of light and beauty paints them as the very flower of the nation.
Sapphire, snow, milk, rubies — every comparison shines. These were people who embodied the people's consecration, beautiful in body and in their devotion to God. The verse lingers on this radiance precisely to make the next verse's contrast devastating. To know how bright they once were is to feel how dark they have become. The poem honors what was lost by remembering its splendor before describing its ruin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lamentations 4:7
What does Lamentations 4:7 mean?
Her consecrated ones were once radiant with health and purity, glowing like jewels.