Lamentations 4:9

Verse

Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.

American Standard Version (1901)

They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.

Bible in Basic English

Those who have been put to the sword are better off than those whose death is caused by need of food; for these come to death slowly, burned up like the fruit of the field.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Teth. It was better with them that were slain by the sword, than with them that died with hunger: for these pined away being consumed for want of the fruits of the earth.

Free Bible Version

Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who slowly waste away in agony because the fields produce no crops.

Geneva Bible 1599

They that be slaine with the sword are better, then they that are killed with hunger: for they fade away as they were striken through for the fruites of the fielde.

King James (Authorized) Version

They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

Translation for Translators

It is better to die in a battle [MTY] than to die of hunger. There was no food to harvest in the fields, so the people slowly starved until they died.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Those who have been killed by the sword were happier than those killed by hunger, who wasted away, pierced by the lack of any harvest from the field.

Noah Webster Bible

They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

World English Bible

Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through, for lack of the fruits of the field.

Young's Literal Translation

Better have been the pierced of a sword Than the pierced of famine, For these flow away, pierced through, Without the increase of the field.

Context

The Distress of Zion

⁸But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick. ⁹Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.

Summary

This verse describes the severity of the famine during the siege of Jerusalem, highlighting the desperate measures taken by the people to survive. It portrays the heartbreaking scene of mothers cooking their own children due to extreme hunger, a tragic consequence of the city's isolation and devastation. The verse serves as a poignant reminder of the horrific consequences of sin and disobedience, illustrating the depths of suffering that can result from turning away from God. It underscores the importance of remaining faithful to God and the dire consequences of forsaking His ways.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

The speedy death by the sword is better than the lingering death by famine. pine away--literally, "flow out"; referring to the flow of blood. This expression, and "stricken through," are drawn from death by "the sword." want of . . . fruits--The words in italics have to be supplied in the original (Gen 18:28; Psa 109:24).

John Gill Bible Commentary

They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger,.... Not that they are better with respect to their state after death, but with respect to their manner of dying. They that were slain by the sword of the Chaldeans, as many were, either upon the walls, or in sallies out against the enemy, these felt less pain, and had less terror of mind in dying, than those did who perished by famine; they died a lingering death, as it were by inches, and were in continual pain of body and uneasiness of mind: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field: that is, those that died by famine gradually wasted or "flowed" away, their fluid parts by degrees went off; and though they were not run through with the sword, they were stabbed by famine, and were so distressed in body and mind as if a sword had pierced them; not having the fruits of the field, the corn and the wine, to support nature, and keep them alive. Jarchi's note is, "they that were slain with hunger were inflated at the smell of the fruits of the field, when the enemies were roasting their flesh upon the grass without the wall; the smell entered into those that swelled by famine, and their bellies burst, and their excrements flowed out; and this is the death worse than that of being slain with the sword.'' And to this agrees the Targum, "more happy are they that are slain with the sword than they that are slain with famine; for they that are slain with the sword flowed when their bellies were burst, by that which they ate of the fruits of the field; and those that were inflated with famine, their bellies burst through "want" of food.'' Most interpreters refer this clause to those that died of famine: but Gussetius (z) interprets it of those that were killed with the sword; and renders and paraphrases the words thus, "for they being stabbed, sent out"; by the open wounds, "a flux, which arose from the fruits of the field"; their food and nourishment being yet in their belly and veins, and so did not pine away through penury and famine; and their misery was short and light, in comparison of others: and so Abendana. (z) Comment. Ebr. p. 225.

Lamentations 4:9

The Distress of Zion

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.

American Standard Version (1901)

They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.

Bible in Basic English

Those who have been put to the sword are better off than those whose death is caused by need of food; for these come to death slowly, burned up like the fruit of the field.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Teth. It was better with them that were slain by the sword, than with them that died with hunger: for these pined away being consumed for want of the fruits of the earth.

Free Bible Version

Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who slowly waste away in agony because the fields produce no crops.

Geneva Bible 1599

They that be slaine with the sword are better, then they that are killed with hunger: for they fade away as they were striken through for the fruites of the fielde.

King James (Authorized) Version

They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

Translation for Translators

It is better to die in a battle [MTY] than to die of hunger. There was no food to harvest in the fields, so the people slowly starved until they died.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Those who have been killed by the sword were happier than those killed by hunger, who wasted away, pierced by the lack of any harvest from the field.

Noah Webster Bible

They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

World English Bible

Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through, for lack of the fruits of the field.

Young's Literal Translation

Better have been the pierced of a sword Than the pierced of famine, For these flow away, pierced through, Without the increase of the field.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Lamentations 4:9

Verse

Context

The Distress of Zion

Summary

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Lamentations 4:9

The Distress of Zion

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes