BibleWord.ai› Bible› Lamentations› Chapter 4› Verse 13

Lamentations 4:13

Old Testament Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Lamentations 4:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “[It is] because of the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

[It is] because of the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.
Lamentations 4:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Lamentations 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children; They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11Jehovah hath accomplished his wrath, he hath poured out his fierce anger; And he hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured the foundations thereof.
12The kings of the earth believed not, neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.
13[It is] because of the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.
14They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, So that men cannot touch their garments.
15Depart ye, they cried unto them, Unclean! depart, depart, touch not! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn [here].
16The anger of Jehovah hath scattered them; he will no more regard them: They respected not the persons of the priests, they favored not the elders.
← Lamentations 4:12Lamentations 4:14 →
← Full Chapter 4 Lamentations Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, etc.] Aben Ezra interprets this of the prophets of Baal, and the priests of the high places; but though false prophets and wicked priests are meant, yet such as were among the Jews, made choice of and approved of by them: (see <143614>2 Chronicles 36:14); not that the people were faultless, but these were the principals, who by their examples led on and encouraged the common people in sin: that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her; not the blood of innocent children, sacrificed to them by Moloch; but of good men in general, whom they persecuted and slew; and of the true prophets of the Lord in particular, whose…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“prophets--the false prophets (Jer 23:11, Jer 23:21). Supply the sense thus: "For the sins . . . these calamities have befallen her." shed the blood of the just-- (Mat 23:31, Mat 23:37). This received its full fulfilment in the slaying of Messiah and the Jews' consequent dispersion (Jam 5:6).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The blood of the just - Jeremiah 26:7-24 exhibits priests and prophets as the prime movers in an attempt to silence the word of God by putting Jeremiah to death. Compare the margin reference to Matthew. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Priests - The ecclesiastical men were a great cause of the first and last destruction of Jerusalem. And so they are of most other places that come to ruin, through their neglect of their duty, or encouraging others in their wicked courses. Lamentations 4:14”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the sins: Lam 2:14; Jer 5:31, Jer 6:13, Jer 14:14, Jer 23:11-21; Eze 22:26-28; Mic 3:11, Mic 3:12; Zep 3:3, Zep 3:4 that: Jer 2:20, Jer 26:8, Jer 26:9; Mat 23:31, Mat 23:33-37; Luk 11:47-51; Act 7:52; Th1 2:15, Th1 2:16 Lamentations 4:14”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Lamentations 4 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification