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Lamentations 4:8

Old Testament Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Lamentations 4:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: Their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: Their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
Lamentations 4:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Lamentations 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: They that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
6For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her.
7Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.
8Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: Their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
9They 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.
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.
← Lamentations 4:7Lamentations 4:9 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Their visage is blacker than a coal, etc.] Or, “darker than blackness”; or, “dark through blackness” f119; by reason of the famine, and because of grief and trouble for themselves and their friends, which changed their complexions, countenances, and skins; they that looked before as pure as snow, as white as milk, as clear as pearls, as polished as sapphire, now as black as charcoal, as blackness itself: they are not known in the streets; not taken notice of in a distinguished manner; no respect shown them as they walk the streets, as used to be; nay, their countenances were so altered, and their apparel so sordid, as not to be known by their friends, when they met them in public: their skin…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“blacker than . . . coal--or, "than blackness" itself (Joe 2:6; Nah 2:10). like a stick--as withered as a dry stick.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Their visage ... - Their form (their whole person, see 1 Samuel 28:14)... as in the margin. See Job 30:30. It is withered, it is become like a stick - Or, It has become dry like a piece of wood. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Not known - So that those who before knew them, do not know them now. Lamentations 4:13”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:8 Skin sticking to bones is symptomatic of the final stages of starvation, just before death.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“visage: Lam 5:10; Job 30:17-19, Job 30:30; Joe 2:6; Nah 2:10 blacker than a coal: Heb. darker than blackness. Or, as Dr. Blayney renders, "duskier than the dawn;" shachar signifying "the dawn of the day, when it is neither light nor dark, but between both, at which time objects are not easily distinguished." they: Lam 4:1, Lam 4:2; Rut 1:19, Rut 1:20; Job 2:12; Isa 52:14 their skin: Job 19:20, Job 33:21; Psa 32:4, Psa 38:3, Psa 102:3-5, Psa 102:11, Psa 119:83 Lamentations 4:9”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification