Lamentations 5:18
Lamentations 5:18 in Multiple Translations
because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, patrolled by foxes.
Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.
For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate: The foxes walk upon it.
Because of the mountain of Zion which is a waste; jackals go over it.
Because of Mount Zion, which has been abandoned, and where only foxes roam.
Because of the mountaine of Zion which is desolate: the foxes runne vpon it.
For the mount of Zion — that is desolate, Foxes have gone up on it.
for the mountain of Zion, which is desolate. The foxes walk on it.
Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.
For mount Sion, because it is destroyed, foxes have walked upon it.
Jerusalem is completely deserted, and jackals/wolves prowl around it.
Berean Amplified Bible — Lamentations 5:18
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Lamentations 5:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
עַ֤ל
הַר
צִיּוֹן֙
שֶׁ/שָּׁמֵ֔ם
שׁוּעָלִ֖ים
הִלְּכוּ
בֽ/וֹ
עַ֤ל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
הַר
har
H2022
mountain
N-ms
צִיּוֹן֙
Tsîyôwn
H6726
Zion
N-proper
שֶׁ/שָּׁמֵ֔ם
shâmêm
H8074
be desolate
Rel | V-Qal-Perf-3ms
שׁוּעָלִ֖ים
shûwʻâl
H7776
fox
N-mp
הִלְּכוּ
hâlak
H1980
to go
V-Piel-Perf-3cp
בֽ/וֹ
Prep | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Lamentations 5:18
עַ֤ל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
הַר
har
H2022
"mountain"
N-ms
A mountain or hill, sometimes used to describe a spiritual high point. In the Bible, it can refer to a real mountain or a figurative one. The word is often translated as hill or mount.
Definition: : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount
Usage: Occurs in 486 OT verses. KJV: hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion. See also: Genesis 7:19; Deuteronomy 3:12; Judges 18:13.
צִיּוֹן֙
Tsîyôwn
H6726
"Zion"
N-proper
Zion refers to a mountain in Jerusalem, often used as another name for the city, especially in prophetic books like Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Definition: Zion = "parched place" another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 153 OT verses. KJV: Zion. See also: 2 Samuel 5:7; Isaiah 49:14; Psalms 2:6.
שֶׁ/שָּׁמֵ֔ם
shâmêm
H8074
"be desolate"
Rel | V-Qal-Perf-3ms
The word 'shamem' means to be desolate or devastated, like a place left empty and destroyed, often used to describe the aftermath of war or disaster.
Definition: : destroyed/deserted 1) to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be desolated, be deflowered, be deserted, be appalled 1a2) to be appalled, be awestruck 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be desolated, be made desolate 1b2) to be appalled 1c) (Polel) 1c1) to be stunned 1c2) appalling, causing horror (participle) 1c2a) horror-causer, appaller (subst) 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to devastate, ravage, make desolated 1d2) to appal, show horror 1e) (Hophal) to lay desolate, be desolated 1f) (Hithpolel) 1f1) to cause to be desolate 1f2) to be appalled, be astounded 1f3) to cause oneself desolation, cause oneself ruin
Usage: Occurs in 80 OT verses. KJV: make amazed, be astonied, (be an) astonish(-ment), (be, bring into, unto, lay, lie, make) desolate(-ion, places), be destitute, destroy (self), (lay, lie, make) waste, wonder. See also: Leviticus 26:22; Jeremiah 50:13; Psalms 40:16.
שׁוּעָלִ֖ים
shûwʻâl
H7776
"fox"
N-mp
The word for fox refers to a burrower, possibly also a jackal. It describes a small to medium-sized mammal that digs holes. In the Bible, it is translated as fox.
Definition: 1) fox, a burrower 1a) fox 1b) perhaps also jackal
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: fox. See also: Judges 15:4; Song of Solomon 2:15; Psalms 63:11.
הִלְּכוּ
hâlak
H1980
"to go"
V-Piel-Perf-3cp
Means to walk or go, used in many different contexts in the Bible. It can describe physical movement, but also spiritual or emotional journeys. Appears in various forms, such as 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Definition: : walk/move 1) to go, walk, come 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away 1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.) 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to walk 1b2) to walk (fig.) 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to traverse 1c2) to walk about 1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
Usage: Occurs in 473 OT verses. KJV: (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, [phrase] be eased, enter, exercise (self), [phrase] follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), [phrase] greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, [idiom] more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), [phrase] send, speedily, spread, still, surely, [phrase] tale-bearer, [phrase] travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-) faring man, [idiom] be weak, whirl. See also: Genesis 2:14; Judges 4:9; 1 Kings 13:12.
בֽ/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
Study Notes — Lamentations 5:18
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Lamentations 5:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 5:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 5:18
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 5:18
- Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 5:18
- Ellicott's Commentary on Lamentations 5:18
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Lamentations 5:18
- Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 5:18
- Barnes' Notes on Lamentations 5:18
- Whedon's Commentary on Lamentations 5:18
- Sermons on Lamentations 5:18
Context — A Prayer for Restoration
16The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17Because of this, our hearts are faint; because of these, our eyes grow dim—
18because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, patrolled by foxes.
19You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation. 20Why have You forgotten us forever? Why have You forsaken us for so long?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Micah 3:12 | Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 9:11 | “And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.” |
| 3 | Psalms 74:2–3 | Remember Your congregation, which You purchased long ago and redeemed as the tribe of Your inheritance— Mount Zion where You dwell. Turn Your steps to the everlasting ruins, to everything in the sanctuary the enemy has destroyed. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 17:3 | O My mountain in the countryside, I will give over your wealth and all your treasures as plunder, because of the sin of your high places, within all your borders. |
| 5 | Isaiah 32:13–14 | and for the land of my people, overgrown with thorns and briers— even for every house of merriment in this city of revelry. For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become caves forever— the delight of wild donkeys and a pasture for flocks— |
| 6 | Lamentations 2:8–9 | The LORD determined to destroy the wall of the Daughter of Zion. He stretched out a measuring line and did not withdraw His hand from destroying. He made the ramparts and walls lament; together they waste away. Her gates have sunk into the ground; He has destroyed and shattered their bars. Her king and her princes are exiled among the nations, the law is no more, and even her prophets find no vision from the LORD. |
| 7 | 1 Kings 9:7–8 | then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples. And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ |
| 8 | Jeremiah 26:9 | How dare you prophesy in the name of the LORD that this house will become like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted!” And all the people assembled against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. |
| 9 | Jeremiah 52:13 | He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. |
Lamentations 5:18 Summary
[Lamentations 5:18 is a sad verse that talks about Mount Zion, which is another name for the city of Jerusalem, being empty and taken over by foxes. This is a symbol of what happens when God's people turn away from Him and sin, as seen in Jeremiah 22:8-9. It reminds us that our actions have consequences, and that we need to seek God's forgiveness and restoration, just like the Israelites did in Nehemiah 9:1-3 and Daniel 9:1-19. By looking at this verse, we can learn the importance of staying close to God and following His ways, as encouraged in Psalms 119:1-8 and Proverbs 3:1-6.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of Mount Zion in Lamentations 5:18?
Mount Zion is a reference to the city of Jerusalem, which was the spiritual center of the Israelites, as seen in Psalms 48:1-2 and Isaiah 2:3, and its desolation is a symbol of God's judgment on His people for their sin.
Why are foxes mentioned in this verse?
The presence of foxes in Mount Zion suggests a state of abandonment and decay, as foxes were considered unclean animals in biblical times, and their presence in a once-holy place emphasizes the extent of God's judgment, as also seen in Nehemiah 4:3 and Ezekiel 13:4.
How does this verse relate to the overall theme of Lamentations?
Lamentations 5:18 is part of a larger lament over the fall of Jerusalem and the exile of the Israelites, as expressed in Lamentations 1:1 and Lamentations 4:1-2, and it highlights the consequences of sin and the need for repentance, as seen in Jeremiah 3:12-13 and Deuteronomy 30:1-3.
What can we learn from the desolation of Mount Zion?
The desolation of Mount Zion serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:1-2 and Joshua 1:7-8, and it encourages believers to seek God's restoration and redemption, as promised in Isaiah 61:4 and Joel 2:25-26.
Reflection Questions
- How do I respond when I see the consequences of sin in my own life or in the world around me?
- What are some ways I can prioritize my relationship with God and seek His restoration in my life, just as the Israelites longed for the restoration of Mount Zion?
- In what ways can I be a source of hope and encouragement to others who may be experiencing desolation or exile, whether physical or spiritual?
- How can I balance the reality of God's judgment with the promise of His mercy and restoration, as seen in Lamentations 5:19 and Jeremiah 31:31-34?
Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 5:18
Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate,.... Meaning either the city of Jerusalem in general, or the temple in particular, which both lay in ruins: but the latter gave the truly godly the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 5:18
Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it. The mountain of Zion ... foxes walk upon it - they frequent desolate places, where they can freely and fearlessly roam.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 5:18
Foxes and other wild beasts, which flee from places inhabited for fear of men inhabiting, and are much in desolate places. The mountain of Zion, where the temple once stood, and people met to worship God, was now a desolate, unfrequented place, so as will beasts ran up and down there.
Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 5:18
Lamentations 5:18 Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.Ver. 18. Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate,] q.d., Next unto our sins (which are our greatest sorrow), nothing troubleth us more than this, that the public exercises of piety are put down; Zion, the seat of God’ s sanctuary, is desolate.
Ellicott's Commentary on Lamentations 5:18
(18) Foxes.—Better, jackals, who are thought of as haunting the ruins of Jerusalem. (Comp. Psalms 63:10.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Lamentations 5:18
Verse 18. The foxes walk upon it.] Foxes are very numerous in Palestine, see on Judges 15:4. It was usual among the Hebrews to consider all desolated land to be the resort of wild beasts; which is, in fact, the case every where when the inhabitants are removed from a country.
Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 5:18
18. foxes] mg. jackals. The words imply that a considerable time has passed since the overthrow of the Temple.
Barnes' Notes on Lamentations 5:18
The foxes - Or, jackals. As these animals live among ruins, and shun the presence of man, it shows that Zion is laid waste and deserted.
Whedon's Commentary on Lamentations 5:18
18. The foxes walk upon it — Jackals, who live among ruins and shun the presence of man.
Sermons on Lamentations 5:18
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Skyland Conference 1979-03 Elisha by Robert Constable | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of making room for God's blessings in our lives. He uses the story of a widow in debt to illustrate this point. The widow, wh |
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When God Crashes the Party by Denis Lyle | Denis Lyle preaches on the story of Belshazzar in Daniel 5, highlighting the tragic dissipation and revelry at the royal feast, where intemperance, impropriety, impiety, and idolat |
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Holy Spirit #29: The Spirit of Revival by Alan Cairns | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of prayer for revival in times of spiritual decline in the Church. He refers to Isaiah 62:6-7, where God sets watchmen on the |
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The Happy Effects of the Pouring Out of the Spirit by Samuel Davies | Samuel Davies preaches about the necessity of a general outpouring of the Holy Spirit for national reformation and individual salvation. He emphasizes the dire consequences of sin |
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The Crisis, or the Uncertain Doom of Kingdoms at Particular Times by Samuel Davies | Samuel Davies preaches about the uncertainty and anxiety faced by nations in times of crisis, using the example of Nineveh's impending doom due to sin. He emphasizes the importance |