King James Version

What Does Lamentations 2:10 Mean?

Lamentations 2:10 in the King James Version says “The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they ...” — study this verse from Lamentations chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.”

Lamentations 2:10 · KJV

Context

8

The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together. destroying: Heb. swallowing up

9

Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD.

10

The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.

11

Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city. swoon: or, faint

12

They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Corporate mourning rituals: "The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence" (yeshvu la-arets yidmu ziknei bat-Tsiyon, יֵשְׁבוּ לָאָרֶץ יִדְּמוּ זִקְנֵי בַת־צִיּוֹן). Sitting on the ground signifies grief (Job 2:8, 13). The verb damam (דָּמַם, "be silent") suggests grief so profound that words fail. "They have cast up dust upon their heads" (he'elu afar al-rosham)—a mourning gesture (Joshua 7:6, Job 2:12). "They have girded themselves with sackcloth" (chagru sakim)—coarse goat-hair garments worn in grief and repentance. "The virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground" (horidu la-arets roshen betulot Yerushalayim)—young women who should be joyful in courtship and marriage instead mourn in despair. The comprehensive grief spans all ages: elders (wisdom), virgins (future hope). When both aged and young mourn together, the entire community is in crisis. These external expressions of grief are appropriate when genuine repentance accompanies them (Joel 2:12-13).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Mourning rituals in ancient Israel were formalized and communal. Unlike modern Western individualized grief, ancient Near Eastern cultures processed loss corporately through visible, external actions. Sitting on the ground (rather than chairs or benches) demonstrated humbling oneself (Isaiah 47:1). Dust on the head recalled human mortality: 'for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return' (Genesis 3:19). Sackcloth was uncomfortable, marking a departure from normal comfortable clothing. The elders' silence contrasts with their normal role—sitting in the gates, rendering judgments, teaching Torah (Deuteronomy 21:19, Ruth 4:1-2). Now they have nothing to say; judgment has come despite their warnings being ignored. The virgins of Jerusalem, who might have danced at festivals (Judges 21:21, Jeremiah 31:13), now bow in grief. Jeremiah 9:17-21 describes professional mourning women summoned to teach others lamentation, showing mourning was both spontaneous and formally structured.

Reflection Questions

  1. What value is there in corporate, visible expressions of grief and repentance rather than private, internal sorrow only?
  2. How do modern evangelical churches balance appropriate joy in Christ with necessary seasons of corporate lament and mourning over sin?
  3. When might silence before God (like the elders' silence) be more appropriate than words, prayers, or songs?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
יֵשְׁב֨וּ1 of 17

“sit”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

לָאָ֙רֶץ֙2 of 17

“to the ground”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

יִדְּמוּ֙3 of 17

“and keep silence”

H1826

to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop; also to perish

זִקְנֵ֣י4 of 17

“The elders”

H2205

old

בַת5 of 17

“of the daughter”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

צִיּ֔וֹן6 of 17

“of Zion”

H6726

tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem

הֶֽעֱל֤וּ7 of 17

“they have cast up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

עָפָר֙8 of 17

“dust”

H6083

dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud

עַל9 of 17
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

רֹאשָׁ֔ן10 of 17

“their heads”

H7218

the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

חָגְר֖וּ11 of 17

“they have girded”

H2296

to gird on (as a belt, armor, etc.)

שַׂקִּ֑ים12 of 17

“themselves with sackcloth”

H8242

properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), i.e., coarse loose cloth or sacking (used in mourning and for bagging); hence, a bag (for grai

הוֹרִ֤ידוּ13 of 17

“hang down”

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

לָאָ֙רֶץ֙14 of 17

“to the ground”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

רֹאשָׁ֔ן15 of 17

“their heads”

H7218

the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

בְּתוּלֹ֖ת16 of 17

“the virgins”

H1330

a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a city or state

יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃17 of 17

“of Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Lamentations. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Lamentations 2:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Lamentations 2:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 3:26Job 2:12-13Isaiah 15:3Ezekiel 7:18Isaiah 47:1Amos 8:3

Places in This Verse

JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
ZionSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E148 verses across 19 books
View all places in Lamentations 2 →

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