King James Version

What Does Lamentations 2:6 Mean?

Lamentations 2:6 in the King James Version says “And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly...” — study this verse from Lamentations chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest. tabernacle: or, hedge”

Lamentations 2:6 · KJV

Context

4

He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire. all: Heb. all the desirable of the eye

5

The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.

6

And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest. tabernacle: or, hedge

7

The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast. given up: Heb. shut up

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The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together.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

Read Lamentations 2 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God's actions against His own sanctuary appear shocking: "He hath violently taken away his tabernacle" (vayachmos kaggn sukkoh, וַיַּחְמֹס כַּגַּן שֻׂכּוֹ). The verb chamas (חָמַס) means to treat violently, wrong, or do violence—the same root used for the earth being "filled with violence" before the Flood (Genesis 6:11, 13). God Himself acts with violence against His own dwelling place, like a farmer violently clearing a garden booth. The phrase "destroyed his places of assembly" continues the theme. The Hebrew mo'ado (מוֹעֲדוֹ) refers to appointed places and times for meeting—the festivals, sabbaths, and sacrificial system that structured Israel's worship. God caused cessation of the very worship He had ordained. The statement "the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion" indicates how completely judgment disrupted covenant life. Most striking is the final phrase: "hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest." Both offices that represented God's rule (king) and mediation (priest) come under divine contempt. The Hebrew na'ats (נָאַץ, "despised, spurned") shows God rejecting what He Himself established. This demonstrates that institutions and offices have value only as they serve God's purposes. When corrupted by sin, even sacred things become objects of divine wrath.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The temple and its worship system represented the heart of Israel's covenant identity. Solomon's temple (built 966-959 BC) served as the central sanctuary for nearly four centuries. The elaborate festival calendar—Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, and others—structured the year around remembering God's mighty acts and covenant renewal. By Jeremiah's time, this system had become corrupted. Jeremiah 7:1-15 records God's "temple sermon" condemning hypocritical worship—people engaging in immorality and idolatry while trusting the temple's presence to protect them. Ezekiel 8 describes abominations practiced within the temple courts: idol worship, sun worship, women weeping for Tammuz. The priests who should have maintained holiness had themselves become corrupt (Ezekiel 22:26). When Babylonians breached Jerusalem's walls in 586 BC, they systematically desecrated and destroyed the temple. The holy vessels were taken to Babylon (2 Kings 25:13-17, Daniel 1:2). The bronze pillars, sea, and stands were broken up and carried away. Fire consumed the wooden structures. King Zedekiah was captured, blinded, and imprisoned—the Davidic line apparently ended. High priests were executed (2 Kings 25:18-21). The "indignation of his anger" brought total devastation.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does God's violent removal of His own tabernacle teach about the insufficiency of religious institutions apart from heart obedience?
  2. How should the fact that God 'despised' both king and priest inform our understanding that no human mediator or leader can substitute for genuine relationship with Him?
  3. In what ways does Christ fulfill and supersede both the kingly and priestly offices that God 'despised' in Lamentations?
  4. How does this verse challenge our tendency to trust in church attendance, sacraments, or religious heritage as guarantees of God's favor?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
וַיַּחְמֹ֤ס1 of 15

“And he hath violently taken away”

H2554

to be violent; by implication, to maltreat

כַּגַּן֙2 of 15

“as if it were of a garden”

H1588

a garden (as fenced)

שֻׂכּ֔וֹ3 of 15

“his tabernacle”

H7900

a booth (as interlaced)

שִׁחֵ֖ת4 of 15

“he hath destroyed”

H7843

to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)

מוֹעֵ֣ד5 of 15

“hath caused the solemn feasts”

H4150

properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for

שִׁכַּ֨ח6 of 15

“to be forgotten”

H7911

to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention

יְהוָ֤ה׀7 of 15

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

בְּצִיּוֹן֙8 of 15

“in Zion”

H6726

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

מוֹעֵ֣ד9 of 15

“hath caused the solemn feasts”

H4150

properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for

וְשַׁבָּ֔ת10 of 15

“and sabbaths”

H7676

intermission, i.e (specifically) the sabbath

וַיִּנְאַ֥ץ11 of 15

“and hath despised”

H5006

to scorn; or (in ecclesiastes 12:5), by interchange for h5132, to bloom

בְּזַֽעַם12 of 15

“in the indignation”

H2195

strictly froth at the mouth, i.e., (figuratively) fury (especially of god's displeasure with sin)

אַפּ֖וֹ13 of 15

“of his anger”

H639

properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire

מֶ֥לֶךְ14 of 15

“the king”

H4428

a king

וְכֹהֵֽן׃15 of 15

“and the priest”

H3548

literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)

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 2:6 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 2:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Lamentations 1:4Zephaniah 3:18Lamentations 4:16Isaiah 63:18Isaiah 43:28Isaiah 1:13

Places in This Verse

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

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