King James Version

What Does Lamentations 2:7 Mean?

Lamentations 2:7 in the King James Version says “The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls ...” — study this verse from Lamentations chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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”

Lamentations 2:7 · KJV

Context

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The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together.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

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.

Read Lamentations 2 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The desecration of worship continues: "The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary" (zanach Adonai mizbecho ni'er mikdasho, זָנַח אֲדֹנָי מִזְבְּחוֹ נִאֵר מִקְדָּשׁוֹ). The verb zanach (זָנַח, "cast off, reject") and na'ar (נִאֵר, "abhor, spurn") are strong terms expressing divine repudiation. God rejects His own altar and sanctuary—institutions He ordained. This shows that religious forms divorced from heart obedience become detestable to God (Isaiah 1:11-15, Amos 5:21-23). The phrase "he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces" (hisgir be-yad-oyev chomot armenotehe) shows God actively delivering Jerusalem's defenses to enemies. Most painful: "they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast" (natnu kolam be-veit-YHWH ki-yom mo'ed). Enemy shouts in the temple replace worship songs. What should echo with praises to Yahweh now rings with pagan victory cries. The ultimate desecration.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The altar and sanctuary represented the heart of Israel's worship system. The bronze altar in the temple courtyard (1 Kings 8:64) was where daily sacrifices were offered morning and evening (Exodus 29:38-42). The sanctuary (mikdash) encompassed the Holy Place and Most Holy Place. For God to 'cast off' these meant covenant relationship was broken. Ezekiel 10:18-19 describes God's glory departing the temple before its destruction. When Babylonian soldiers entered, they found it already abandoned by God's presence. The 'noise' of enemies in God's house contrasts with proper temple worship—Levitical singing, priestly blessings, worshipers' prayers. Instead, Psalm 74:4 laments: 'Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations.' The phrase 'as in the day of a solemn feast' bitterly ironizes: festival days brought joyful noise to God's house, but now enemy shouts replace celebratory worship.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God casting off His own altar demonstrate that external religious observance means nothing without heart obedience?
  2. What parallels exist between God abhorring the Jerusalem sanctuary and Jesus pronouncing 'your house is left desolate' (Matthew 23:38)?
  3. In what ways might our worship become mere 'noise' to God when divorced from justice, mercy, and humility (Micah 6:6-8)?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
זָנַ֨ח1 of 16

“hath cast off”

H2186

reject, forsake, fail

אֲדֹנָ֤י׀2 of 16

“The Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

מִזְבְּחוֹ֙3 of 16

“his altar”

H4196

an altar

נִאֵ֣ר4 of 16

“he hath abhorred”

H5010

to reject

מִקְדָּשׁ֔וֹ5 of 16

“his sanctuary”

H4720

a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of jehovah or of idols) or asylum

הִסְגִּיר֙6 of 16

“he hath given up”

H5462

to shut up; figuratively, to surrender

בְּיַד7 of 16

“into the hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

אוֹיֵ֔ב8 of 16

“of the enemy”

H341

hating; an adversary

חוֹמֹ֖ת9 of 16

“the walls”

H2346

a wall of protection

אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ10 of 16

“of her palaces”

H759

a citadel (from its height)

ק֛וֹל11 of 16

“a noise”

H6963

a voice or sound

נָתְנ֥וּ12 of 16

“they have made”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

בְּבֵית13 of 16

“in the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יְהוָ֖ה14 of 16

“of the LORD”

H3068

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

כְּי֥וֹם15 of 16

“as in the day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

מוֹעֵֽד׃16 of 16

“of a solemn feast”

H4150

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

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 2:7 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 2:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Amos 2:5Psalms 74:3-8Ezekiel 24:21Jeremiah 52:13Psalms 78:59-61Ezekiel 7:20-22

Places in This Verse

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

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