King James Version

What Does Lamentations 4:20 Mean?

Lamentations 4:20 in the King James Version says “The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shal...” — study this verse from Lamentations chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.”

Lamentations 4:20 · KJV

Context

18

They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.

19

Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

20

The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.

21

Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.

22

The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins. The: or, Thine iniquity discover: or, carry thee captive for thy sins

Read Lamentations 4 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The king's capture lamented: "The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen." The Hebrew ruach appeinu meshiach YHWH nilkad bishchototam asher amarnu betsillov nichen'eh vagoyim uses exalted language for the Davidic king. Ruach appeinu (רוּחַ אַפֵּינוּ, "breath of our nostrils") indicates the king was considered essential to life itself—like breath.

"The anointed of the LORD" (meshiach YHWH, מְשִׁיחַ יְהוָה) is the Hebrew term for Messiah—the divinely appointed king from David's line. "Was taken in their pits" (nilkad bishchototam, נִלְכַּד בִּשְׁחוֹתָתָם) describes capture. Shachath (שַׁחַת) means pit, trap, or destruction. The phrase "under his shadow we shall live" (betsillov nich'yeh, בְּצִלּוֹ נִחְיֶה) expresses the hope that the king's protection would preserve a remnant even in exile.

Theologically, this verse highlights the tragedy of failed human kingship pointing toward need for the true Messiah. David's line produced flawed kings whose failures culminated in Zedekiah's capture. Yet God's promise of an eternal Davidic kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12-16) awaited fulfillment in Christ—the true Anointed One whose reign never fails and under whose shadow believers truly live forever (Psalm 91:1).

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Historical & Cultural Context

This refers specifically to King Zedekiah's capture. 2 Kings 25:4-7 describes the event: "the king went the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him...Then they took the king...and brought him up unto the king of Babylon...And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon."

The language "breath of our nostrils" and "anointed of the LORD" reflects the elevated view of Davidic kingship. Psalm 2:2 speaks of "the LORD's anointed." The king represented God's rule and embodied national hopes. That he was "taken in their pits" (captured by enemies) represented not just political defeat but theological crisis—how could God's anointed fall?

The hope to "live under his shadow among the nations" reflected expectation that even in exile, having a Davidic king would preserve identity and hope for restoration. But Zedekiah's capture, his sons' execution, and his imprisonment in Babylon (where he died—Jeremiah 52:11) ended visible Davidic rule. This apparent failure of God's promise to David created crisis resolved only by recognizing that ultimate fulfillment comes through Christ, David's greater Son, whose kingdom is eternal and indestructible (Luke 1:32-33, Revelation 11:15).

Reflection Questions

  1. What does calling the king 'the breath of our nostrils' reveal about how central the Davidic monarchy was to Israel's identity and hope?
  2. How does the failure of earthly Davidic kings ('taken in their pits') point to need for a perfect, eternal King—the Messiah?
  3. In what ways does living 'under His shadow' find ultimate fulfillment in Christ's protection and reign over believers?
  4. How should Zedekiah's capture and the apparent end of Davidic kingship have prepared Israel for a greater understanding of Messianic hope?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
ר֤וּחַ1 of 11

“The breath”

H7307

wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the

אַפֵּ֙ינוּ֙2 of 11

“of our nostrils”

H639

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

מְשִׁ֣יחַ3 of 11

“the anointed”

H4899

anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the messiah

יְהוָ֔ה4 of 11

“of the LORD”

H3068

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

נִלְכַּ֖ד5 of 11

“was taken”

H3920

to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere

בִּשְׁחִיתוֹתָ֑ם6 of 11

“in their pits”

H7825

a pit-fall (literally or figuratively)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר7 of 11
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אָמַ֔רְנוּ8 of 11

“of whom we said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

בְּצִלּ֖וֹ9 of 11

“Under his shadow”

H6738

shade, whether literal or figurative

נִֽחְיֶ֥ה10 of 11

“we shall live”

H2421

to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive

בַגּוֹיִֽם׃11 of 11

“among the heathen”

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

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 4:20 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 4:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 2:72 Samuel 19:21Jeremiah 39:5Ezekiel 12:132 Samuel 1:142 Samuel 1:21

Test Your Knowledge

Lamentations 4 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterLamentations Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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