King James Version

What Does Lamentations 4:22 Mean?

Lamentations 4:22 in the King James Version says “The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he... — study this verse from Lamentations chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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

Lamentations 4:22 · KJV


Context

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


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion (תַּם־עֲוֹנֵךְ בַּת־צִיּוֹן, tam-avonekh bat-tsiyon)—'Accomplished' (tam) means completed, finished. The judicial sentence has been fully served. He will no more carry thee away into captivity (לֹא יוֹסִיף לְהַגְלוֹתֵךְ, lo yosif lehaglotek)—'no more' (lo yosif) promises an end to exile. This is prophetic hope: judgment is temporary, restoration is coming. He will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins (פָּקַד עֲוֹנֵךְ בַּת־אֱדוֹם גִּלָּה עַל־חַטֹּאתָיִךְ, paqad avonekh bat-Edom gilah al-chatotayikh)—'visit' (paqad) means to attend to, punish. Edom's hidden treachery ('discover' = reveal, expose) will be judged. The book ends with contrasting futures: Israel's punishment complete, Edom's beginning.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This prophetic word was fulfilled: Judah returned after 70 years (539 BC under Cyrus). Though Israel experienced later exiles, the Babylonian captivity was unique and never repeated in that form. Edom's judgment came gradually but comprehensively—they ceased to exist as a people. The final verse of Lamentations thus ends not in despair but hope.

Reflection Questions

  1. When you're experiencing God's discipline, can you trust that it has a 'tam'—a completion point—that it will not last forever?
  2. How does the contrast between Israel's ended punishment and Edom's coming judgment demonstrate that God's discipline of His children differs fundamentally from His wrath against His enemies?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
תַּם1 of 14

is accomplished

H8552

to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive

עֲוֹנֵךְ֙2 of 14

The punishment of thine iniquity

H5771

perversity, i.e., (moral) evil

בַּת3 of 14

O daughter

H1323

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

צִיּ֔וֹן4 of 14

of Zion

H6726

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

לֹ֥א5 of 14
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יוֹסִ֖יף6 of 14

he will no more

H3254

to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)

גִּלָּ֖ה7 of 14

carry thee away into captivity

H1540

to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal

פָּקַ֤ד8 of 14

he will visit

H6485

to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc

עֲוֹנֵךְ֙9 of 14

The punishment of thine iniquity

H5771

perversity, i.e., (moral) evil

בַּת10 of 14

O daughter

H1323

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

אֱד֔וֹם11 of 14

of Edom

H123

edom, the elder twin-brother of jacob; hence the region (idumaea) occupied by him

גִּלָּ֖ה12 of 14

carry thee away into captivity

H1540

to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal

עַל13 of 14
H5921

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

חַטֹּאתָֽיִךְ׃14 of 14

thy sins

H2403

an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender


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 4:22 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 4:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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