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Lamentations 4:7

5 Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.

6 The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.

Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.

8 But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.

9 Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.
KJV
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
WEB
Her nobles were purer than snow. They were whiter than milk. They were more ruddy in body than rubies. Their polishing was like sapphire.
ASV
Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.
DARBY
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, whiter than milk; they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their figure was as sapphire.
BLB
Her princes were brighter than snow and whiter than milk; they were [more] ruddy in essence than rubies; their polishing [was] of sapphire.
ÅB
Hennes fyrster var renere enn snø, hvitere enn melk; de var rødere på legemet enn koraller; som safir var deres utseende.
OTB
Deres fyrster var renere enn snø, hvitere enn melk, mer rødmosset på kroppen enn rubiner, deres utseende som lapis lazuli.
B1930
Hennes fyrster var renere enn sne, hvitere enn melk; de var rødere på legemet enn koraller; som safir var deres utseende.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Psalms 51:7

    Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

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  • Song of Solomon 5:10

    My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 144:12

    Then our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters like corner pillars carved to adorn a palace.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 16:12

    So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”

    Read in context

  • Numbers 6:2–21

    “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD,

    Read in context

  • Judges 13:5

    For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall come over his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

    Read in context

  • Judges 13:7

    But he said to me, ‘Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. Now, therefore, do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb until the day of his death.’”

    Read in context

  • Amos 2:11–12

    I raised up prophets from your sons and Nazirites from your young men. Is this not true, O children of Israel?” declares the LORD.

    Read in context