As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help,.... Or, "while we were yet" ; a nation, a people, a body politic, in our own land, before the city of Jerusalem was taken, we were looking for help, as was promised us; but it proved a vain help, none was given us; for which we kept looking to the last, till our eyes failed, and we could look no longer; no help appeared, nor was there any prospect or probability of it, and therefore gave all up:in our watching we watched for a nation [that] could not save [us]; not the Romans, as the Targum, but the Egyptians; these promised them help and relief, and therefore in their watching they watched, or vehemently watched, and wistfully looked out for it, but all in vain; for though these made an attempt to help them, they durst not proceed; were obliged to retire, not being a match for the Chaldean army, and so could not save them, or break up the siege, and relieve them.
Bible Commentary
Lamentations 4:17
Lamentations 4:17
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
The Daily Devotional
One devotional. Every morning.
The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.
We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.
Continue tomorrow
Turn Bible study into a daily habit
Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.
Recommended reading
More for Lamentations 4:17
Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.
Other commentaries
Lamentations 4 — OverviewLamentations 4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThis chapter is another single alphabet of Lamentations for the
destruction of Jerusalem, like those in the first two chapters. I. The
prophet here laments the injuries and indignities done to those to whom…Lamentations 4 — OverviewLamentations 4 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeLamentations 4:1, Zion bewails her pitiful estate; Lamentations 4:13, She confesses her sins; Lamentations 4:21, Edom is threatened and Zion comforted.Lamentations 4 — OverviewLamentations 4 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe prophet begins this chapter with a complaint of the ill usage of the dear children of God, and precious sons of Zion, La 4:1; relates the dreadful effects of the famine during the siege of Jerusalem, La 4:3; the…Lamentations 4:1-22Lamentations 4:1-22 · The Pulpit CommentaryTHE SUFFERINGS OF JERUSALEM; NO CLASS IS EXEMPT. EDOM'S TRIUMPHING.
EXPOSITIONLamentations 4:13-20Lamentations 4:13-20 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe have here,
I. The sins they were charged with, for which God brought this
destruction upon them, and which served to justify God in it (v. 13,
14): It is for the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her…Lamentations 4:17Lamentations 4:17 · The Pulpit CommentaryAs for us, our eyes, etc.; rather (correcting the reading of the first word), Our eyes were still wasting away (as we looked) for our help in vain. To the very last the Jews leaned on "that broken reed," Egypt (Isaiah…