Lamentations 4:9

Better are the slain of the sword, than the slain of the famine,—for, these, pine away, stricken through, wanting the produce of the field.

The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham

In The King James Version

They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

In Context

8Darker than a coal, is their visage, They are not known in the streets—Their skin shrivelleth on their bones, is withered, become like a stick.

10The hands of compassionate women, have cooked their own children,—they have served as nourishment to them, in the grievous injury of the daughter of my people.

Read all of Lamentations 4

Cross References

Deuteronomy 28:51then shall he eat the young of thy cattle and the fruit of thy ground until thou art destroyed, who will not leave for thee corn, new wine or oil, the young of thy kine, or the ewes of thy flock,—until he hath caused thee to perish.

Jeremiah 16:4Of deaths from diseases, shall they die, They shall not be lamented, Neither shall they be buried, As heaps of dung on the face of the ground, shall they serve,—Yea by sword and by famine, shall they be consumed, And, their dead bodies shall become, food—To the bird of the heavens, and To the beast of the earth.

Ezekiel 7:15The sword without, and Pestilence and famine within,— He that is in the field by the sword, shall die, and He that is in the city famine or pestilence shall devour him;

Ezekiel 33:10Thou, therefore, Son of man, Say unto the house of Israel, Thus, have ye spoken saying: When our transgressions and our sins are upon us,—and for them, we are melting away How then can we live?

Matthew Henry on Lamentations 4:2-13

Desolate Condition of Jerusalem; Effects of Famine in Jerusalem; Destruction of Jerusalem. ( b. c. 588.) 1 How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. 2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! 3 Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Lamentations 4:9