Go
Articles on

Lamentations 4

Lam. 4:17 KJV (With Strong’s)

+
17
As for us, our eyes
`ayin (Hebrew #5869)
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
KJV usage: affliction, outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please, presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, + think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).
Pronounce: ah'-yin
Origin: probably a primitive word
as yet failed
kalah (Hebrew #3615)
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete, prepare, consume)
KJV usage: accomplish, cease, consume (away), determine, destroy (utterly), be (when ... were) done, (be an) end (of), expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, fulfil, X fully, X have, leave (off), long, bring to pass, wholly reap, make clean riddance, spend, quite take away, waste.
Pronounce: kaw-law'
Origin: a primitive root
for our vain
hebel (Hebrew #1892)
from 1891; emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
KJV usage: X altogether, vain, vanity.
Pronounce: heh'bel
Origin: or (rarely in the abs.) habel {hab-ale'}
e help
`ezrah (Hebrew #5833)
108:12 (13) {ez-rawth'}; feminine of 5828; aid
KJV usage: help(-ed, -er).
Pronounce: ez-raw'
Origin: or mezrath (Psa. 60:11 (13)
: in our watching
tsphiyah (Hebrew #6836)
watchfulness
KJV usage: watching.
Pronounce: tsef-ee-yaw'
Origin: from 6822
we have watched
tsaphah (Hebrew #6822)
properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe, await
KJV usage: behold, espy, look up (well), wait for, (keep the) watch(-man).
Pronounce: tsaw-faw'
Origin: a primitive root
for a nation
gowy (Hebrew #1471)
apparently from the same root as 1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
KJV usage: Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
Pronounce: go'-ee
Origin: rarely (shortened) goy {go'-ee}
that could not save
yasha` (Hebrew #3467)
properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor
KJV usage: X at all, avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save(-iour), get victory.
Pronounce: yaw-shah'
Origin: a primitive root
us.
e
Isa. 30:6‑7• 6The burden of the beasts of the south. Through the land of trouble and anguish, from whence [come] the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people [that] shall not profit.
 7For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I called her Rahab that sitteth still. (Isa. 30:6‑7)
;
Isa. 31:1,3• 1Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and stay on horses; and trust in chariots, because [they are] many, and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek Jehovah!
 3Now the Egyptians [are] men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit: and Jehovah shall stretch out his hand, and he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall perish together. (Isa. 31:1,3)
;
Jer. 37:7‑8• 7Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to inquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.
 8And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire. (Jer. 37:7‑8)

Cross References

+

Ministry on This Verse

+
our eyes.
Lam. 1:19• 19I called for my lovers, but they deceived me:{HR}My priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city,{HR}While they sought their meat to relieve their souls. (Lam. 1:19)
;
2 Kings 24:7• 7{i}And the king of Egypt came not again anymore out of his land, for the king of Babylon had taken all that belonged to the king of Egypt, from the torrent of Egypt to the river Euphrates.{/i} (2 Kings 24:7)
;
Isa. 20:5• 5And they shall be dismayed and ashamed, because of Ethiopia their expectation and of Egypt their boast. (Isa. 20:5)
;
Isa. 30:1‑7• 1Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin;
 2that walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
 3Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be a shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt a confusion.
 4For his princes are at Zoan, and his ambassadors are come to Hanes.
 5They shall all be ashamed of a people [that] cannot profit them, that are not a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
 6The burden of the beasts of the south. Through the land of trouble and anguish, from whence [come] the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people [that] shall not profit.
 7For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I called her Rahab that sitteth still. (Isa. 30:1‑7)
;
Isa. 31:1‑3• 1Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and stay on horses; and trust in chariots, because [they are] many, and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek Jehovah!
 2But he also [is] wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words, and he will arise against the house of the evildoers and against the help of them that work iniquity.
 3Now the Egyptians [are] men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit: and Jehovah shall stretch out his hand, and he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall perish together. (Isa. 31:1‑3)
;
Jer. 2:18,36• 18{i}And now, what hast thou to do with the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? And what hast thou to do with the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?{/i}
 36{i}Why dost thou gad about so much, and change thy way? Thou shalt also be brought to shame by Egypt, as thou wast brought to shame by Assyria.{/i} (Jer. 2:18,36)
;
Jer. 8:20• 20{i}The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.{/i} (Jer. 8:20)
;
Jer. 37:7‑10• 7Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to inquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.
 8And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.
 9Thus saith Jehovah; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart.
 10For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire. (Jer. 37:7‑10)
;
Ezek. 29:6‑7,16• 6And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am Jehovah, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
 7When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.
 16And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them: but they shall know that I am the Lord Jehovah. (Ezek. 29:6‑7,16)
for a.For the Egyptians, who were their pretended allies; but who were neither able nor willing to help them.
• They turned with longing desires after Egypt against the Chaldeans, instead of turning to God in repentance of heart. (“Lamentations of Jeremiah: Chapter 4:12-22” by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

+
17
Our eyes still failed for our vain help; in our watching, we have watched for a nation that did not save.

W. Kelly Translation

+
17
As yet for usa, our eyes failed for our vain help;{HR}On our watchtowers we watched for a nation that could not save us.

WK Translation Notes

+
a
That is, while we yet remained.