Lamentations 4:22
The punishment of thine iniquitie is accomplished, O daughter of Zion, he will no more carie thee away into captiuitie: hee will visit thine iniquitie, O daughter of Edom, hee will discouer thy sinnes. Lamentations 4:22 (KJV)
Lamentations is an Old Testament book traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, who expressed profound grief over the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. The collection of poems reflects deep sorrow and anguish over the consequences of Israel’s disobedience to God, and it gives voice to the communal lament of a people who have witnessed the collapse of their city and temple.
In verse 4:22 the poet addresses the “daughter of Zion,” a poetic designation for Jerusalem and its inhabitants, and declares that the punishment for their iniquity has been accomplished. The phrase “he will no more carry thee away into captivity” is presented in the language of lament, describing the reality of the present disaster rather than offering a definitive promise that exile has permanently ended. It underscores a sense of closure to the immediate suffering while still leaving room for the yearning toward eventual restoration.
The verse also turns to the “daughter of Edom,” a neighboring nation that rejoiced over Jerusalem’s downfall and participated in its destruction. The declaration that God “will visit thine iniquity” and “discover thy sins” signals divine judgment upon Edom for its role in the calamity. This parallel judgment highlights the broader theme of divine justice extending beyond Israel to those who have profited from its misery.
Overall, Lamentations 4:22 emphasizes the completion of God’s punitive action on Jerusalem, conveys the poet’s mourning over the present captivity, and affirms that God’s justice will also be executed against Edom. The passage intertwines themes of divine retribution, the painful reality of loss, and the hopeful anticipation of future restoration, even as it refrains from asserting an absolute end to all future captivity.
