They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom.
LAMENTATIONS 2:12KJVWhat does Lamentations 2:12 mean?
Lamentations 2:12 describes children in Jerusalem desperately asking their mothers for food and drink, collapsing from hunger and exhaustion in the city streets, and dying in their mothers’ arms. The verse paints a vivid picture of suffering during the siege, showing the deep pain and helplessness experienced by families.
The speaker is the author of Lamentations, traditionally understood as Jeremiah, describing the aftermath of Jerusalem’s destruction by Babylon. The verse focuses on the children’s cries for “corn and wine” (basic food and drink), their fainting (“swooned as the wounded”), and their final moments in their mothers’ embrace. This scene highlights the devastating effects of war and famine on the most vulnerable.
The Hebrew behind Lamentations 2:12
- “Corn” is דָּגָן (dagan), which refers to grain or staple food, not just corn as in modern English. This word points to the basic necessities of life that the children are lacking.
- “Wine” is יַיִן (yayin), meaning wine, which in ancient times was a common drink and often safer than water. The children’s request shows their desperate need for even the simplest comforts.
- “Swooned” is עָטַף (ataf), which can mean to faint, become weak, or collapse. The use of this word emphasizes the children’s extreme exhaustion and helplessness.
- “Soul” is נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh), often understood as “life” or “being.” The phrase “their soul was poured out” suggests their life slipping away in their mothers’ arms.
Why Lamentations 2:12 matters
- This verse clears up that “corn and wine” in the King James Version refers to basic food and drink, not luxury items, highlighting the depth of deprivation.
- The verse emphasizes the suffering of children, making the tragedy of Jerusalem’s fall deeply personal and emotional rather than just political or military.
- Lamentations 2:12 connects to the wider passage by illustrating the consequences of the city’s destruction, helping readers understand the real human cost behind the historical events described.