Lamentations 2:20 (KJV)

What does Lamentations 2:20 mean?

Lamentations 2:20 is a desperate cry to God, asking Him to look at the terrible suffering in Jerusalem, where mothers are driven to eat their own children and priests and prophets are killed in the very sanctuary. The verse expresses horror at the depth of the disaster and pleads for God to notice and consider who is experiencing such tragedy.

In this verse, the speaker is likely the prophet Jeremiah, addressing the LORD (God) directly as he witnesses the aftermath of Jerusalem’s destruction by the Babylonians. The verse highlights the unimaginable suffering during the siege—starvation so severe that mothers eat their children, and religious leaders are killed in the temple. The language is meant to shock and show how far things have fallen, emphasizing the depth of grief and the sense that even the most sacred people and places are not spared.

The Hebrew behind Lamentations 2:20

• "Behold" (רְאֵה, ra’eh): This word is a strong call for attention, as if Jeremiah is begging God to truly see the suffering, not just look but really notice.
• "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): The personal, covenant name for God, emphasizing that the plea is directed to the God who has a relationship with Israel.
• "Eat" (אָכַל, akhal): The Hebrew word here is the ordinary verb for eating, but in this context, it is used with horror to describe mothers eating their "fruit" (children), highlighting the unnaturalness and desperation of the situation.
• "Sanctuary" (מִקְדָּשׁ, miqdash): This word means the holy place or temple, stressing the shock that even God’s own house is not a place of safety.

Why Lamentations 2:20 matters

• This verse clears up any idea that the suffering in Jerusalem was minor or ordinary; it shows the crisis was so extreme that it broke every social and religious boundary.
• The verse emphasizes that the destruction affected everyone, from mothers and children to priests and prophets, and even reached into the sanctuary, the holiest place.
• Lamentations 2:20 connects to the wider book by showing the depth of sorrow and the sense of abandonment, setting up the ongoing plea for God’s mercy and attention.