The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

LAMENTATIONS 4:10KJV
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Lamentations 4:10 (KJV)

What does Lamentations 4:10 mean?

Lamentations 4:10 describes a horrifying scene during the siege of Jerusalem, where compassionate mothers were forced to cook and eat their own children to survive. The verse uses this shocking image to show the extreme suffering and destruction that fell upon the people during the city's downfall.

The prophet Jeremiah is speaking, mourning what happened to his people when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians. The verse highlights the depth of the tragedy by focusing on mothers, usually symbols of care and protection, who are driven by starvation to do the unthinkable. This verse is meant to show just how severe and desperate the situation became during the siege.

The Hebrew behind Lamentations 4:10

  • חַסְדוֹת (ḥasdot, "pitiful"): This word is often understood as "compassionate" or "merciful," emphasizing that these were not cruel women, but loving mothers forced into an unimaginable act.
  • בִּשְּׁלוּ (bishlu, "sodden"): This word means "to boil" or "to cook," stressing the literal, physical act of preparing food, which in this context is especially shocking.
  • שֶׁבֶר (shever, "destruction"): This word refers to a crushing or breaking, highlighting the total devastation that led to such desperate measures.

Why Lamentations 4:10 matters

  • Lamentations 4:10 clears up any idea that the suffering in Jerusalem was minor or exaggerated; it shows the real, devastating consequences of the siege.
  • The verse emphasizes the reversal of natural compassion, showing how extreme hardship can force even the most loving people into actions they would never otherwise consider.
  • This verse connects to the wider theme of Lamentations, which is to mourn and honestly face the depth of loss and suffering experienced by the people after Jerusalem's destruction.

Where else these words appear

“meat” Hebrew H1262 · used in 7 verses

  • 1 Samuel 17:8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
  • 2 Samuel 12:17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
  • 2 Samuel 13:6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

“sodden” Hebrew H1310 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 40:10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
  • Leviticus 8:31 And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it.
  • 2 Kings 4:38 And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.

“destruction” Hebrew H7667 · used in 41 verses

  • Leviticus 21:19 Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,
  • Isaiah 30:26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
  • Jeremiah 30:12 For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.

“children” Hebrew H3206 · used in 76 verses

  • Genesis 4:23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
  • Exodus 21:4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.
  • 2 Chronicles 10:10 And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.