Lamentations 4:9
New International Version
Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine; racked with hunger, they waste away for lack of food from the field.

New Living Translation
Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger. Starving, they waste away for lack of food from the fields.

English Standard Version
Happier were the victims of the sword than the victims of hunger, who wasted away, pierced by lack of the fruits of the field.

Berean Standard Bible
Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.

King James Bible
They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

New King James Version
Those slain by the sword are better off Than those who die of hunger; For these pine away, Stricken for lack of the fruits of the field.

New American Standard Bible
Better off are those killed by the sword Than those killed by hunger; For they waste away, stricken By the lack of the produce of the field.

NASB 1995
Better are those slain with the sword Than those slain with hunger; For they pine away, being stricken For lack of the fruits of the field.

NASB 1977
Better are those slain with the sword Than those slain with hunger; For they pine away, being stricken For lack of the fruits of the field.

Legacy Standard Bible
Better are those pierced through with the sword Than those pierced through with hunger; For their life flows away, being stricken For lack of the produce of the field.

Amplified Bible
Those killed with the sword Are more fortunate than those killed with hunger; For the hungry pine and ebb away, For the lack of the fruits of the field.

Christian Standard Bible
Those slain by the sword are better off than those slain by hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Those slain by the sword are better off than those slain by hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.

American Standard Version
They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.

Contemporary English Version
Being killed with a sword is better than slowly starving to death.

English Revised Version
They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Those who were killed with swords are better off than those who are dying from starvation. Those who were stabbed bled to death. The others are dying because there is nothing in the fields to eat.

Good News Translation
Those who died in the war were better off than those who died later, who starved slowly to death, with no food to keep them alive.

International Standard Version
Those who die by the sword are better off than those who die from starvation, who slowly waste away like those pierced through for lack of food from the fields.

Majority Standard Bible
Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.

NET Bible
Those who died by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, those who waste away, struck down from lack of food.

New Heart English Bible
Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; those who waste away, pierced through, for lack of the fruits of the field.

Webster's Bible Translation
They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

World English Bible
Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through, for lack of the fruits of the field.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Better have been the pierced of a sword "" Than the pierced of famine, "" For these flow away, pierced through, "" Without the increase of the field.

Young's Literal Translation
Better have been the pierced of a sword Than the pierced of famine, For these flow away, pierced through, Without the increase of the field.

Smith's Literal Translation
Those wounded by the sword were good above those wounded by famine: these will flow away, being thrust through from the produce of the field.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Teth. It was better with them that were slain by the sword, than with them that died with hunger: for these pined away being consumed for want of the fruits of the earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
TETH. It was better for those slain by the sword, than for those put to death by famine. For these waste away, being consumed by the sterility of the land.

New American Bible
Better for those pierced by the sword than for those pierced by hunger, Better for those who bleed from wounds than for those who lack food.

New Revised Standard Version
Happier were those pierced by the sword than those pierced by hunger, whose life drains away, deprived of the produce of the field.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Those who were slain by the sword are better than those who are slain with hunger; for these pine away, like those who are wounded and thrown in the field.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Teth The slain of the sword are better than those killed by famine, for they waste away like those who are wounded and are thrown out in a field
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
They that are slain with the sword are better Than they that are slain with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, For want of the fruits of the field.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
TETH. The slain with the sword were better than they that were slain with hunger: they have departed, pierced through from want of the fruits of the field.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Distress of Zion
8But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick. 9Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce. 10The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:53-57
Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. / The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, / refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. ...

Jeremiah 19:9
I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’

Ezekiel 5:10
As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’

2 Kings 6:28-29
Then the king asked her, “What is the matter?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him, and tomorrow we will eat my son.’ / So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.”

Leviticus 26:29
You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters.

Jeremiah 14:18
If I go out to the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, I see those ravaged by famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land they do not know.’”

Jeremiah 52:6
By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food.

2 Kings 25:3
By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food.

Isaiah 9:20
They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.

Isaiah 49:26
I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Matthew 24:7
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Luke 21:11
There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

Revelation 6:8
Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth.

Revelation 18:8
Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”

Mark 13:8
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.


Treasury of Scripture

They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

for

Leviticus 26:39
And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.

Ezekiel 24:23
And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.

Ezekiel 33:10
Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

pine away.

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Better Burned Caused Death Die Famine Field Flow Food Fruit Fruits Happier Hunger Increase Killed Lack Need Pierced Pine Pined Slain Slowly Stricken Sword Victims Want Waste
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Lamentations 4
1. Zion bewails her pitiful estate
13. She confesses her sins
21. Edom is threatened and Zion comforted.














Those slain by the sword
The phrase "those slain by the sword" refers to individuals who have died in battle or through acts of violence. In the Hebrew context, the sword is often a symbol of war and divine judgment. The Hebrew word for "sword" is "חֶרֶב" (chereb), which frequently appears in the Old Testament as an instrument of God's judgment. Historically, being slain by the sword was considered a quicker and more honorable death compared to the slow suffering of famine. This reflects the harsh realities of ancient warfare and the belief that a swift death was preferable to prolonged suffering.

are better off
The expression "are better off" suggests a comparison of conditions, indicating that one state is preferable to another. In the context of Lamentations, this phrase underscores the severity of the suffering experienced by those who die of famine. The Hebrew root for "better" is "טוֹב" (tov), which generally means good or pleasant. Here, it is used ironically to highlight the extreme distress of famine, suggesting that even the violent death by the sword is a mercy compared to the drawn-out agony of starvation.

than those who die of famine
"Those who die of famine" refers to individuals who perish due to a lack of food. Famine is a recurring theme in the Bible, often seen as a consequence of sin or a tool of divine punishment. The Hebrew word for "famine" is "רָעָב" (ra'av), which conveys not only physical hunger but also a spiritual desolation. In the historical context of Lamentations, the city of Jerusalem was under siege, leading to severe food shortages. This phrase highlights the intense suffering and desperation faced by the inhabitants during this time.

who waste away
The phrase "who waste away" describes the physical deterioration and gradual decline of those suffering from famine. The Hebrew word "מָזוּב" (mazuv) implies a wasting disease or a draining away of life. This imagery evokes a sense of helplessness and inevitability, as the body slowly succumbs to starvation. It serves as a poignant reminder of the frailty of human life and the devastating impact of prolonged deprivation.

pierced with pain
"Pierced with pain" conveys the acute and relentless suffering experienced by those dying of famine. The Hebrew word "דָּקַר" (dakar) means to pierce or stab, often used metaphorically to describe intense emotional or physical pain. This vivid imagery emphasizes the excruciating nature of famine, likening it to being repeatedly stabbed. It reflects the deep anguish and torment that accompany such a slow and painful death.

because the fields lack produce
The phrase "because the fields lack produce" identifies the cause of the famine: the failure of the land to yield crops. The Hebrew word for "fields" is "שָׂדֶה" (sadeh), and "produce" is "תְּבוּאָה" (tevuah), which refers to the harvest or yield of the land. This lack of produce signifies not only a physical scarcity but also a spiritual barrenness, as the land, often seen as a blessing from God, fails to provide sustenance. In the historical context, this could be attributed to the siege of Jerusalem, where agricultural activities were disrupted, leading to widespread hunger and despair.

(9) For want of . . .--The italics indicate the difficulty of the sentence. Literally the clause stands, from the fruits of the field, and it has been explained by some as referring to those that died in battle, stricken through while yet there were fruits, i.e., not doomed to perish slowly from hunger. The construction of Psalm 109:24, however, "faileth of fatness"--i.e., for want of fatness--gives a sufficient support to the Authorised version.

Verse 9.-The miserable condition just now described maintains a sad pre-eminence even when compared with the fate of the slain in battle. And why! For these pine away (literally, melt away)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Those slain
חַלְלֵי־ (ḥal·lê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2491: Pierced, polluted

by the sword
חֶ֔רֶב (ḥe·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

are
הָיוּ֙ (hā·yū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

better off
טוֹבִ֤ים (ṭō·w·ḇîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

than those who die
מֵֽחַלְלֵ֖י (mê·ḥal·lê)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2491: Pierced, polluted

of hunger,
רָעָ֑ב (rā·‘āḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7458: Famine, hunger

who
שֶׁ֣הֵ֤ם (še·hêm)
Pronoun - relative | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

waste away,
יָז֙וּבוּ֙ (yā·zū·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2100: To flow freely, to have a, flux, to waste away, to overflow

pierced with pain
מְדֻקָּרִ֔ים (mə·ḏuq·qā·rîm)
Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1856: To stab, to starve, to revile

because the fields
שָׂדָֽי׃ (śā·ḏāy)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

lack produce.
מִתְּנוּבֹ֖ת (mit·tə·nū·ḇōṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 8570: Fruit, produce


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OT Prophets: Lamentations 4:9 Those who are killed with the sword (Lam. La Lm)
Lamentations 4:8
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