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1 As for you, raise upA a lamentationB for the princesC of Israel,D
Notes on verse 1
A “raise up” = nasa. This is to lift in a broad sense, literally and figuratively. So it could be to carry, take, or arise. It could also be bring forth, advance, accept.
B “lamentation” = qinah. 18x in OT. From the same as qayin (spear); {from qun (to chant a lament, to play a musical note)}. This is lament or elegy. It could be an act of mourning or a dirge played on instruments.
C “princes” = nasi. Related to “raise up” in v1. From nasa (see note A above). This is one lifted up or exalter. So, it could be prince, chief, ruler, captain, king, or vapor.
D “Israel” = Yisrael. From sarah (to persist, exert oneself, contend, persevere, wrestle, prevail) + el (God or god). This is Israel, meaning God strives or one who strives with God; new name for Jacob and for his offspring. This refers to the people and to the land.
2 and say:
What a lionessE was your motherF
amongG lions!H
Notes on verse 2a
E “lioness” = labiy. 14x in OT. This is to roar – a lion or lioness as stout and fierce.
F “mother” = em. This is a mother as binding a family together or a breeding female animal. It could be mother in a literal or figurative sense.
G “among” = bayin. From bin (to discern, consider, attend to; distinguishing things in one’s mind or, more generally, to understand). This is among, between, interval.
H “lions” = ari. From arah (to gather or pluck). This is a young lion.
She lay downI amongJ young lions,K
rearingL her cubs.M
Notes on verse 2b
I “lay down” = rabats. This is crouched like an animal, lie down, lie stretch out, rest, sit, brood, lurk.
J “among” = tavek. This is among, middle, in the midst, the center. Perhaps, properly, to sever.
K “young lions” = kephir. Perhaps from kaphar (to appease, cover, pacify, cancel). This is a young lion – maybe in the sense that it has a mane covering.
L “rearing” = rabah. This is increasing in any aspect whether quantity, authority, size, quality, greatness, etc.
M “cubs” = gur. 7x in OT. From gur (to quarrel, attack). This is a young cub or whelp that still lives in the den. It is often used of a lion cub.
3 She raised upN oneO of her cubs;
he becameP a young lion,
Notes on verse 3a
N “raised up” = alah. This is to go up, approach, ascend, be high, be a priority; to arise in a literal or figurative sense.
O “one” = echad. Perhaps from achad (to unify, continue on a path; figuratively, to gather one’s thoughts). This is the number one, first, united. It can also be alone, altogether, a certain, a few.
P “became” = hayah. This is to be or become, to happen.
and he learnedQ to catchR prey;S
he devouredT humans.U
Notes on verse 3b
Q “learned” = lamad. Properly, this refers to goading (using a pointed stick to guide or prod one’s flock). By implication, it means teaching or instructing.
R “catch” = taraph. This is to tear or pluck off into pieces, to rend or catch. It can also mean supply with food.
S “prey” = tereph. Related to “catch” in v3. From taraph (see note R above). This is something that is torn – spoil, prey, food, or some other fragment.
T “devoured” = akal. This is to eat, devour, burn up, or otherwise consume. It can be eating in a literal or figurative sense.
U “humans” = adam. Perhaps from adam (to be red, make ruddy); related to adamah (ground, dirt, earth). This is man, humankind, also Adam’s name. It refers to a human individual or humanity.
10 Your mother was like a vineV in a vineyardW
transplantedX by the water,Y
Notes on verse 10a
V “vine” = gephen. Root may mean to twine or bend. So, it is a vine, particularly referring to grapes.
W “vineyard” = dam. Perhaps from damam (to cease, be or become mute, silent, still, cut off, hold peace, be astonished, die). This is blood, bloodshed, bloodguilt, lifeblood, and death. It is used for people and animals. More often blood from a wound or the blood of the innocent. Used figuratively for violence or for wine. Closely tied to life and death.
X “transplanted” = shathal. 10x in OT. This is to plant or transplant.
Y “water” = mayim. This is water, waters, or waterway in a general sense. Figuratively, it can also mean juice, urine, or semen.
fruitfulZ and full of branchesAA
BBfrom abundantCC water.
Notes on verse 10b
Z “fruitful” = parah. This is to bear fruit, grow, be fruitful, increase. It is bearing fruit in a literal or figurative sense.
AA “full of branches” = aneph. 1x in OT. From the same as anaph (a branch or bough – something that covers). This is full of branches.
BB {untranslated} = hayah. Same as “became” in v3. See note P above.
CC “abundant” = rab. From rabab (increasing in any aspect whether quantity, authority, size, quality, greatness, etc.). This is abundance, many, elder, exceedingly, great. It refers to abundance of amount, rank, or status.
11 Its strongestDD stemEE became
a ruler’sFF scepter;GG
Notes on verse 11a
DD “strongest” = oz. From azaz (to be strong, become fixed, be bold, prevail, be impudent; it means to be stout literally or figuratively. A Late Hebrew word). This is strength in the sense of force, majesty, praise, material and physical strength, the abstract notion of security. It can also speak of social or political power.
EE “stem” = matteh. From natah (to stretch or spread out, extend, bend). This is a staff, rod, branch, or tribe. It could be a rod for discipline or correction. It could be a scepter to indicate authority, a throwing lance, or a walking staff. Figuratively, it could also be something that supports life (like bread).
FF “ruler’s” = mashal. This is to rule, reign, govern, have authority, wield.
GG “scepter” = shebet. This is a rod, staff, club, scepter, dart, or tribe. Literally a stick that can be used for punishing, writing, fighting, walking, ruling; thus, used figuratively for a clan.
it toweredHH aloftII
amongJJ the clouds;KK
Notes on verse 11b
HH “towered” = gabahh. This is to soar or be lofty. So, this is to be high or lift up literally. Figuratively it means to be exalted or proud.
II “aloft” = qomah. From qum (to arise, stand, accomplish, establish, abide; rising against, getting up after being sick or asleep, arising from one state to another, becoming powerful, or rising for action; standing in a figurative sense). This is tall, high, length, or height.
JJ “among” = bayin. Same as “among” in v2. See note G above.
KK “clouds” = aboth. From abath (to weave, wind, or interlace). This is a cord, string, band, wreath, branch, or foliage.
it stood outLL in its heightMM
with its massNN of branches.OO
Notes on verse 11c
LL “stood out” = raah. This is to see in a literal or figurative sense so stare, advise, think, view.
MM “height” = gobah. Related to “towered” in v11. 17x in OT. From gabahh (see note HH above). This is height, whether literal like elevation and a raised platform or figurative in pride, dignity, grandeur, or excellency. It can also have a negative sense of arrogance or haughtiness.
NN “mass” = rob. Related to “abundant” in v10. From rabab (see note CC above). This is any kind of abundance.
OO “branches” = dalit. 8x in OT– all in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. From dalah (to draw, lift up; properly, to dangle; draw water; figuratively, to deliver). This is a branch or bough as dangling from the tree.
12 But it was plucked upPP in fury,QQ
cast downRR to the ground;SS
Notes on verse 12a
PP “plucked up” = nathash. It is to pull up or pluck out, destroy, or tear away.
QQ “fury” = chemah. From yacham (to be hot, mate; figuratively, to conceive). This is heat – figuratively it can be anger or fury. It can also refer to poison or venom as they can cause fever.
RR “cast down” = shalak. This is to throw, fling, or hurl. It can also be to throw away in a literal or figurative sense.
SS “ground” = erets. Root may mean to be firm. This is earth, ground, field land, or country.
the eastTT windUU driedVV it up;
its fruitWW was stripped off;XX
Notes on verse 12b
TT “east” = qadim. From the same as qedem (front, formerly, before, east, eternal, everlasting, antiquity). This is the front part and so eastward. Sometimes used as a shorthand for the east wind.
UU “wind” = ruach. This is breath, wind, air, cool, spirit. This is wind, which resembles the breath and so this can be used figuratively for life itself or being frail/mortal/impermanent. It can refer to the air of the sky or the spirit.
VV “dried” = yabesh. This is to be dry, withered, confused, or ashamed. It can also be to fail.
WW “fruit” = peri. Related to “fruitful” in v10. From parah (see note Z above). This is fruit or reward.
XX “stripped off” = paraq. 10x in OT. This is to tear apart, break off, drag away, or crunch. Figuratively, it can mean to deliver.
its strong stem was withered;YY
the fireZZ consumedAAA it.
Notes on verse 12c
YY “withered” = yabesh. Same as “dried” in v12. See note VV above.
ZZ “fire” = esh. This is fire, burning, flaming, hot. It is fire in a literal or figurative sense.
AAA “consumed” = akal. Same as “devoured” in v3. See note T above.
13 Now it is transplanted into the wilderness,BBB
into a dryCCC and thirstyDDD land.EEE
Notes on verse 13
BBB “wilderness” = midbar. From dabar (to speak, command, declare). This is mouth or speech. It can also be desert or wilderness. Additionally, it can be used for a pasture to which one drives cattle.
CCC “dry” = tsiyyah. 16x in OT. This is dryness or parched. So, it can also mean drought or dry places. By extension, it can mean a solitary place or a wilderness.
DDD “thirsty” = tsama. 17x in OT. From tsame (to thirst in a literal or figurative sense). This is thirst in a literal or figurative sense. It could also refer to dry ground.
EEE “land” = erets. Same as “ground” in v12. See note SS above.
14 And fire has gone outFFF from its stem,
has consumed its branchesGGG and fruit,
so that there remainsHHH in it no strong stem,
no scepter for ruling.
This is a lamentation, and it is usedIII as a lamentation.
Notes on verse 14
FFF “gone out” = yatsa. This is to go or come out, bring forth, appear. It is to go out in a literal or figurative sense.
GGG “branches” = bad. From badad (to divide or be separated; alone, solitary, lonely, isolated, straggler). This is apart, alone, separation, body part, tree branch, except. It can also be a city’s chief.
HHH “remains” = hayah. Same as “became” in v3. See note P above.
III “is used” = hayah. Same as “became” in v3. See note P above.
Image credit: “The crown of the cored pine in a wild fire area, N Hörken, Ljusnarsberg, Sweden. Wildfire area on a ridge between a road and the lake Norra Hörken. Early summer for years after the fire” by Taxelson, 2010.