This verse vividly describes a people deemed unclean and told to depart, illustrating the tragic separation and isolation they experienced.
In this verse, the lamenting people of Jerusalem describe their profound shame and ostracism by crying out, “Depart! Unclean!” they cried of themselves; “Depart, depart, do not touch!” So they fled and wandered; among the nations it was said, ‘They shall not continue to dwell with us.’ (v.15). These words vividly depict the humiliation and rejection they felt as they were forced away from their ruined city, displaying their status as defiled exiles who were treated like the ritually unclean. Historically, the city of Jerusalem had been conquered by the Babylonian Empire in 586 BC, leading to the destruction of the temple and mass exile of the people. The author—commonly held to be the prophet Jeremiah—witnessed and grieved over this calamity, pointing out that foreign nations wanted nothing to do with the survivors, regarding them as outcasts and a source of potential ritual defilement.
The phrase, “Depart, depart, do not touch!” (v.15) underscores the intense separation between those deemed “clean” and those perceived to bear uncleanliness or impurity. In the Hebrew culture of that time, being unclean often kept individuals from temple worship and community life. Here, the entire remnant of Judah finds themselves collectively disdained and shunned. Among the broader nations—the foreign lands they traversed—people considered them unworthy to dwell in their midst, further compounding the sorrow and isolation of the exiles. The condemnation is not just a personal shame but a communal one, hinting that sin and its consequences had far-reaching impact for everyone in Judah. Though no prominent individual is mentioned by name, it is essential to note that Jeremiah likely penned these lines soon after the fall of Jerusalem, around 586 BC, as part of his aching reflection over the nation’s judgment.
The predicament of being declared “unclean” also finds a spiritual echo in the New Testament, where Jesus heals and embraces those considered impure (Mark 1:40-45), showing His willingness to associate with outcasts and restore them. In contrast to the nations that commanded these exiles to “depart!” (v.15), Jesus offered grace and a way back into God’s fellowship for the broken. While Lamentations 4:15 describes the tragic reality of sin’s costly aftermath, it also subtly foreshadows the hope of restoration and inclusion brought forth by Christ, who welcomes the weary and provides a path toward redemption (Matthew 11:28-30).
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Lamentations 4:15 meaning
In this verse, the lamenting people of Jerusalem describe their profound shame and ostracism by crying out, “Depart! Unclean!” they cried of themselves; “Depart, depart, do not touch!” So they fled and wandered; among the nations it was said, ‘They shall not continue to dwell with us.’ (v.15). These words vividly depict the humiliation and rejection they felt as they were forced away from their ruined city, displaying their status as defiled exiles who were treated like the ritually unclean. Historically, the city of Jerusalem had been conquered by the Babylonian Empire in 586 BC, leading to the destruction of the temple and mass exile of the people. The author—commonly held to be the prophet Jeremiah—witnessed and grieved over this calamity, pointing out that foreign nations wanted nothing to do with the survivors, regarding them as outcasts and a source of potential ritual defilement.
The phrase, “Depart, depart, do not touch!” (v.15) underscores the intense separation between those deemed “clean” and those perceived to bear uncleanliness or impurity. In the Hebrew culture of that time, being unclean often kept individuals from temple worship and community life. Here, the entire remnant of Judah finds themselves collectively disdained and shunned. Among the broader nations—the foreign lands they traversed—people considered them unworthy to dwell in their midst, further compounding the sorrow and isolation of the exiles. The condemnation is not just a personal shame but a communal one, hinting that sin and its consequences had far-reaching impact for everyone in Judah. Though no prominent individual is mentioned by name, it is essential to note that Jeremiah likely penned these lines soon after the fall of Jerusalem, around 586 BC, as part of his aching reflection over the nation’s judgment.
The predicament of being declared “unclean” also finds a spiritual echo in the New Testament, where Jesus heals and embraces those considered impure (Mark 1:40-45), showing His willingness to associate with outcasts and restore them. In contrast to the nations that commanded these exiles to “depart!” (v.15), Jesus offered grace and a way back into God’s fellowship for the broken. While Lamentations 4:15 describes the tragic reality of sin’s costly aftermath, it also subtly foreshadows the hope of restoration and inclusion brought forth by Christ, who welcomes the weary and provides a path toward redemption (Matthew 11:28-30).