This verse shows the depth of anguish over Jerusalem’s fall while foreshadowing the mercy that can arise from ruin.
“All who pass along the way Clap their hands in derision at you; They hiss and shake their heads At the daughter of Jerusalem, ‘Is this the city of which they said, “The perfection of beauty, A joy to all the earth”?’” (v.15). This verse paints a painful picture of outsiders mocking Jerusalem’s plight. Instead of offering any form of comfort, they respond with scorn and ridicule, symbolized by their hand-clapping, hissing, and head-shaking. Historically, Jerusalem was located in the hill country of Judah, in the southern part of ancient Israel. It was the city King David established as the capital around 1000 BC, and it remained the spiritual center of God’s chosen people for centuries. Yet here in Lamentations, the onlookers cannot believe such destruction has befallen a place once regarded as “the perfection of beauty.”
By calling Jerusalem “the daughter of Jerusalem” (v.15), the verse underscores both the deep familial bond and the profound vulnerability of the city. The Babylonians, under King Nebuchadnezzar (reigning approximately 605-562 BC), destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, which aligns with the timeframe of Lamentations. The mockers’ taunt reveals a disbelief that such a revered location—a place steeped in God’s covenant promises—could fall so drastically. This mood of lamentation resonates with other laments for the city (Luke 19:41), where even Jesus wept over Jerusalem’s eventual judgment due to disbelief and rejection of God’s messengers.
Despite the scorn of onlookers, the verse implicitly reminds the reader that Jerusalem’s story continues under God’s watchful eye. The sorrow is real, the shame is intense, but the covenant faithfulness of the Lord remains intact, offering ultimate restoration. Just as Jerusalem was once “a joy to all the earth” (v.15), the broader testimony of Scripture points to a hope beyond devastation—a promise of renewal and a future testimony of God’s grace (Revelation 21:2).
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Lamentations 2:15 meaning
“All who pass along the way Clap their hands in derision at you; They hiss and shake their heads At the daughter of Jerusalem, ‘Is this the city of which they said, “The perfection of beauty, A joy to all the earth”?’” (v.15). This verse paints a painful picture of outsiders mocking Jerusalem’s plight. Instead of offering any form of comfort, they respond with scorn and ridicule, symbolized by their hand-clapping, hissing, and head-shaking. Historically, Jerusalem was located in the hill country of Judah, in the southern part of ancient Israel. It was the city King David established as the capital around 1000 BC, and it remained the spiritual center of God’s chosen people for centuries. Yet here in Lamentations, the onlookers cannot believe such destruction has befallen a place once regarded as “the perfection of beauty.”
By calling Jerusalem “the daughter of Jerusalem” (v.15), the verse underscores both the deep familial bond and the profound vulnerability of the city. The Babylonians, under King Nebuchadnezzar (reigning approximately 605-562 BC), destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, which aligns with the timeframe of Lamentations. The mockers’ taunt reveals a disbelief that such a revered location—a place steeped in God’s covenant promises—could fall so drastically. This mood of lamentation resonates with other laments for the city (Luke 19:41), where even Jesus wept over Jerusalem’s eventual judgment due to disbelief and rejection of God’s messengers.
Despite the scorn of onlookers, the verse implicitly reminds the reader that Jerusalem’s story continues under God’s watchful eye. The sorrow is real, the shame is intense, but the covenant faithfulness of the Lord remains intact, offering ultimate restoration. Just as Jerusalem was once “a joy to all the earth” (v.15), the broader testimony of Scripture points to a hope beyond devastation—a promise of renewal and a future testimony of God’s grace (Revelation 21:2).