Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 4:7
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing [was] of sapphire:
7. nobles ] probably right, as in Gen 49:26; Deu 33:16 (in which places mg. renders “princes”) as against the more frequent sense Nazirites (as mg. here).
rubies ] mg. corals.
their polishing (lit. casting) was as of sapphire ] Not only their bright, glowing appearance, but also their well-shaped figures suggested a carefully cut precious stone. Lhr, relying on the similarity of two Heb. consonants ( g and n), by a slight change takes the word to be from the root which appears in Jer 7:29 (“cut off thine hair ”) and renders The locks of their hair glittered as a sapphire.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
7, 8. Cp. Lam 4:1-2. The emaciation produced by famine and hardship is vividly pourtrayed. Cp. Job 19:20; Job 30:30.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The Nazarites from their temperance were remarkable for health and personal beauty, besides being held in religious veneration.
Rubies – Or, corals.
Their polishing was of sapphire – Or, their shape was a sapphire. The allusion is no longer to color, but to form. Their shape was exact and faultless as the cutting of a precious stone.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. Her Nazarites were purer than snow] nazir does not always signify a person separated under a religious vow; it sometimes denotes what is chief or eminent. It is applied to Joseph, Ge 49:26. Blayney therefore translates here, HER NOBLES.
“Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk;
They were ruddier on the bone than rubies; their veining was
the sapphires.”
On which he remarks: – “In the first line the whiteness of their skin is described, and in the second, their flesh;” and as gazar signifies to divide and intersect, as the blue veins do on the surface of the body, these are without doubt intended.
Milk will most certainly well apply to the whiteness of the skin; the beautiful ruby to the ruddiness of the flesh; and the sapphire, in its clear transcendent purple, to the veins in a fine complexion. The reverse of this state, as described in the following verse, needs no explanation. The face was a dismal dark brown, the flesh gone, the skin shrivelled, and apparently wrapped round the bones.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
By
Nazarites in this place the most and best interpreters do not understand persons who were of the religious order of Nazarites, the laws of which order are to be read Num 6, and of whom we read Amo 2:11,12, for here is a beauty described (under several metaphors) which could never agree to them; but persons that were nobly and ingenuously bred; the word Nezer signifying a crown, or ensign of honour, 2Sa 1:10; 2Ki 11:12. The name Nazarite was given to persons splendid for their breeding and education, or honour and dignity; it is given to Joseph, Gen 49:26, we translate it separate from his brethren, Deu 33:16; so Nah 3:17. Her Nazarites in this place signifieth her separated ones, who either in respect of birth, education, estate, places of magistracy, or the like, were distinguished from the rest of the people. He expresseth their former splendid estate by the metaphors of snow, milk, rubies, and sapphires.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. Nazaritesliterally,”separated ones” (Nu 6:2).They were held once in the highest estimation, but now they aredegraded. God’s blessing formerly caused their body not to be theless fair and ruddy for their abstinence from strong drink. Comparethe similar case of Daniel, c. (Da1:8-15). Also David (1Sa 16:121Sa 17:42). Type of Messiah (So5:10).
rubiesGESENIUStranslates, “corals,” from a Hebrew root, “todivide into branches,” from the branching form of corals.
polishingThey werelike exquisitely cut and polished sapphires. The “sapphires”may represent the blue veins of a healthy person.
Cheth.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Her Nazarites were purer than snow,…. Such who separated themselves by a vow to the Lord, and abstained from drinking wine and strong drink, and by a moderate diet, and often washing themselves, as well as taking great care of their hair, appeared very neat and comely, like snow, without any spot or blemish. Some think such as were separated from others in dignity, very honourable persons, the sons of nobles, are meant, since the word has the signification of a “crown”, and interpret it, her princes; Jarchi makes mention of this sense, and rejects it; but it is received by many: and the meaning is, that her young noblemen, who were well fed, and neatly dressed, looked as pure and as beautiful as the driven snow:
they were whiter than milk; this intends the same thing, expressed by another metaphor:
they were more ruddy in body than rubies; or rather “than precious stones”; and particularly “than pearls”, which Bochart q proves at large are designed by the word used, which are white, and not red; and the word should be rendered, “clearer” or “whiter than pearls”, as it is by Lyra and others r; and the word in the Arabic language signifies white and clear s, as pearls are; and so the phrase is expressive of the beauty and comeliness of these persons: and Ludolphus t says, that in the Ethiopic language it signifies “beautiful”; and he translates the whole, “they were more beautiful than pearls”; denoting the clearness of their skins, and the goodness of their complexion:
their polishing [was] of sapphire; or “their cutting, sapphire” u; they were as beautiful as if they had been cut out of sapphire, and polished; which is a very precious stone, and looks very beautiful; so smooth were their skins. The Targum is,
“their face or countenance is as sapphire.”
Braunius w thinks the word used signifies the veins full of blood, which variously intersect the flesh like sapphirine rivers; and that the sense of the words is,
“their bodies were white like snow and milk, yea, shining like pearls (or red in the cheeks, lips, c. like coral x) veins full of blood running between like sapphire, of a most agreeable sky colour; which is, a true description of a most fair and beautiful body.”
See So 5:14. All this is to be understood of them before the famine, but, when that came upon them, then they were as follow:
q Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 5. c. 6. p. 688. r “lucidiores corpore margaritis”, Bochart; “candidi fuerunt [in] corpore prae margaritis”, Noldius. s “[camelis tributum], candidus perquam albus”, Giggeius;
“candidi coloris”, Dorcas, Giggeius apud Golium, col. 49, 51. t Comment. in Ethiop. Hist. l. 1. No. 107. u “sapphirus excisio eorum”, Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Calvin; “[quasi] sectio eorum esset ex sapphiro”, Munster. w De Vestitu Sacerdot. Hebr. l. 2. c. 12. sect. 7. p. 676. x So Bootius, Animadv. l. 4. c. 3. sect. 8. p. 144. Lutherus & Osiander in ib.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here the Prophet speaks of Nazarites, by whom we know the worship of God was honored; for they, who were not content with the common observance of the Law, consecrated themselves to God, that by their example they might stimulate others. It was then a singular zeal in a few to consecrate themselves, so as to become Nazarites, or separated. What this custom was may be known from the sixth chapter of Numbers. For God, who has always repudiated all fictitious forms of worship, prescribed to the Nazarites what he approved in every particular. Hence Moses carefully men-honed all those things which were to be observed by the Nazarites.
As to the present passage, it is enough to say, that the Nazarites were peculiarly devoted to God’s service during the time of their separation, for it was only a temporary service.
Then the Prophet brings them forward, that it might hence be evident how sad was the change, which he never could have made the Jews to believe. He says that the Nazarites were purer than snow, and whiter that milk, and also ruddier than precious stones, so that they might be corn-pared to sapphire; for, by saying sapphire was their cutting, he means that they were like sapphires well polished. Now we know that the Nazarites abstained from wine and strong drink: hence abstinence might have lessened somewhat of their ruddiness. For he who is accustomed to drink wine, if he abstains for a time, is apt to grow pale; lie will then lose almost all his color, at least he will not be so ruddy; nor will there appear in his face and in his members so much rigor as when he took his ordinary support. Jeremiah, in short, teaches us flint the blessing of God was conspicuous in the Nazarites, for he wonderfully supported them while they were for a time abstinence.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) Her Nazarites . . .The word has been rendered princes by some commentators, on the ground that it means literally those who are separated from their brethren (Gen. 49:26; Deu. 33:16), whether by rank or by the vows of consecration. There is no reason, however, for abandoning the rendering of the Authorised version. The reference to the Nazarites in Amo. 2:11-12 shows that they were prominent as a body during the history of the monarchy, and the drift of Jeremiahs mind, as seen in his admiration of the Rechabites (Jeremiah 35), shows that he was likely to think of them with reverence. The temperance, purity, cleanliness of such a body seem to have made them conspicuous among their fellows for an almost angelic beauty. (Comp. the interesting parallel of Dan. 1:15.) They had the red and white complexion which was in the East the ideal of comeliness (1Sa. 17:42; Song Son. 5:10). Their polishing (better, their form) was faultless, like that of a well cut sapphire. For rubies read coral.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Nazarites Men specially devoted to the service of religion. Such an order of men is recognized and regulated in the Mosaic law, but not called into existence by it. They are mentioned here as specially representative of the nation’s life.
Rubies Rather. corals. Delitzsch ( Psychology, page 75) refers to this place and Son 5:10, in proof that red on white the normal colour of the human complexion is the prime colour of beauty. Dean Smith. But who knows this to be the normal colour of the human complexion? And how does such a passage prove it the prime colour of beauty?
Their polishing More literally, their form of sapphire. “The point of comparison is not the colour, but the luminosity, of this precious stone.” Keil.
It would seem that the Nazarites were mentioned as illustrating the sad and painful contrast which the times had wrought. When Israel was at peace and prosperous these, who perhaps were specially set apart to works of religion or charity, were perfect specimens of physical well-being: but in the following verses we have grouped together fearfully expressive features of their starvation and disease. It is proper, however, to say that Keil, Gesenius, and Nagelsbach take a different view of this word Nazarites, and translate princes or crowned ones.
Lam 4:7. They were more ruddy, &c. They were brighter in body than pearls, &c. See Bochart, lib. 2: cap. 6.
Lam 4:7 Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing [was] of sapphire:
Ver. 7. Her Nazarites. ] Who served God in a singular way of abstinence above other men. These had their rules given them, Num 6:1-21 which while they observed,
They were purer than snow, whiter than milk. “ Quorum luxuriae totus non sufficit orbis. ”
Some by Nazarites here understand their nobles, and such as wore coronets on their heads. Nezar is a crown; 2Sa 1:10 2Ki 11:12 thus Joseph was a Nazarite; Gen 49:26 so Daniel and his three associates, in whom that was verified,
“ Gratior est pulchro veniens in corpore virtus. ”
Nazarites: Num 6:2-21, Jdg 13:5, Jdg 13:7, Jdg 16:17, Amo 2:11, Amo 2:12, Luk 1:15
purer: 1Sa 16:12, Psa 51:7, Psa 144:12, Son 5:10, Dan 1:15
their polishing: Gizrathom rendered by Dr. Blayney, “their veining,” from gazar to divide, intersect, as the blue veins do the surface of the body. This is approved by Dr. A. Clarke, who remarks, “Milk will most certainly well apply to the whiteness of the skin; the beautiful ruby to the ruddiness of the flesh; and the sapphire, in its clear, transcendent purple, to the veins in a fine complexion.
Reciprocal: Exo 28:17 – a sardius Num 6:3 – General Num 6:5 – razor Job 2:12 – knew him Job 28:18 – rubies Lam 1:19 – my priests
THE NAZARITES
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk.
Lam 4:7
I. The Ideal.The wealth of a great people consists not so much in its material possessions, but in its children; and happy is the land whose sons can be described in these terms. The Naraite bound himself by a solemn vow, either for life or for a prescribed period, to abstain from the juice of the vine, from contact with death, and from all uncleanness. The unshorn locks and strength of a Samson, the beneficent ministry of a Samuel, the austere purity of James, the leader of the church at Jerusalem, give us three different view points of the Nazarite.
II. Our Lord.There is always a fancination in the conception of one whose heart is pure as snow, and his life white as milk; and what was set forth in outward type in the Old Testament is presented as a possibility in the New. The Lord Jesus alone has perfectly realised the ideal.
III. Ourselves.Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. They have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. The only clue to the attainment of this ideal is to give yourself wholly to God, to ask Him to form Christ in you by the Holy Spirit, and daily to meet temptation in His strength and purity. It may not be possible in such a world to be innocent, but you may be pure as flame and chaste as snow.
Illustration
Calvin supposes that their red colour was a mark and evidence of Gods favour, as in the cases of the Hebrew children recorded in Daniel. We know that the Nazarites abstained from wine and strong drink: hence abstinence might have lessened somewhat of their ruddiness. For he who is accustomed to drink wine, if he abstains for a time, is apt to grow pale; he will then lose almost all his colour, at least, he will not be so ruddy; nor will there appear in his face and in his members so much vigour as when he took his ordinary support. Jeremiah, in short, teaches us that the blessing of God was conspicuous in the Nazarites, for He wonderfully supported them while they were for a time abstinents. This necessity of appealing to a possible miracle may itself create a doubt, if Nazarites are here referred to at all. That in such a corrupt state of society as existed, at that period of their history, among the Jews, there were many who assumed the vows of the Nazarite, is doubtful. There is no allusion to the existence even of Nazarites among the people at this time, in either the prophetical or historical books.
Lam 4:7. Nazarite is from a Hebrew word that Strong defines, Separate; i.e. consecrated. The word in its primary use meant a special kind of vow but came to be used of all persons consecrated to the service of God, and it has that meaning in this verse. It describes in strong adjectives the former purity and glory of these persons while they were faithfully serving the Lord. It continued so while their lives were pleasing to Him. and he bestowed upon them more luster than the finest of gems.
Lam 4:7-9. Her Nazarites were purer than snow It seems the word, , ought not to be translated here Nazarites, or those who were separated by a vow to God; but princes, or chief men: so Waterland understands the word, as also Blaney, who renders it, her nobles. We find the same term applied to Joseph, as one separated, or distinguished in eminence and dignity above his brethren, Gen 49:26. By being purer than snow, and whiter than milk, seems to be intended the whiteness of their skin, or the fairness of their complexion; and by their being more ruddy in body than rubies, or brighter than pearls, as , may be rendered, their high state of health may be meant. Their visage is blacker than a coal The famine, and other hardships which they have endured, have altered their complexion, and made them look dry and withered. They that be slain with the sword are better, &c. That is, their case is preferable to that of those slain with hunger; for these pine away, &c. That is, they waste away and perish by slow degrees, and, before they quite expire, suffer great misery. Stricken through for want of the fruits of the field Pierced with far more exquisite pain through want of sustenance, than if they had been run through with the sword.
2. The second description of siege conditions 4:7-11
Some of the residents had dedicated themselves to the Lord and were of the highest quality of people. However, even they had become victims of the siege, and had suffered terribly along with the ordinary citizens. Their fine complexions and healthy bodies had become black and shriveled.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)