See in Reader
1.5 KiB
Yahweh decided to destroy the city wall
Yahweh chose to have the wall destroyed and caused Jerusalem's enemy to destroy it. He did not destroy it himself. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)
daughter of Zion
This is a poetic name for Jerusalem, which is spoken of here as if it were a woman. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification)
He has stretched out the measuring line
This speaks of preparing to destroy the wall as if he measured it before he destroyed it, so that he knew how much to destroy. Alternate translation: "It is as though he has measured the wall" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
has not withheld his hand from destroying
This can be stated without the double negatives. Also, here the Lord is referred to by his "hand." Alternate translation: "with his hand he has destroyed the wall" or "he has destroyed the wall" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublenegatives and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche)
He has made the ramparts and wall to lament; together they wasted away
The walls and ramparts are spoken of as if they were people who lamented and died. Alternate translation: "Because he has destroyed the ramparts and walls, they are like people who lament and have lost their strength" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification)
ramparts
Ancient cities had a main "wall" to keep attackers out, and an outer line of "ramparts" to keep attackers from the wall.