How the gold has become dim — the precious sons of Zion, once worth fine gold, esteemed as earthen pitchers. The famine of the siege: children ask bread and none breaks it for them; the compassionate women have boiled their own children. For the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests the city fell, and the anointed of Hashem, the breath of our nostrils, was taken in their pits. The chapter closes facing Edom: the cup shall pass over to you also — but for Zion, the punishment of your iniquity is accomplished; He will no more carry you away into captivity.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
How has the gold become dim! How has the most fine gold changed! The hallowed stones are poured out At the head of every street.
verse value 3809
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 48 letters. Notable word values: "how" (אֵיכָה֙) = 36, double chai. Verse gematria: 3809 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "gold" (זָהָ֔ב, 3 letters) and the longest is "are·poured·out" (תִּשְׁתַּפֵּ֙כְנָה֙, 7 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "has·become·dim" (יוּעַ֣ם), "gold" (זָהָ֔ב), "has·changed" (יִשְׁנֶ֖א). 10 unique roots are used. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·good', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: אֵיכָה֙ [how] (36) + יוּעַ֣ם [has·become·dim] (126) + זָהָ֔ב [gold] (14) + יִשְׁנֶ֖א [has·changed] (361) + הַכֶּ֣תֶם [the·gold] (465) + הַטּ֑וֹב [the·good] (22) + תִּשְׁתַּפֵּ֙כְנָה֙ [are·poured·out] (1255) + אַבְנֵי־קֹ֔דֶשׁ [holy·stones] (467) + בְּרֹ֖אשׁ [at·the·head·of] (503) + כׇּל־חוּצֽוֹת [every·street] (560) = 3809.
Rashi
How dim the gold has become This elegy was recited about Josiah, as it is stated (II Chronicles 35: 25): “Behold it is written in the Book of Lamentations,” and with it he joined, in the midst of the elegy, the rest of the children of Zion. dim Heb. יוּעַם, dim, as in (Lev. 13:6) where כֵּהָה is translated by the Targum as עַמְיָא. gold the appearance of a face that shines like gold. changed Heb. יִשְּׁנֶא, changes its appearance. the gold jewelry Heb. הַכֶּתֶם. A collection of beautiful gold articles used as ornamentation is called ַכֶּתֶם. The holy stones children who shine like precious stones, and the Midrash Aggadah (Lam. Rabbah) [states]: Every fourth part [of a log] of blood that came out of Josiah with each arrow that they thrust into him, Jeremiah buried in its place, and he called out concerning it, “the holy stones are scattered.”
Ibn Ezra
“eikhah yu’am” (how has it become dim) — some say that “yu’am” is like “darkened,” as the Targum renders “ve-hineh khehah ha-nega’” — “and behold, the plague is dim” (Leviticus 13:6) — “amya mikhtasha.” But what is correct in my view is that it is like “lo amamuhu” — “did not outshine/obscure it” (Ezekiel 31:8), and its pattern is like “lechem yudaq” — “bread [grain] is crushed” (Isaiah 28:28).
Alshich
"How has the gold become dim, etc." — he speaks so as to intensify the lament. Even though it is known that the Holy One, Blessed be He, poured out His wrath upon wood and stones — that is, upon the Holy Temple — nevertheless he says "how" [eichah], for the intensification was so great that, even though He had already poured out His wrath upon the Holy Temple to the point that the gold of the Holy Temple became dim — that is, the Ark, which was hidden away — and the fine gold changed, that is, that which is of a grade lower than gold changed entirely, and the stones of the Holy Temple were poured out at the head of every street — after all this, he intensifies the wonderment: that after all this, even the precious children of Zion were regarded as earthen vessels, for whom there is almost no remedy.
The precious sons of Zion, Comparable to fine gold, How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, The work of the hands of the potter!
verse value 2635
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 51 letters. Notable word values: "how" (אֵיכָ֤ה) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "sons·of" (בְּנֵ֤י, 3 letters) and the longest is "as·jars·of·clay" (לְנִבְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶשׂ, 8 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "the·precious" (הַיְקָרִ֔ים), "the·comparable" (הַמְסֻלָּאִ֖ים), "with·fine·gold" (בַּפָּ֑ז). 11 unique roots are used. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·fine·gold', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 6 words. Full calculation: בְּנֵ֤י [sons·of] (62) + צִיּוֹן֙ [Zion] (156) + הַיְקָרִ֔ים [the·precious] (365) + הַמְסֻלָּאִ֖ים [the·comparable] (186) + בַּפָּ֑ז [with·fine·gold] (89) + אֵיכָ֤ה [how] (36) + נֶחְשְׁבוּ֙ [are·esteemed] (366) + לְנִבְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶשׂ [as·jars·of·clay] (630) + מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה [the·work·of] (415) + יְדֵ֥י [hands·of] (24) + יוֹצֵֽר [potter] (306) = 2635.
Rashi
praised with gold who were praised and equated with gold. Whoever saw them said, “See, the complexion of these is like the appearance of gold,” and so, (Job 28:16): “It cannot be praised (תְסֻלֶה) with jewelry of Ophir”; (ibid. 19): “it cannot be praised (תְסֻלֶה) with jewelry of fine gold”; (Ps. 68: 5): “praise (סֹלוּ) Him Who rides in Aravoth”; these are expressions of praise and value. earthen pitchers Heb. נִבְלֵי, earthen pitchers in which they pour wine, like wine flasks. (Jer. 48:12): “and they shall smash their jars (נִבְלֵיהֶם).”
Ibn Ezra
The alef of “ha-mesula’im” (esteemed) stands in place of the root heh, for the elided heh is not found in the middle of a word.
Even the jackals draw out the breast, They give suck to their young ones; The daughter of my people has become cruel, Like the ostriches in the wilderness.
verse value 3384
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 56 letters. Verse gematria: 3384 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "breast" (שַׁ֔ד, 2 letters) and the longest is "like·the·ostriches" (כַּיְעֵינִ֖ים, 7 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "even·jackals" (גַּם־תַּנִּים֙), "draw·out" (חָ֣לְצוּ), "breast" (שַׁ֔ד). The root יען appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·daughter·of·my·people" (root בת, 22x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'their·young·ones', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 6 words.
Rashi
Even the sea-monsters Even though it is cruel, it offers the breast. When it sees its hungry offspring coming from afar, it uncovers its breasts from their sheath, for it has a cover over its breasts, and draws them out so that its offspring should not see them covered up and retreat. And then they suckle their young. the daughter of my people has become cruel They see their children crying for bread, and they do not break it for them, for their own lives come before their children’s lives because of the hunger.
Ibn Ezra
“chaletzu” (draw out) — like “ve-chaletzah na’alo” — “and she shall loose his shoe” (Deuteronomy 25:9). It has both a masculine and a feminine form.
Alshich
"Even the jackals draw out the breast" — our Sages, of blessed memory, said that the sea-monsters would uncover the breasts of their females and nurse their young, and such a departure from the way of nature would be considered strange. From this it appears that our Sages called the oppressing besiegers by the name "sea-monsters" and their offspring, as it is written (Ezekiel 29), "the great sea-monster"; and this means that the enemies drew out the breasts of the [Jewish] women so that they might nurse the children of the enemies, and because of this — "The daughter of my people has become cruel" — they were regarded, compared to their own children, as cruel. "Like the ostriches" — for they heard them crying and did not take them in to nurse them, for no milk remained in their breasts. And therefore it says:
The tongue of the sucking child cleaves To the roof of his mouth for thirst; The young children ask bread, And none breaks it to them.
verse value 2173
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 42 letters. The shortest word is "cleaves" (דָּבַ֨ק, 3 letters) and the longest is "children" (עֽוֹלָלִים֙, 6 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "cleaves" (דָּבַ֨ק), "tongue·of" (לְשׁ֥וֹן), "sucking·infant" (יוֹנֵ֛ק). 11 unique roots are used. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'for·the·thirst', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 6 words. Full calculation: דָּבַ֨ק [cleaves] (106) + לְשׁ֥וֹן [tongue·of] (386) + יוֹנֵ֛ק [sucking·infant] (166) + אֶל־חִכּ֖וֹ [to·his·palate] (65) + בַּצָּמָ֑א [for·the·thirst] (133) + עֽוֹלָלִים֙ [children] (186) + שָׁ֣אֲלוּ [ask] (337) + לֶ֔חֶם [bread] (78) + פֹּרֵ֖שׂ [one·who·breaks] (580) + אֵ֥ין [none] (61) + לָהֶֽם [to·them] (75) = 2173.
Ibn Ezra
“poresh” (breaks) — like “paros la-ra’ev” — “to deal [your bread] to the hungry” (Isaiah 58:7), and it means bread broken into pieces.
Alshich
"The tongue of the sucking child cleaves [to the roof of his mouth]" — because they had nothing to nurse. And the young children, whose food was bread, asked for bread, and there was none who broke it for them.
Those who did feed on dainties Are desolate in the streets; Those who were brought up in scarlet Embrace dunghills.
verse value 3323
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 46 letters. The shortest word is "upon" (עֲלֵ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "on·dainties" (לְמַ֣עֲדַנִּ֔ים, 7 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "those·who·fed" (הָאֹֽכְלִים֙), "on·dainties" (לְמַ֣עֲדַנִּ֔ים), "are·desolate" (נָשַׁ֖מּוּ). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "upon" (root על, 21x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·the·streets', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 5 words. Full calculation: הָאֹֽכְלִים֙ [those·who·fed] (106) + לְמַ֣עֲדַנִּ֔ים [on·dainties] (244) + נָשַׁ֖מּוּ [are·desolate] (396) + בַּחוּצ֑וֹת [in·the·streets] (512) + הָאֱמֻנִים֙ [those·who·were·brought·up] (146) + עֲלֵ֣י [upon] (110) + תוֹלָ֔ע [scarlet] (506) + חִבְּק֖וּ [embrace] (116) + אַשְׁפַּתּֽוֹת [ash·heaps] (1187) = 3323.
Rashi
they that were reared on crimson on colored garments. they that were reared Heb. הָאֱמֻנִים. An expression similar to (Esther 2:7): “And he brought up (אֹמֵן) Hadassah.” clasp the dunghills heaps of dung; they lie on the dunghills in the street.
Ibn Ezra
“ha-okhelim” (those who feed) — who indulged themselves [in dainties]. “tola’” (scarlet) — like “tola’at shani” (crimson dye).
Alshich
"[Those who did feed on dainties] are desolate in the streets" — because they saw every good thing in the streets and had nothing with which to buy it. "Embrace dunghills" — they kissed the dunghill when they found it, in order to lie upon it.
For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater Than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, And no hands fell upon her.
verse value 1875
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 45 letters. The shortest word is "in·her" (בָ֖הּ, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·overthrown" (הַֽהֲפוּכָ֣ה, 6 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "and·became·great" (וַיִּגְדַּל֙), "the·iniquity·of" (עֲוֺ֣ן), "than·the·sin·of" (מֵֽחַטַּ֖את). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·daughter·of·my·people" (root בת, 22x in Lamentations). First appearance of the root חטאה ("than·the·sin·of") in Lamentations. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Sodom', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיִּגְדַּל֙ [and·became·great] (53) + עֲוֺ֣ן [the·iniquity·of] (126) + בַּת־עַמִּ֔י [the·daughter·of·my·people] (522) + מֵֽחַטַּ֖את [than·the·sin·of] (458) + סְדֹ֑ם [Sodom] (104) + הַֽהֲפוּכָ֣ה [the·overthrown] (121) + כְמוֹ־רָ֔גַע [like·a·moment] (339) + וְלֹא־חָ֥לוּ [and·did·not·fall] (81) + בָ֖הּ [in·her] (7) + יָדָֽיִם [hands] (64) = 1875.
Rashi
The iniquity of my people is greater, etc. Their punishment proves about them that their iniquity is greater than that of Sodom. which was overthrown as in a moment The distress of Sodom was not prolonged; it was overthrown as in one moment. and no hands fell on her [i.e.,] the hands of the enemy, but through angels it was overthrown. There are also Aggadic midrashim, but they do not fit the sequence of the verses.
Ibn Ezra
“chalu” (was overthrown) — from the language of “chil” (writhing/trembling); and others said it is like “al rosh resha’im yachul” — “it shall whirl upon the head of the wicked” (Jeremiah 23:19).
Alshich
"And the iniquity has grown" etc. — This is the Holy One's answer as to why all this came upon you: because the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom. For the essential sin of Sodom was that they did not strengthen the hand of the poor and the needy, as it is written (Ezekiel 16), and for them it was reckoned only as an unwitting sin, since the Torah had not yet been given to them — unlike the daughter of my people, for whom it was reckoned as a willful sin (zadon). Therefore Sodom was overturned in a mere moment and did not suffer many afflictions, nor did the hand of an enemy fall upon her — which was not so in Jerusalem, because of the greatness of the iniquity.
Her princes were purer than snow, They were whiter than milk, They were more ruddy in body than rubies, Their polishing was as of sapphire;
verse value 2403
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 43 letters. The shortest word is "were·pure" (זַכּ֤וּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "than·rubies" (מִפְּנִינִ֔ים, 7 letters). 10 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "were·pure" (זַכּ֤וּ), "her·princes" (נְזִירֶ֙יהָ֙), "than·snow" (מִשֶּׁ֔לֶג). 10 unique roots are used. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'than·milk', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: זַכּ֤וּ [were·pure] (33) + נְזִירֶ֙יהָ֙ [her·princes] (282) + מִשֶּׁ֔לֶג [than·snow] (373) + צַח֖וּ [were·white] (104) + מֵחָלָ֑ב [than·milk] (80) + אָ֤דְמוּ [were·ruddy] (51) + עֶ֙צֶם֙ [bone] (200) + מִפְּנִינִ֔ים [than·rubies] (280) + סַפִּ֖יר [sapphire] (350) + גִּזְרָתָֽם [their·polishing] (650) = 2403.
Rashi
Her Nazirites were purer Heb. נְזִירֶיהָ, her princes, like נֶזֶר and כֶּתֶר, a crown, but I say that [it means] real Nazirites, who had long hair and were remarkably handsome, and the antecedent is “the daughter of my people.” their appearance was ruddier than coral Those whose appearance was ruddier than coral and whose forms were like sapphire—their complexions became darker than charcoal.
Ibn Ezra
"Purer than snow" and "whiter than milk" — this is a doubled [i.e., synonymous parallel] pair; and likewise "sapir" (sapphire) is paired with "peninim" (pearls) in the same way. And thus its sense: the mem of "mipeninim" (than pearls) extends itself and carries over to the word after it as well [i.e., it does double duty for the following word too], like the mem of "me'el avicha" (from the God of your father) (Genesis 49:25) — as if they were hewn from sapphire. And "livnat" (Exodus 24:10) is like "levenah" (a brick) — the proof is the word "kema'aseh" (like the work of) [that precedes it there, i.e., denoting a construction, not a color]; and elsewhere it is called "even" (a stone) (Ezekiel 1:26).
Alshich
"Her nazirites were purer" etc. — This tells of the greatness of the iniquity that was theirs. For behold, there were among them perfectly righteous men who abstained (were nazirites) from all the desires of this world, to the point that they were purer than snow. And there were also among them penitents (ba'alei teshuvah), to whom the term "whiteness of milk" was applied by borrowed metaphor — milk whose essential substance is blood that has turned to whiteness. Likewise there were among them judges who executed judgment upon the wicked, to whom "redness of bone" was applied by borrowed metaphor, for red is likened to judgment. And there were also among them men who gave up their lives for the sanctification of the Name, to whom "the form of sapphire" was applied by borrowed metaphor, as our Sages of blessed memory said, that the sapphire cannot be broken by any blows, yet it cuts into an anvil of iron. And despite all this, even upon those righteous ones You had no pity. Until:
Their visage is blacker than a coal; They are not known in the streets; Their skin is shriveled upon their bones; It is withered, it has become like a stick.
verse value 3684
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 46 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "in·the·streets" (בַּחוּצ֑וֹת, 6 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "than·blackness" (מִשְּׁחוֹר֙), "their·visage" (תׇּֽאֳרָ֔ם), "are·recognized" (נִכְּר֖וּ). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not" (root לא, 29x in Lamentations); "has·become" (root היה, 23x in Lamentations). First appearance of the root עץ ("like·the·stick") in Lamentations. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·the·streets', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 6 words. Full calculation: חָשַׁ֤ךְ [is·dark] (328) + מִשְּׁחוֹר֙ [than·blackness] (554) + תׇּֽאֳרָ֔ם [their·visage] (641) + לֹ֥א [not] (31) + נִכְּר֖וּ [are·recognized] (276) + בַּחוּצ֑וֹת [in·the·streets] (512) + צָפַ֤ד [is·shriveled] (174) + עוֹרָם֙ [their·skin] (316) + עַל־עַצְמָ֔ם [upon·their·bones] (340) + יָבֵ֖שׁ [withered] (312) + הָיָ֥ה [has·become] (20) + כָעֵֽץ [like·the·stick] (180) = 3684.
Rashi
than charcoal Heb. מִשְּׁחוֹר. This is charcoal. appearance Heb. עֶצֶם, an expression of appearance, like (Exod. 24:10): “like the appearance of (וּכְעֶצֶם) the heavens in purity”; couleur in French, color, complexion. is shriveled Heb. צָפַד, shriveled and adhered, and there is no similar word.
Ibn Ezra
"Mishachor" (blacker than) — more than blackness, and it [i.e., "shachor"] is a noun. "Tzafad" (shriveled) — like "davak" (clinging, stuck), and it is a standalone noun.
Alshich
"Their visage is blacker than a coal" — So cruel were you to them in your ease that the visage of the righteous grew blacker than a coal, from poverty and hunger. "They are not known" — No person had compassion on them, until their skin shriveled upon their bones (the word "nikru" [known/recognized] is from the same [root as] "makir" in "Blessed be he who took notice of you" — Ruth 2:19), and because of this the punishment written below came.
Those who are slain with the sword are better Than those who are slain with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, For want of the fruits of the field.
verse value 2742
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 45 letters. The shortest word is "were" (הָיוּ֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "slain·by·the·sword" (חַלְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶב, 7 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "better" (טוֹבִ֤ים), "slain·by·the·sword" (חַלְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶב), "than·the·slain·of" (מֵֽחַלְלֵ֖י). The root חלל appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "were" (root היה, 23x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'famine', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: טוֹבִ֤ים [better] (67) + הָיוּ֙ [were] (21) + חַלְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶב [slain·by·the·sword] (288) + מֵֽחַלְלֵ֖י [than·the·slain·of] (118) + רָעָ֑ב [famine] (272) + שֶׁ֣הֵ֤ם [for·they] (345) + יָזֻ֙בוּ֙ [pine·away] (25) + מְדֻקָּרִ֔ים [pierced·through] (394) + מִתְּנוּבֹ֖ת [from·the·fruits·of] (898) + שָׂדָֽי [the·field] (314) = 2742.
Rashi
for they ooze, pierced, etc. The victims of hunger were swollen from the smell of the fruits of the field, for the enemies would roast meat on the grass outside the wall, and the aroma would go into those swollen from hunger, and their stomachs would split, and their feces would ooze. Now this is a more ignoble death than those who are slain by the sword. pierced Heb. מְדֻקָרִים. Being split either by the swelling of hunger or by the stabbing of the sword is called דְקִירָה, piercing. by the fruits of the field Because of the roots and grasses that they gathered and ate, their feces increased and were loathsome.
Ibn Ezra
"Sheheim yazuvu" (that they pine away) — that is, they are pierced through.
Alshich
"Those slain by hunger" — Therefore they were punished measure for measure, and died by hunger, which is more repulsive and worse than those slain by the sword.
The hands of women full of compassion Have sodden their own children; They were their food In the destruction of the daughter of my people.
verse value 3346
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 44 letters. The shortest word is "hands·of" (יְדֵ֗י, 3 letters) and the longest is "compassionate" (רַחֲמָ֣נִיּ֔וֹת, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "compassionate" (רַחֲמָ֣נִיּ֔וֹת), "have·boiled" (בִּשְּׁל֖וּ), "their·children" (יַלְדֵיהֶ֑ן). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "were" (root היה, 23x in Lamentations); "the·daughter·of·my·people" (root בת, 22x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'their·children', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: יְדֵ֗י [hands·of] (24) + נָשִׁים֙ [women] (400) + רַחֲמָ֣נִיּ֔וֹת [compassionate] (714) + בִּשְּׁל֖וּ [have·boiled] (338) + יַלְדֵיהֶ֑ן [their·children] (109) + הָי֤וּ [were] (21) + לְבָרוֹת֙ [for·food] (638) + לָ֔מוֹ [to·them] (76) + בְּשֶׁ֖בֶר [in·the·destruction·of] (504) + בַּת־עַמִּֽי [the·daughter·of·my·people] (522) = 3346.
Rashi
food Heb. לְבָרוֹת, for food, like (II Sam. 12:17): “neither did he eat (בָרָה) bread with them”; (ibid. 3: 35): “to serve (לְהַבְרוֹת) David bread.”
Ibn Ezra
"Levarot" (as food) — from the root of "lehavrot et David" (to give David food) (2 Samuel 3:35), and they are two [different] binyanim [verb-conjugation patterns].
Alshich
"Compassionate women" — Because they had been cruel toward the righteous, they therefore became cruel, out of the greatness of the troubles, toward their own children.
Hashem has accomplished His fury, He has poured out His fierce anger; And He has kindled a fire in Zion, Which has devoured its foundations.
verse value 3598
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 45 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "has·accomplished" (כִּלָּ֤ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "His·fury" (אֶת־חֲמָת֔וֹ, 6 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "has·accomplished" (כִּלָּ֤ה), "His·fury" (אֶת־חֲמָת֔וֹ), "and·He·has·kindled·fire" (וַיַּצֶּת־אֵ֣שׁ). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 32x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'His·anger', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: כִּלָּ֤ה [has·accomplished] (55) + יְהֹוָה֙ [Hashem] (26) + אֶת־חֲמָת֔וֹ [His·fury] (855) + שָׁפַ֖ךְ [has·poured·out] (400) + חֲר֣וֹן [the·fierceness·of] (264) + אַפּ֑וֹ [His·anger] (87) + וַיַּצֶּת־אֵ֣שׁ [and·He·has·kindled·fire] (807) + בְּצִיּ֔וֹן [in·Zion] (158) + וַתֹּ֖אכַל [and·has·devoured] (457) + יְסֹדֹתֶֽיהָ [its·foundations] (489) = 3598.
Rashi
The Lord has spent His fury which burned in Him for many years; He now spent it when He avenged Himself upon them.
Ibn Ezra
"Vayatzet esh" (and He kindled a fire) — He likened [His] wrath to a fire.
Alshich
"And He has kindled a fire in Zion" — The prophet says: so great was the anger and the fury, that after all the troubles in which Hashem completed His wrath and poured out His fierce anger, He was still compelled to pour out His fury further and kindle a fire in Zion. For had He not poured out His fury upon the Holy Temple, there would have been, Heaven forbid, destruction of the entire community.
The kings of the earth believed not, Neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter Into the gates of Jerusalem.
verse value 2920
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 50 letters. Notable word values: "would·enter" (יָבֹא֙) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֤א, 2 letters) and the longest is "kings·of·the·earth" (מַלְכֵי־אֶ֔רֶץ, 7 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "believed" (הֶאֱמִ֙ינוּ֙), "kings·of·the·earth" (מַלְכֵי־אֶ֔רֶץ), "inhabitants·of" (יֹשְׁבֵ֣י). The root כל appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not" (root לא, 29x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·world', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words.
Ibn Ezra
"Tevel" (the world) — the inhabited place.
Alshich
"The kings of the earth believed not" — That is to say: you see that it was destroyed because of your sin, for even the kings of the earth did not believe it, because it was beyond the natural order; and therefore it must have been from the sin of her prophets, etc.
It is because of the sins of her prophets, And the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just In the midst of her.
verse value 2220
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 40 letters. The shortest word is "blood·of" (דַּ֥ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "from·the·sins·of" (מֵֽחַטֹּ֣אות, 6 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "from·the·sins·of" (מֵֽחַטֹּ֣אות), "her·prophets" (נְבִיאֶ֔יהָ), "the·iniquities·of" (עֲוֺנֹ֖ת). 8 unique roots are used. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'her·priests', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: מֵֽחַטֹּ֣אות [from·the·sins·of] (464) + נְבִיאֶ֔יהָ [her·prophets] (78) + עֲוֺנֹ֖ת [the·iniquities·of] (526) + כֹּהֲנֶ֑יהָ [her·priests] (90) + הַשֹּׁפְכִ֥ים [who·shed] (455) + בְּקִרְבָּ֖הּ [in·her·midst] (309) + דַּ֥ם [blood·of] (44) + צַדִּיקִֽים [just] (254) = 2220.
Rashi
for the sins of her prophets [Because of the sins of her] false [prophets], this evil has befallen her.
Ibn Ezra
"Dam tzadikim" (the blood of the just) — the blood of every single righteous person; and likewise "belev chachamim" (in the heart of the wise) (Ecclesiastes 7:4).
They wander as blind men in the streets, They are polluted with blood, So that men cannot Touch their garments.
verse value 1683
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "they·wander" (נָע֤וּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·their·garments" (בִּלְבֻשֵׁיהֶֽם, 7 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "they·wander" (נָע֤וּ), "blind" (עִוְרִים֙), "they·are·polluted" (נְגֹֽאֲל֖וּ). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "without" (root לא, 29x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·the·blood', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 4 words. Full calculation: נָע֤וּ [they·wander] (126) + עִוְרִים֙ [blind] (326) + בַּֽחוּצ֔וֹת [in·the·streets] (512) + נְגֹֽאֲל֖וּ [they·are·polluted] (90) + בַּדָּ֑ם [with·the·blood] (46) + בְּלֹ֣א [without] (33) + יֽוּכְל֔וּ [are·able] (72) + יִגְּע֖וּ [they·touch] (89) + בִּלְבֻשֵׁיהֶֽם [in·their·garments] (389) = 1683.
Rashi
The blind stagger through the streets When the blind would walk in the street, they staggered, and their feet slipped on the blood of the slain, whom the wicked were slaying in their midst. they are defiled with blood They were so sullied with blood that those near them could not touch their clothes, and would therefore call out to them.
Ibn Ezra
"Ivrim" (blind men) — like blind men [i.e., understood as "ke-ivrim," with the comparative prefix omitted], and likewise "eish okhlah hu" (He is a devouring fire) (Deuteronomy 4:24) [is to be understood the same way]. "Nig'alu" (they are defiled) — a word formed from a combination of the nif'al pattern and the pattern whose agent is not named [i.e., a hybrid passive form].
Alshich
"They wander as blind men" — Those who are called "blind" are those who are blind in understanding, as it is written, "and before the blind..." "In the streets" — That they passed by openly, in public, and no one protested against them, as the Sages of blessed memory said, that Jerusalem was destroyed because they did not rebuke one another. "They are defiled with blood" etc. — They stumbled so greatly that they were defiled with the sin of bloodshed, and they shed so much blood that they could not touch their own garments, from the great filth of the blood.
’Depart you! unclean! ’ men cried to them, ‘Depart, depart, touch not’; Indeed, they fled away and wandered; Men said among the nations: ‘They shall no more sojourn here.’
verse value 2844
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 58 letters. Verse gematria: 2844 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "do·not·touch" (אַל־תִּגָּ֔עוּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 272: depart, depart, depart. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "unclean" (טָמֵ֞א), "they·cried" (קָ֣רְאוּ), "do·not·touch" (אַל־תִּגָּ֔עוּ). The root סור appears 3 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not" (root לא, 29x in Lamentations). First appearance of the root יסף ("shall·they·add") in Lamentations. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'also·they·wandered', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 5 words.
Rashi
Depart from us, you unclean ones, who are sullied with blood. for they are foul Heb. נָצוּ, an expression of foulness and filth, like (Lev. 1:16): “its crop, בְּנֹצָתָה,” which is translated by the Targum as בְּאוּכְלֵיה. So did Menahem associate it (not found in our editions of Machbereth). even slipping They slipped in the blood.
Ibn Ezra
"Suru tamei" (Depart, unclean!) — [understood as] "suru, goy tamei" (depart, unclean nation!). "Natzu" (they fled/wandered) — they have "notzah" (plumage) like a bird, and likewise "natzo tetze" (it shall surely flee) (Jeremiah 48:9).
Alshich
"Depart!" — The prophet said: since all this came from the sin of the [false] prophets, therefore, "Depart from them!" "Unclean, they cried to them" — They called them unclean. "Depart, depart, touch not, for they became loathsome (natzu)" etc. — Transpose the verse [reorder its words] and interpret it thus: the prophet says, separate yourselves from those false prophets at once; for once you see that they "natzu" — a term meaning "became putrid" — when you see that the counsel of the false prophets, which they always told you, has become rotten... "Among the nations they shall no longer sojourn." And also "they wandered (na'u)" — that you shall go into exile and become wanderers and vagrants; then you yourselves will cry out in a loud, hurried voice and say to the false prophets, "Depart! Depart! Touch not!" Therefore, heed my counsel, that you remove yourselves from them at once, and call them unclean.
The anger of Hashem has divided them; He will no more regard them; They respected not the persons of the priests, They were not gracious to the elders.
verse value 1855
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 55 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·look·at·them" (לְהַבִּיטָ֑ם, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 140: the·face·of, face·of. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "has·divided·them" (חִלְּקָ֔ם), "to·look·at·them" (לְהַבִּיטָ֑ם), "priests" (כֹהֲנִים֙). The root לא appears 3 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 32x in Lamentations); "not" (root לא, 29x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·look·at·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 8 words.
Rashi
The anger of the Lord divided them Heb. פְּנֵי, lit. the face of. The angry face of the Holy One, blessed be He, divided them and dispersed them among the heathens, because they did not respect the presence of the priests when they were in their [state of] tranquility.
Ibn Ezra
"Pnei Hashem" (the face of Hashem) — [means] wrath, for [wrath] is seen in the face, as in "u-faneha lo hayu lah od" (and her face was no longer [downcast]) (1 Samuel 1:18).
Alshich
"The anger of Hashem has divided them" — Those prophets and priests who caused the multitude to sin and angered Hashem by their deeds — that anger of the Holy One divided them from the community of Israel, so that He would no longer regard them, because of the sin that the faces of the priests were not shown deference, etc.
As for us, our eyes do yet fail For our vain help; In our watching we have watched For a nation that could not save.
verse value 3144
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 58 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "for·our·help" (אֶל־עֶזְרָתֵ֖נוּ, 8 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "as·for·us" (עוֹדֵ֙ינוּ֙), "they·fail" (תִּכְלֶ֣ינָה), "for·our·help" (אֶל־עֶזְרָתֵ֖נוּ). The root עוד appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not" (root לא, 29x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'vain', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words.
Rashi
Our eyes still strained for our futile help When the evil befell us, our eyes were still looking forward to Pharaoh’s army, concerning whom it is said (Isa. 30:7): “And the Egyptians help in vain and to no purpose,” for they would promise us aid but they would not come, as it is stated concerning them (Jer. 37:7): “Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which has come out to aid you, is returning to its land, Egypt.” We find in Midrash Kinoth that they were coming in ships. The Holy One, blessed be He, signaled to the sea and caused inflated flasks like human intestines to float before them, moving around in the water. They said to each other, “These flasks are our forefathers, the men of Egypt who drowned in the sea because of these Jews, and we are going out to aid them?” They stopped and turned around. we hoped Heb. צִפִּינוּ, we waited.
Ibn Ezra
"Betzipiteinu" (in our watching) — it has no [comparable grammatical] pattern.
Alshich
"As for us, our eyes yet fail" — That is to say, while our soul still yearned for the help of kings, that they would come to our aid, immediately "they hunted [our steps]" etc.
They hunt our steps, That we cannot go in our broad places; Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; For our end has come.
verse value 2518
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 45 letters. The shortest word is "they·hunt" (צָד֣וּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·our·broad·places" (בִּרְחֹבֹתֵ֑ינוּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 246: our·end, our·end. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "they·hunt" (צָד֣וּ), "our·steps" (צְעָדֵ֔ינוּ), "from·going" (מִלֶּ֖כֶת). The root קץ appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "our·days" (root יום, 20x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·our·broad·places', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 6 words. Full calculation: צָד֣וּ [they·hunt] (100) + צְעָדֵ֔ינוּ [our·steps] (230) + מִלֶּ֖כֶת [from·going] (490) + בִּרְחֹבֹתֵ֑ינוּ [in·our·broad·places] (678) + קָרַ֥ב [is·near] (302) + קִצֵּ֛נוּ [our·end] (246) + מָלְא֥וּ [are·fulfilled] (77) + יָמֵ֖ינוּ [our·days] (116) + כִּי־בָ֥א [for·has·come] (33) + קִצֵּֽנוּ [our·end] (246) = 2518.
Rashi
They dogged our steps Heb. צָדוּ. Our enemies stalked our steps and prevented us from walking in our streets, like (Exod. 21:13): “but if he did not lurk (צָדָה)”;(I Sam. 24:12): “but you are stalking (צֹדֶה) my soul.”
Ibn Ezra
"Tzadu" (they hunted) — as if [the verse said] "tzadu tze'adeinu" (they hunted our steps).
Alshich
"They hunted (tzadu)" — from the language of "hunting" (tzeidah); that is, our enemies suddenly hunted us. "Our end drew near" — In the midst of relating the troubles, he mentions the kindnesses of Hashem, and says "our end drew near" — that is, the Holy One brought the end of the exile closer. For we were meant to remain two more years in the Land of Israel, according to the count (gematria) of the word "venoshantem," but the Holy One advanced it by two years. And the reason given for this is "our days are fulfilled, for our end has come" — for had He waited until the time the end came according to the reckoning of "venoshantem," our days would have been fulfilled — that is, our days would have been completed entirely, and we would no longer have existed in the world at all, for there would have been fulfilled in us, Heaven forbid, "you shall utterly perish," as our Sages of blessed memory said: the Holy One performed an act of righteousness (tzedakah) in advancing it two years before [the time indicated by] "venoshantem." And this is what is meant by "for our end has come" — and "ba" (has come) is a term of "setting," as in "and the sun set (u-va ha-shemesh)" — meaning that our end had set completely.
Our pursuers were swifter Than the eagles of the heaven; They chased us upon the mountains, They lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
verse value 2634
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 46 letters. Notable word values: "for·us" (לָֽנוּ) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "were" (הָיוּ֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·the·mountains" (עַל־הֶהָרִ֣ים, 7 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "swift" (קַלִּ֤ים), "our·pursuers" (רֹדְפֵ֔ינוּ), "than·the·eagles·of" (מִנִּשְׁרֵ֖י). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "were" (root היה, 23x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'heaven', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: קַלִּ֤ים [swift] (180) + הָיוּ֙ [were] (21) + רֹדְפֵ֔ינוּ [our·pursuers] (350) + מִנִּשְׁרֵ֖י [than·the·eagles·of] (600) + שָׁמָ֑יִם [heaven] (390) + עַל־הֶהָרִ֣ים [upon·the·mountains] (360) + דְּלָקֻ֔נוּ [they·chased·us] (190) + בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר [in·the·wilderness] (248) + אָ֥רְבוּ [they·lay·in·wait] (209) + לָֽנוּ [for·us] (86) = 2634.
Ibn Ezra
And so it is said: "delakunu" (they pursued us) is like "ki dalakta acharai" (for you hotly pursued after me) (Genesis 31:36).
Alshich
"Our pursuers were swift" — Because of this act of righteousness that hastened the exile, our pursuers were swift to run, in order to hasten the exile. "Upon the mountains" — In the merit of the Patriarchs, who are called "mountains." "They pursued us hotly (dalekunu)" — They pursued us swiftly, so that, Heaven forbid, "you shall utterly perish" would not be fulfilled. "In the wilderness" — Concerning the sin that was committed in the wilderness, namely the sin of the [Golden] Calf; because of this sin they lay in wait for us.
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Hashem, Was taken in their pits; Of whom we said: ‘Under his shadow We shall live among the nations.’
verse value 3075
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 49 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "the·breath·of" (ר֤וּחַ, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·their·pits" (בִּשְׁחִיתוֹתָ֑ם, 8 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "the·breath·of" (ר֤וּחַ), "our·nostrils" (אַפֵּ֙ינוּ֙), "the·anointed·of" (מְשִׁ֣יחַ). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 32x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·their·pits', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words. Full calculation: ר֤וּחַ [the·breath·of] (214) + אַפֵּ֙ינוּ֙ [our·nostrils] (147) + מְשִׁ֣יחַ [the·anointed·of] (358) + יְהֹוָ֔ה [Hashem] (26) + נִלְכַּ֖ד [was·taken] (104) + בִּשְׁחִיתוֹתָ֑ם [in·their·pits] (1166) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [whom] (501) + אָמַ֔רְנוּ [we·said] (297) + בְּצִלּ֖וֹ [in·his·shadow] (128) + נִֽחְיֶ֥ה [we·shall·live] (73) + בַגּוֹיִֽם [among·the·nations] (61) = 3075.
Rashi
The breath of our nostrils, the Lord’s anointed That is Josiah, as it is stated in Chronicles (II Chron. 35:25): “And Jeremiah lamented Josiah.” in their pits in the pits that they dug.
Ibn Ezra
"Bishchitutam" (in their pits) — like "be-shachtam nitpas" (in their pit he was caught) (Ezekiel 19:4).
Cross-references: II Kings 25:4; II Chronicles 35:25
Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, Who dwell in the land of Uz: The cup shall pass over to you also; You shall be drunken, and shall make yourself naked.
verse value 6289
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 57 letters. The shortest word is "Uz" (ע֑וּץ, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·cup·shall·pass·over" (תַּעֲבׇר־כּ֔וֹס, 7 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "rejoice" (שִׂ֤ישִׂי), "and·be·glad" (וְשִׂמְחִי֙), "who·dwell" (יוֹשֶׁ֖בֶת). The root ישב appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·daughter·of·Edom" (root בת, 22x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Uz', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 4 words.
Rashi
Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom Jeremiah prophesied about the destruction of the Second Temple, which the Romans would destroy. Rejoice and be glad for the time being, but ultimately, the cup of retribution will pass also over you, and you will become drunk from it. and vomit Heb. וְתִתְעָרִי, like (Gen. 24:20): “and she emptied (וַתְּעַר) her pitcher.”
Ibn Ezra
"Utz" — there are two of this name, and they are Arameans.
Alshich
"Rejoice and be glad" — That is to say, you now rejoice and are glad at our downfall (for the imperative is sometimes stated in the present tense, as in "u-re'eh be-tov" [Ecclesiastes 2], which is [equivalent to] "u-re'ot be-tov" ["seeing good"]; and likewise "u-re'eh onyi mishpato," [equivalent to] "u-re'ot onyi" ["seeing my affliction"]); but know that the cup of retribution shall pass over you as well.
The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion, He will no more carry you away into captivity; He will punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom, He will uncover your sins.
verse value 3204
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 50 letters. Verse gematria: 3204 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "upon·your·sins" (עַל־חַטֹּאתָֽיִךְ, 8 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Lamentations. Unique to this verse in Lamentations (hapax): "your·iniquity·is·finished" (תַּם־עֲוֺנֵךְ֙), "to·exile·you" (לְהַגְלוֹתֵ֑ךְ), "He·will·punish" (פָּקַ֤ד). The root עון appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not" (root לא, 29x in Lamentations); "the·daughter·of·Zion" (root בת, 22x in Lamentations). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·exile·you', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: תַּם־עֲוֺנֵךְ֙ [your·iniquity·is·finished] (586) + בַּת־צִיּ֔וֹן [the·daughter·of·Zion] (558) + לֹ֥א [not] (31) + יוֹסִ֖יף [will·He·add] (166) + לְהַגְלוֹתֵ֑ךְ [to·exile·you] (494) + פָּקַ֤ד [He·will·punish] (184) + עֲוֺנֵךְ֙ [your·iniquity] (146) + בַּת־אֱד֔וֹם [the·daughter·of·Edom] (453) + גִּלָּ֖ה [He·will·uncover] (38) + עַל־חַטֹּאתָֽיִךְ [upon·your·sins] (548) = 3204.
Rashi
[The punishment of] your iniquity is complete, O daughter of Zion You suffered for all your sins. He will no longer send you into exile from the exile of Edom and further.
Ibn Ezra
"Lo yosif" (he will no longer) — refers back to "avonech" (your iniquity), and "pakad" (he will visit/punish) refers back to it as well. Or it refers back to the name mentioned in "ruach apeinu" (the breath of our nostrils) [v. 20].
Alshich
"Your iniquity is completed" etc. — [This explains] the difference between Israel and Edom: with Israel, once they have been afflicted, their iniquity is atoned for. This is what is meant by "your iniquity is completed; He will no longer exile you" — because they accept the afflictions with love. Not so the nations: when they are visited for their iniquity and afflictions come upon them, they curse their king and their god, and then the sins hidden in their hearts are revealed. This is what is meant by "He will punish your iniquity, He will uncover your sins" — when you are visited for your iniquity and punished, at once your sin hidden within you will be revealed. This is also what was said above, "you shall be drunk and shall make yourself naked" — when you become drunk from the cup of retribution that shall come upon you, then you will be exposed — all the heresy (apikorsut) hidden in your heart will be revealed before the eyes of all.
Rashi
Ibn Ezra
Alshich