Lamentations 4:7 Their princes were brighter than snow and whiter than milk, their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like lapis lazuli.

◄ Lamentations 4:7 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Their princes were brighter than snow and whiter than milk, their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like lapis lazuli.

English Standard Version
Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, the beauty of their form was like sapphire.

New American Standard Bible
Her consecrated ones were purer than snow, They were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than corals, Their polishing was like lapis lazuli.

King James Bible
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, their appearance like sapphire.

International Standard Version
Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk. Their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their beards like the color of precious stones.

American Standard Version
Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Zain. Her Nazarites were whiter than snow, purer than milk, more ruddy than the old ivory, fairer than the sapphire.

Darby Bible Translation
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, whiter than milk; they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their figure was as sapphire.

Young's Literal Translation
Purer were her Nazarites than snow, Whiter than milk, ruddier of body than rubies, Of sapphire their form.

Cross References

Exodus 24:10
And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

Job 28:16
It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

Job 28:18
No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

Psalm 51:7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Jump to Previous

Appearance Beauty Bodies Body Brighter Cleaner Consecrated Coral Corals Figure Form Holy Milk Nazarites Nobles Ones Polishing Princes Purer Rubies Ruddy Sapphire Snow Whiter

Jump to Next

Appearance Beauty Bodies Body Brighter Cleaner Consecrated Coral Corals Figure Form Holy Milk Nazarites Nobles Ones Polishing Princes Purer Rubies Ruddy Sapphire Snow Whiter

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

4:1-12 What a change is here! Sin tarnishes the beauty of the most exalted powers and the most excellent gifts; but that gold, tried in the fire, which Christ bestows, never will be taken from us; its outward appearance may be dimmed, but its real value can never be changed. The horrors of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem are again described. Beholding the sad consequences of sin in the church of old, let us seriously consider to what the same causes may justly bring down the church now. But, Lord, though we have gone from thee in rebellion, yet turn to us, and turn our hearts to thee, that we may fear thy name. Come to us, bless us with awakening, converting, renewing, confirming grace.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

7. Nazarites—literally, "separated ones" (Nu 6:2). They were held once in the highest estimation, but now they are degraded. God's blessing formerly caused their body not to be the less fair and ruddy for their abstinence from strong drink. Compare the similar case of Daniel, &c. (Da 1:8-15). Also David (1Sa 16:12; 17:42). Type of Messiah (So 5:10).

rubies—Gesenius translates, "corals," from a Hebrew root, "to divide into branches," from the branching form of corals.

polishing—They were like exquisitely cut and polished sapphires. The "sapphires" may represent the blue veins of a healthy person.

Cheth.