KJV ORIGINAL
Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Judah is mourning, and its city gates are weak and failing. The people are dressed in black, sitting on the ground in grief, and the cries of Jerusalem rise up to heaven.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse describes Judah and Jerusalem in deep mourning and distress, with their people crying out in anguish.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes during a severe drought that God sent as judgment on Judah for their idolatry and disobedience. The 'gates' refer to the city gates where people gathered for business and social interaction, but now these places are empty and lifeless. Jeremiah is describing the devastating effects of both physical drought and spiritual judgment on the nation.
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