Teks -- Lamentations 4:2 (NET)

4:2 ב(Bet) The precious sons of Zion were worth their weight in gold– Alas!– but now they are treated like broken clay pots, made by a potter.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Lam 4:2 - Earthen pitchers

The nobles, the priests, and the good men, are looked upon no better than earthen vessels, the workmanship of an ordinary potter.

JFB: Lam 4:2 - comparable to . . . gold

(Job 28:16, Job 28:19).

JFB: Lam 4:2 - earthen pitchers

(Isa 30:14; Jer 19:11).

Clarke: Lam 4:2 - The precious sons of Zion

The precious sons of Zion - The Jewish priests and Jewish believers

Clarke: Lam 4:2 - Comparable to fine gold

Comparable to fine gold - Who were of the pure standard of holiness; holy, because God who called them is holy; but now esteemed no better than earthen pitchers - vessels of dishonor in comparison of what they once were.

Calvin: Lam 4:2 - NO PHRASE

The Prophet comes now to the people, though he does not include the whole people, but brings forward those who were renowned, and excelled in honor and dignity. He then says, that they were become like earthen vessels and the work of the potter’s hands, which is very fitly added. Then by the sons of Sion, whom he calls precious or glorious, he means the chief men and the king’s counselors and those who were most eminent. And he seems to allude to that prophecy which we before explained’ for he had said that the people were like earthen vessels; and he went into the house of the potter, that he might see what was made there. When the potter made a vessel which did not please him, he remodeled it, and then it assumed another form; then God declared that the people were in his hand and at his will, as the clay was in the hand of the potter. (Jer 18:2.) When he now says, that the chief men were stripped of all dignity, and reduced to another form, so as to become like earthen vessels, he no doubt sets forth by this change the judgment of God, which the Jews had for a time disregarded.

And we must bear in mind the Prophet’s object: he described the ruin of the Temple and city, that he might remind the people of the punishment which had at length been inflicted; for we know that the people had not only been deaf, but had also scoffed at and derided all prophecies and threatenings. As, then, they had not believed the doctrine of Jeremiah, he now shews that what he had predicted was really fulfilled, and that the people were finding to their cost that God did not trifle with them when he had so often threatened what at length happened. And hence we may conclude, that there was then a superfluous splendor in garments, for we read that they had been clad or clothed in gold; surely it was a display too sumptuous. There is, however, no wonder, for we know that Orientals are far too much given to such trumperies.

Now, if the other reading, that the sons of Sion had been before compared to gold, ²⁰⁸ be more approved, the passage must be extended to all their dignity and to all those gifts by which they had been favored and had become illustrious. I have already reminded you, that the work of the potter’s hands is here to be taken for the vessels or the earthen flagons; but it was the Prophet’s object to enlarge on that reproach, which ]lad been before incredible. It follows —

TSK: Lam 4:2 - sons // how

sons : Isa 51:18; Zec 9:13

how : Lam 2:21, Lam 5:12; Isa 30:14; Jer 19:11, Jer 22:28; Rom 9:21-23; 2Co 4:7; 2Ti 2:20

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Lam 4:2

Either the nobles and great men, or the priests, or the good men amongst the Jews, that for their intrinsic worth and value may be compared to gold, are looked upon no better than earthen vessels, the workmanship of an ordinary potter. God carrying Jeremiah down to the potter’ s house, Jer 18:2 19:1 , had taught them that they were no more in his hand; he now proveth it by his providence, they were indeed made so, and as miserably and irreparably broken in pieces.

Haydock: Lam 4:2 - Best // Vessels

Best. Hebrew, "gold of Phaz," in Colchis, Genesis ii. 11. (Calmet) ---

In Solomon's reign, they powdered their hair with gold dust. (Josephus, Antiquities viii. 7.) ---

Vessels. Isaias xxx. 14.

Gill: Lam 4:2 - The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold // how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter

The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold,.... This explains what is meant in Lam 4:1; by gold, fine gold, and stones of the sanctuary; not Josiah and his sons, as some Jewish interpreters; but all the sons of Zion, or children of God; not the inhabitants of Zion literally, but spiritually; see Zec 9:13. Zion is the church; her sons are her spiritual seed and offspring that are born of her, she being the mother of them all, and born in her, by means of the word; and brought up by her, through the ordinances, and so are regenerate persons; and these the sons of God: and who are "precious", not in themselves, being of the fallen race of Adam; of the earth, earthly, as he was; of the same mass and lump with the rest of mankind; in no wise better than others, by nature; and have no intrinsic worth and value in them, but what comes by and from the grace of God; nor are they precious in their own esteem, and much less in the esteem of the men of the world; but in the eye of God, and of his son Jesus Christ, and of the blessed Spirit, and in the opinion of other saints; see Psa 16:3; in what sense these are comparable to fine gold; see Gill on Lam 4:1;

how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! they are indeed earthen vessels with respect to their bodies, frail, weak, and mortal; but they are the work of God's hands, even as creatures, and particularly as new creatures, and are a curious piece of his workmanship, and so valuable, and especially by him, who is as tender and as careful of them as the apple of his eye; and yet these are greatly disesteemed by carnal men, are reckoned as the faith of the world, and the offscouring of all things; as earthen vessels, fit for no use but common or dishonourable ones, or to be broke in pieces, and rendered useless and contemptible: see Psa 31:12.