Lamentations 4:20
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The phrase "breath of our nostrils" captures how the people saw their king, Zedekiah, not just as a political leader, but as the very source of their nation's vitality and life. Their hope was that under his protection, they could maintain their distinct identity and way of life even while living surrounded by other nations.
The breath of our nostrils, the LORD’s anointed, was captured in their pits, of whom we said, “Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet is lamenting the devastation of Jerusalem and the capture of its people, focusing here on the king's fate. Zedekiah, the Lord's anointed king, who was meant to be the life and hope of his people, has been captured by the Babylonians, shattering their dreams of continued safety and a qualified independence among the surrounding nations.
The king of Judah is described with the most intimate, life-giving terms. What does this reveal about the people's view of their ruler, and the depth of their loss?
The phrase "the breath of our nostrils" is incredibly powerful. It evokes the very life force, the essential element without which one cannot live. For ancient Israel, the king wasn't just a political leader; he was seen as the embodiment of national life and the earthly representative of God's covenant.
This king, "the LORD's anointed," was supposed to be the conduit of God's protection and blessing. His rule was ideally meant to ensure the people's well-being, to provide a secure "shadow" under which they could flourish, even surrounded by hostile nations. This language highlights an almost sacred trust placed in the Davidic monarchy.
They believed their king offered a shield against the world. But he was captured, and their grand plan dissolved. What happens when our ultimate security fails?
The latter part of the verse, "of whom we said, 'Under his shadow we shall live among the nations,'" reveals a profound hope that was utterly crushed. The people saw their king, Zedekiah, as their protector, their refuge from the surrounding, often threatening, world. They envisioned a future where, under his leadership, they could maintain their existence and perhaps even some semblance of peace and continuity, living "among the nations" without being wholly consumed by them.
However, Zedekiah's capture in "their pits" (a metaphor for being trapped, hunted, and ensnared) symbolized the complete collapse of this hope. His downfall meant the end of their perceived security and the devastating reality of exile and loss.
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Understand the original words
mashiyach · Hebrew Noun
The act of being set apart or consecrated for a specific divine purpose, particularly referring to kings or high priests who were set apart by the ceremonial application of oil.
neshamah · Hebrew Noun
The vital life force or spirit given by God to animate creatures; metaphorically representing the essential source of life, protection, or sustenance.
The prophet mourns not just the king, Zedekiah, but the shattered hope he represented. The people saw their anointed king as their protector, their 'breath of life,' under whom they expected security, even while living among other nations. His capture and brutal blinding signify the utter collapse of that hope and the complete devastation of their national life.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians defeat the Egyptians at Carchemish and begin deporting Jewish leaders and skilled workers to Babylon, including members of the royal family. This marks the beginning of the end for Judah.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation and New King
Following a rebellion, Jerusalem is besieged again. King Jehoiachin is deported to Babylon, and Zedekiah, Jehoiachin's uncle, is placed on the throne as a vassal king by Nebuchadnezzar.
c. 588-586 BC— this verse
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Zedekiah rebels against Babylon, leading to a prolonged siege of Jerusalem. The city walls are breached, and the Temple is destroyed. Nebuchadnezzar's forces capture Zedekiah.
c. 586 BC
Zedekiah's Capture and Blinding
Zedekiah attempts to flee Jerusalem during the final siege but is captured by the Babylonians. His sons are killed before his eyes, and then his own eyes are put out before he is taken captive to Babylon.
c. 586 BC
Third Deportation
After the fall of Jerusalem, a final wave of deportations occurs, further stripping Judah of its population and leadership.
This passage describes the death of King Josiah, who was deeply loved by his people and whose reign was seen as a time of peace. While Lamentations 4:20 likely refers to Zedekiah, the deep sorrow over Josiah's death highlights the profound grief when a beloved, kingly figure, seen as the nation's lifeblood, is lost.
Ezekiel 12:13This verse contains a prophecy against Zedekiah that directly parallels his fate described in Lamentations: 'I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare; and I will lead him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, though he shall die there.' It shows God's foreknowledge and judgment on the king.
Jeremiah 22:24-27This prophetic oracle speaks of the downfall of Jehoiachin (who was taken captive before Zedekiah), but the words about being like a rejected signet ring apply to the broken hope found in the capture of Zedekiah. It underscores the theme of royal failure leading to national despair.
Psalm 105:15This Psalm speaks of God's protection over His anointed ones, saying, 'Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!' Lamentations 4:20 presents a tragic reversal, where the 'anointed of the LORD' is captured, showing the devastating consequences when that divine protection is seemingly withdrawn due to sin.
Isaiah 32:2This passage describes a future king who will reign in righteousness, under whose 'shadow' the people will live securely. Lamentations 4:20 reflects on the dashed hopes of finding such security under Zedekiah, highlighting the ideal of a righteous king and the pain of its absence.
barnesLamentations 4:20: "The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen."
The breath of our nostrils - Zedekiah is not set before us as a vicious king, but rather as a man who had not strength enough of character to stem the evil current of his times. And now that the state was fallen he was as the very breath of life to the fugitives, who would have no rallying point without him. In their pits - The wo…
clarkeLamentations 4:20: "The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen."
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord - That is, Zedekiah the king, who was as the life or the city, was taken in his flight by the Chaldeans, and his eyes were put out; so that he was wholly unfit to perform any function of government; though they had fondly hoped that if they surrendered and should be led captives…
The phrase "breath of our nostrils" captures how the people saw their king, Zedekiah, not just as a political leader, but as the very source of their nation's vitality and life. Their hope was that under his protection, they could maintain their distinct identity and way of life even while living surrounded by other nations.
The prophet is lamenting the devastation of Jerusalem and the capture of its people, focusing here on the king's fate. Zedekiah, the Lord's anointed king, who was meant to be the life and hope of his people, has been captured by the Babylonians, shattering their dreams of continued safety and a qualified independence among the surrounding nations.
The prophet is lamenting the devastation of Jerusalem and the capture of its people, focusing here on the king's fate. Zedekiah, the Lord's anointed king, who was meant to be the life and hope of his people, has been captured by the Babylonians, shattering their dreams of continued safety and a qualified independence among the surrounding nations.
"The breath of our nostrils, the LORD’s anointed, was captured in their pits, of whom we said, “Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.”" — The phrase "breath of our nostrils" captures how the people saw their king, Zedekiah, not just as a political leader, but as the very source of their nation's vitality and life. Their hope was that u…
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Last reviewed October 2026
