Lamentations 4:21-22
Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz; but to you also the cup shall pass; you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare. The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accomplished; he will keep you in exile no longer; but your iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he will punish; he will uncover your sins.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse begins with biting irony, mockingly inviting Edom to rejoice. But the true sting lies in the image of them becoming "drunk" and stripping themselves bare, revealing that their malicious delight in others' suffering will ultimately expose their own deep shame.
The prophet, after lamenting Jerusalem's utter devastation, turns his gaze to Edom, Israel's bitter enemy who gloated over their downfall. With biting sarcasm, he invites Edom to celebrate their perceived victory, but immediately warns them that their triumph is fleeting. The same "cup of wrath" that Jerusalem was forced to drink will soon pass to Edom, leading to their own humiliation and ruin.
The prophet addresses Edom with words of celebration, but there's a chilling undertone. What does this 'rejoice' truly mean?
The prophet's command for Edom to 'Rejoice and be glad' is deeply ironic. Edom, a descendant of Esau and thus related to Israel, had cruelly triumphed over Judah during Jerusalem's fall. This 'rejoice' isn't genuine comfort but a mocking acknowledgment of their malicious pleasure. It's like cheering for someone's brief moment of supposed victory, knowing it's about to turn into defeat. The prophet is highlighting Edom's ungenerous gloating and setting the stage for their own downfall.
The 'cup' is a potent biblical symbol. What does it mean for Edom to drink it, and why does it lead to stripping bare?
The 'cup' here is a metaphor for God's judgment and wrath, a theme often used by prophets like Jeremiah. Just as Jerusalem was forced to drink the bitter cup of punishment for its sins, Edom will now share in this same experience. The phrase 'the cup shall pass through unto thee' signifies that judgment is not confined to one nation but will move on to others. For Edom, this judgment leads to 'becoming drunk' and 'stripping herself bare.' This imagery depicts a complete loss of control and dignity, a public humiliation and exposure of their shame, mirroring the debauchery and exposure associated with extreme drunkenness. It's a stark warning that their current joy in others' suffering will be replaced by their own profound disgrace.
Understand the original words
bat Edom · Hebrew Noun
A personified reference to a nation or city, often used in prophetic literature to denote the collective identity and inhabitants of that place. It implies a filial relationship under the covenant or judgment of God.
'uuts · Hebrew Proper Noun
A historical/geographical region associated with the homeland of Job, located southeast of the Dead Sea, often linked to the territory of Edom. It represents a place of dwelling under God's providence.
kos · Hebrew Noun
A common biblical metaphor for divine judgment or wrath. Drinking from the cup implies receiving the fullness of God's righteous anger or the consequences of one's actions.
avon · Hebrew Noun
This verse speaks to the deep-seated animosity between Edom and Israel. The Edomites' malicious joy over Jerusalem's destruction, a pivotal moment in the Babylonian exile, is met with a stark prophecy of their own coming judgment, highlighting that even those who celebrate the suffering of God's people will eventually face divine reckoning.
c. 8th century BC
Obadiah prophesies against Edom
The prophet Obadiah pronounces judgment on Edom for their gloating and hostile actions against Judah during times of crisis, particularly their complicity in the fall of Jerusalem.
c. 587 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and deport many Judeans. Edom, showing intense hatred, sides with the Babylonians and rejoices in Judah's downfall.
c. 580 BC
Ezekiel prophesies against Edom
Ezekiel declares God's judgment against Edom for their vengeance and hostility towards Judah, promising to cut them off and lay His vengeance upon them.
c. 550 BC
Isaiah prophesies Edom's desolation
The prophet Isaiah vividly describes the coming destruction and desolation of Edom, portraying their judgment as a major event of God's wrath.
This passage directly addresses Edom's pride and joy over Judah's downfall, mirroring the ironic taunt in Lamentations and detailing the impending judgment they would face from God.
Ezekiel 25:12-14Ezekiel prophesies vengeance against Edom for their hostile actions and 'acting wickedly' against Judah, highlighting the divine retribution that follows their malicious delight in Jerusalem's ruin.
Psalm 137:7This psalm explicitly mentions Edom's role in the destruction of Jerusalem, stating 'Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem,' aligning with the context of Edom's celebration in Lamentations.
Isaiah 34:1-17This extensive prophecy details God's judgment against Edom, describing their land becoming a desolate place and their people being drunken with wrath, which strongly parallels the imagery and fate described in Lamentations 4:21.
Obadiah 1:10-16The entire book of Obadiah is a prophecy against Edom for their cruelty and betrayal of Judah during the fall of Jerusalem, emphasizing that their own destruction would follow their wicked rejoicing.
pulpitLamentations 4:21: "Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked."
Verse 21. - Rejoice and be glad. An ironical address to Edom, who is bidden to enjoy her malicious triumph, but warned that it will be but short lived. How ungenerously the Edomites behaved at the fall of Jerusalem we are repeatedly told (see on Jeremiah 49:7). In the land of Uz. As to the situation of Uz,…
ellicottLamentations 4:21: "Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked."
(21) O daughter of Edom. —The triumph of Edom in the downfall of Zion was, as in Psalms 137, the crowning sorrow of the mourner. But with this sorrow there is a vision of judgment, which is also a vision of hope; the prophet returning to his favourite image of the wine-cup ( Jeremiah 25:17 ). On the “Land o…
The verse begins with biting irony, mockingly inviting Edom to rejoice. But the true sting lies in the image of them becoming "drunk" and stripping themselves bare, revealing that their malicious delight in others' suffering will ultimately expose their own deep shame.
The prophet, after lamenting Jerusalem's utter devastation, turns his gaze to Edom, Israel's bitter enemy who gloated over their downfall. With biting sarcasm, he invites Edom to celebrate their perceived victory, but immediately warns them that their triumph is fleeting. The same "cup of wrath" that Jerusalem was forced to drink will soon pass to Edom, leading to their own humiliation and ruin.
The prophet, after lamenting Jerusalem's utter devastation, turns his gaze to Edom, Israel's bitter enemy who gloated over their downfall. With biting sarcasm, he invites Edom to celebrate their perceived victory, but immediately warns them that their triumph is fleeting. The same "cup of wrath" that Jerusalem was forced to drink will soon pass to Edom, leading to their own humiliation and ruin.
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Often translated as 'iniquity' or 'perversion,' this term refers to a twisting of the moral order or a deliberate departure from God's standard. It signifies guilt resulting from such actions.
bat Tsiyon · Hebrew Proper Noun
A personified reference to Jerusalem or the people of Israel as the chosen people of God. It highlights their unique covenantal relationship with the Lord, despite their seasons of discipline.
galah · Hebrew Verb/Noun (as root)
Being carried away or forced to live outside one's homeland, frequently used to describe divine judgment upon Israel for covenant disobedience. It represents a state of separation from the land of promise.
chattat · Hebrew Noun
Missing the mark of God's holy standard. It encompasses both the act of rebellion and the resulting moral failure that requires atonement or judgment.
c. 4th century BC
Edom's territory expands westward
Following the Babylonian conquest, Edomite influence expands into the southern parts of Judah, displacing some Judeans and occupying former territories.
"Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz; but to you also the cup shall pass; you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare. The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accom…" — The verse begins with biting irony, mockingly inviting Edom to rejoice. But the true sting lies in the image of them becoming "drunk" and stripping themselves bare, revealing that their malicious del…
