Lamentations 4:20

With the Hebrew beneath

Lamentations 4:20, word by word

The breathרוּחַruach

breath

Literally "wind": the air that leaves the lungs.

Where else “ruach” appears

of our nostrilsאַפֵּיape

nose

The nose, the part of the face we breathe through.

Where else “ape” appears

the anointedמְשִׁיחַmeshiach

anointed

Anointed: someone on whom oil has been poured to set him apart for a task from God (priest, king). In Hebrew it is "mashiach", from which "Messiah" comes; in Greek, "Christ".

Where else “meshiach” appears

of YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

was caughtנִלְכַּדnilkad

be snared

To be snared.

Where else “nilkad” appears

in their pitsשְׁחִיתוֹתָshechitota

pit, trap

A pit or trap dug in the ground; figuratively, what leads to ruin or death.

Where else “shechitota” appears

we saidאָמַרְנוּamarnu

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “amarnu” appears

“In his shadowצִלּtsil

shade

Protecting shade: "in the shadow of your wings".

Where else “tsil” appears

we will liveנִחְיֶהnichye

live

To have breath and remain in this world, not die.

Where else “nichye” appears

among the nationsגּוֹיִםgoyim

Gentiles

The peoples other than Israel.

Where else “goyim” appears

Translation note

“The breath of our nostrils”: an image of life itself; that is what the anointed of YHWH is called here, who can be understood as the king of Judah.

The context