Lamentations 5:12
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honored.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honored.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Princes were hanged up by their hand: The faces of elders were not honored.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Their hands put princes to death by hanging: the faces of old men were not honoured.
Webster's Revision
Princes were hanged by their hand: the faces of elders were not honored.
World English Bible
Princes were hanged up by their hand: The faces of elders were not honored.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Princes were hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured.
Clarke's Lamentations 5:12 Bible Commentary
Princes are hanged up by their hand - It is very probable that this was a species of punishment. They were suspended from hooks in the wall by their hands till they died through torture and exhaustion. The body of Saul was fastened to the wall of Bethshan, probably in the same way; but his head had already been taken off. They were hung in this way that they might be devoured by the fowls of the air. It was a custom with the Persians after they had slain, strangled, or beheaded their enemies, to hang their bodies upon poles, or empale them. In this way they treated Histiaeus of Miletum, and Leonidas of Lacedaemon. See Herodot. lib. 6 c. 30, lib. 7 c. 238.
Barnes's Lamentations 5:12 Bible Commentary
Laid the yoke - The yoke in the Bible is an emblem of slavery or bondage Leviticus 26:13; Deuteronomy 28:48; of afflictions and crosses Lamentations 3:27; of punishment for sin Lamentations 1:14; of God's commandments Matthew 11:29-30. Here it refers to the bondage and affliction which they experienced in Babylon.
Lamentations 5:12After the princes had been put to death their bodies were hung up by the hand to expose them to public contumely. Old age, again, no more availed to shield men from shameful treatment than the high rank of the princes. Such treatment of conquered enemies was not uncommon in ancient warfare.