“For her blood is in her midst; She placed it on the bare rock; She did not pour it on the ground To cover it with dust.
Parallel translations
- WEB For her blood is in the middle of her; she set it on the bare rock; she didn’t pour it on the ground, to cover it with dust.
- KJV For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;
- BSB For the blood she shed is still within her; she poured it out on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dust.
- NKJV For her blood is in her midst; She set it on top of a rock; She did not pour it on the ground, To cover it with dust.
- NLT For the blood of her murders is splashed on the rocks. It isn’t even spilled on the ground, where the dust could cover it!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jerusalem's bloodshed lies exposed on bare rock, uncovered and crying out. It stresses that her violence is brazen and unconcealed before God.
Overview
By placing the blood 'on the bare rock' rather than covering it with dust, the city flaunted its violence without shame or attempt at atonement. In Israelite law, uncovered blood cries out for justice (cf. Genesis 4:10). Jerusalem's open, unrepented bloodguilt demands the very judgment now coming upon her.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Lev 17:13“‘Whatever man there is of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who takes in hunting any animal or bird that may be eaten; he shall pour out its blood, and cover it with dust.
- Deut 12:16Only you shall not eat the blood. You shall pour it out on the earth like water.
- 1 Kgs 21:19You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood, even yours.”’”
- Isa 26:21For, behold, Yahweh comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose her blood, and will no longer cover her slain.
- Isa 3:9The look of their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don’t hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves.
- Deut 12:24You shall not eat it. You shall pour it out on the earth like water.
- Job 16:18“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.
- Jer 2:34Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You did not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things.
- Jer 6:15Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I visit them, they shall be cast down,” says Yahweh.
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Original language
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