In this verse the first unit pictures the preparation of the archer. The second states the consequence of the first, and the third summarizes it all.
It is not clear how this verse should be divided up. Some translations agree with Revised Standard Version in making like a foe the conclusion of the first unit, and others place those words at the beginning of the next unit: “Like a foe he has slain all who were pleasing to the eye.” Like a foe is omitted by Good News Translation, since the idea is already expressed by the phrase “like an enemy” in the first line. Whichever way the verse is arranged, it seems to be shorter than usual. It is suggested by some interpreters that one line may be missing from the original poem. The consistent use of parallelism in Lamentations favors a translation along the lines of Revised Standard Version.
He has bent his bow like an enemy: He refers to God, the one who is destroying Jerusalem and its people. The word translated bent more often means “trod”; however, when this verb has bow as its object, it can refer to the archer putting his foot against the bow to steady it when taking aim, or it can mean that he bends it enough to slip the bowstring in place on the end of the bow. In 3.12 the Lord is the subject of the same verb. Job also thinks of himself as the target of God’s arrows (Job 6.4; 7.20; 16.12-13). A literal translation of bent his bow may not suggest to the reader either aiming the bow or stringing it. In that case the Handbook recommends Good News Translation as a model. In languages where the bow and arrow are unfamiliar, a different weapon of throwing or shooting may be used. Otherwise it may be possible to use a more general word; for example, “God has used his weapon like an enemy.”
With his right hand set like a foe has caused translators to differ considerably. In the Hebrew text right hand is feminine, while set is a masculine adjective. Regardless of this grammatical peculiarity, the thought seems to be that the archer has his right hand on the arrow, which is pulled back and ready to be shot. Good News Translation has shortened this unit by taking bent his bow to mean “aimed his arrows” and allowing this expression to convey also the sense of with his right hand set. Bible en français courant gives a fuller translation, which is a good model: “Like an enemy he has pulled the bow string, keeping his right hand in shooting position.”
Slain all the pride of our eyes is literally “slain those desirable to the eye.” The word translated pride is the same as used in 1.7, 10, 11, where it referred to treasures or precious possessions. In the context of verse 4 it may refer to the most valued people, as in Ezekiel 24.16, where Good News Translation renders the expression “the person you love most.” It may also refer to small children, and so Moffatt has “he slaughters and kills the children, the delight of our eyes.” Most translations do not state precisely who is killed, and say something similar to New English Bible “… he slew all those who had been his delight,” or New Jerusalem Bible “… he slaughtered all those who were a delight to see.” In some languages this may be rendered, for example, “he killed everyone whom we loved most” or “… who were dearest to us.”
In Revised Standard Version in the tent of the daughter of Zion states the place of the killing. But Good News Translation, New English Bible, and most other translations follow the Hebrew in making this expression part of the final unit. Tent may refer either to the city of Jerusalem or to the Temple. Good News Translation takes it to mean Jerusalem. Most modern translations keep tent, but Bible en français courant translates “the temple of Jerusalem,” which is a good compromise. For daughter of Zion see comments on 1.6.
He has poured out his fury like fire is an expression found also in Psalm 69.24; 79.6; Jeremiah 6.11; 7.20; 10.25; 42.18; 44.6. In this expression we have a picture of “anger” as a hot liquid that can be poured out. But in many languages anger cannot be said to pour. Accordingly translators must adjust this expression to another figure of speech, or use it in the form of a simile; for example, “his anger has burned like fire” or “he has shown the people how his anger can burn like fire.” Good News Translation has simply “we felt his burning anger.”
Poured out his fury like fire may sometimes be expressed by other figures; for example, “God’s stomach became white. He destroyed Jerusalem like a fire destroys a house.”
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on Lamentations. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .