Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward. (Lamentations 1:8)
Literally, “is an excretion,” or “is become impure.” The phrase implies here both ceremonial and moral uncleanness (2 Chron. 29:5; Ezra 9:11). Cleansing from such defilement is promised those who desire it (Zech. 13:1).
Nakedness.
It was customary for conquerors to humiliate their captives by marching them naked into exile (see Isa. 20:4; 47:2, 3; Jer. 13:22, 26; Eze. 23:29; Nahum 3:5). In 1878 at Balawât in Assyria discovery was made of several bronze door panels depicting the conquests of Shalmaneser III (859-824 B.C.). Lines of captives are shown; the men are without clothing, while the women are forced to hold open the fronts of their skirts as they march. Doubtless Jeremiah saw the people of Judah thus humiliated, and from this experience he draws an illustration of how the iniquity of the nation is now made visible to all.