THEOSISJerome of Stridon
But on the day of your arrogance, you spoke not of your sister Sodom until your own wickedness was laid bare, as it currently is in the scorn from the daughters of Syria and all those surrounding you, the daughters of Palestine, who encompass you on every side. The Lord God declares that you have borne your iniquity and your shame.
In the Greek translation, it states: had your sister Sodom been absent from your thoughts during your pride, until your transgressions were uncovered, as they are now amidst the daughters of Syria, what would have become of you and all those around you, the daughters of the foreign nations who encircle you? You must bear your wrongdoings and your sins.
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Similarly, Symmachus interprets this passage, asserting that your sister Sodom was not a topic of discussion in your pride until your disgrace was revealed, just as it is now with the daughters of Syria and others in your vicinity, the daughters of the Palestinians who border you on every side; you are to endure your iniquity. Theodotion conveys that during your pride, you failed to mention your sister Sodom until your transgressions were made evident amid the reproach from the daughters of Syria and the neighboring foreign nations that despise you on all sides. You have borne your infidelity and your detestable acts, proclaims Adonai, the Lord.
In reviewing these translations, we gather insights to discern some meaning from the collective interpretations. In essence, during your prideful days, you neglected to recall the destruction of your sister Sodom until your own sins were exposed. This exposure was so significant that all the cities of Syria and Palestine, which are adjacent to you, held you in contempt.
Thus, having exceeded your sister in iniquity and disregarding her example—as you should have feared lest you face a similar fate—your shame is now evident. Now heed the word of God: whether you accept the rendering of the Seventy, or that of Aquila and Theodotion, or the perspective of Symmachus, you shall bear your transgressions and your disgrace. This is so that after enduring the consequences of sacrilege, you might find forgiveness—not due to your merits but through my mercy.
In Hebrew, Syria is referred to as Aram, signifying heights. Referring to Isaiah's account (Isaiah 7:2), where Aram and Ephraim conspire against Judah and Jerusalem, we see that the wisdom of the ungodly, which arrogantly claims superiority, collaborates with the nefariousness of heretics, turning against Judah, which holds the true faith and remains unshaken. In this context, the hubris of Syria, symbolizing the philosophers, and the foreign daughters represent the diverse errors of pagan doctrines, ridiculing Jerusalem and mocking it for surpassing her with vices.