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Lamentations 5

BSB·22 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Rememberזְכֹ֤רzə·ḵōr — to remember, recall, or mentionH2142 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, whatמֶֽה־meh- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → has happenedהָ֣יָהhā·yāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → to us. Lookהַבֵּיטhab·bēṭ — To look upon, regard, or behold with attentionH5027 — Full Word Study → and seeוּרְאֵ֥הū·rə·’êh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → our disgraceחֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּ׃ḥer·pā·ṯê·nū — Reproach, shame, insultH2781 — Full Word Study →! 2Our inheritanceנַחֲלָתֵ֙נוּ֙na·ḥă·lā·ṯê·nū — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → has been turned overנֶֽהֶפְכָ֣הne·hep̄·ḵāh — to overturn, turn over, transformH2015 — Full Word Study → to strangersלְזָרִ֔יםlə·zā·rîm — to turn aside, be strange or foreignH2114 — Full Word Study →, our housesבָּתֵּ֖ינוּbāt·tê·nū — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → to foreignersלְנָכְרִֽים׃lə·nā·ḵə·rîm — foreign, alien, strangerH5237 — Full Word Study →. 3We have becomeהָיִ֙ינוּ֙hā·yî·nū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → fatherlessאֵיןʾēn — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → orphansיְתוֹמִ֤יםyə·ṯō·w·mîm — A child without a father; an orphanH3490 — Full Word Study →; our mothersאִמֹּתֵ֖ינוּ’im·mō·ṯê·nū — mother; female parentH517 — Full Word Study → are widowsכְּאַלְמָנֽוֹת׃kə·’al·mā·nō·wṯ — A woman whose husband has died; widowH490 — Full Word Study →. 4We must buyבְּכֶ֣סֶףbə·ḵe·sep̄ — Silver; money; price; valueH3701 — Full Word Study → the waterמֵימֵ֙ינוּ֙mê·mê·nū — Water; liquid; fluidsH4325 — Full Word Study → we drinkשָׁתִ֔ינוּšā·ṯî·nū — to drink; consume liquidH8354 — Full Word Study →; our woodעֵצֵ֖ינוּ‘ê·ṣê·nū — Tree; wood; timberH6086 — Full Word Study → comesיָבֹֽאוּ׃yā·ḇō·’ū — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → at a priceבִּמְחִ֥ירbim·ḥîr — Price, cost, or value exchanged in commerceH4242 — Full Word Study →. 5We are closelyעַ֤ל‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → pursuedנִרְדָּ֔פְנוּnir·dā·p̄ə·nū — to pursue, chase, or persecuteH7291 — Full Word Study →; we are wearyיָגַ֖עְנוּyā·ḡa‘·nū — to toil, labor, become wearyH3021 — Full Word Study → and find no restהֽוּנַ֖חhū·naḥ — To rest, cease, or remain in a state of quietnessH5117 — Full Word Study →. 6We submittedנָתַ֣נּוּnā·ṯan·nū — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → to Egyptמִצְרַ֙יִם֙miṣ·ra·yim — Egypt, the ancient nationH4714 — Full Word Study → and Assyria to get enoughלִשְׂבֹּ֥עַֽliś·bō·a‘ — to satisfy, fill, have enoughH7646 — Full Word Study → breadלָֽחֶם׃lā·ḥem — Bread; food; sustenanceH3899 — Full Word Study →. 7Our fathersאֲבֹתֵ֤ינוּ’ă·ḇō·ṯê·nū — H1 — Full Word Study → sinnedחָֽטְאוּ֙ḥā·ṭə·’ū — To sin; to miss the mark; to commit wrongdoingH2398 — Full Word Study → and are no more, but weאֲנַחְנוּʾă·naḥ·nū — We, us, ourselves (first person plural pronoun)H587 — Full Word Study → bearסָבָֽלְנוּ׃sā·ḇā·lə·nū — to bear, carry, or endure a burdenH5445 — Full Word Study → their punishmentעֲוֺנֹתֵיהֶ֥ם‘ă·wō·nō·ṯê·hem — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study →. 8Slavesעֲבָדִים֙‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm — Servant; slave; one in bondage or serviceH5650 — Full Word Study → ruleמָ֣שְׁלוּmā·šə·lū — To rule, reign, or exercise dominionH4910 — Full Word Study → over us; there is no one to deliver usפֹּרֵ֖קpō·rêq — to tear apart, rend, break offH6561 — Full Word Study → from their handsמִיָּדָֽם׃mî·yā·ḏām — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →. 9We getנָבִ֣יאnā·ḇî — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → our breadלַחְמֵ֔נוּlaḥ·mê·nū — Bread; food; sustenanceH3899 — Full Word Study → at the risk of our livesבְּנַפְשֵׁ֙נוּ֙bə·nap̄·šê·nū — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → because ofמִפְּנֵ֖יmip·pə·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → the swordחֶ֥רֶבḥe·reḇ — sword; blade weaponH2719 — Full Word Study → in the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּֽר׃ham·miḏ·bār — Desert; wilderness; pasture; speechH4057 — Full Word Study →. 10Our skinעוֹרֵ֙נוּ֙‘ō·w·rê·nū — Skin, hide, leather coveringH5785 — Full Word Study → is as hotנִכְמָ֔רוּniḵ·mā·rū — to grow warm; to burn with emotion or desireH3648 — Full Word Study → as an ovenכְּתַנּ֣וּרkə·ṯan·nūr — Oven; furnace for baking or heatingH8574 — Full Word Study → withמִפְּנֵ֖יmip·pə·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → feverזַלְעֲפ֥וֹתzal·‘ă·p̄ō·wṯ — Scorching heat; horror; terrible wrathH2152 — Full Word Study → from our hunger. 11Womenנָשִׁים֙nā·šîm — Woman; wife; femaleH802 — Full Word Study → have been ravishedעִנּ֔וּ‘in·nū — To afflict, humble, or oppress; to treat harshlyH6031 — Full Word Study → in Zionבְּצִיּ֣וֹןbə·ṣî·yō·wn — The Lord's MountainH6726 — Full Word Study →, virginsבְּתֻלֹ֖תbə·ṯu·lōṯ — A young woman or virgin; an unmarried girlH1330 — Full Word Study → in the citiesבְּעָרֵ֥יbə·‘ā·rê — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study → of Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃yə·hū·ḏāh — The Lord is praisedH3063 — Full Word Study →. 12Princesשָׂרִים֙śā·rîm — Ruler, leader, or one in authorityH8269 — Full Word Study → have been hung upנִתְל֔וּniṯ·lū — to hang, suspend, or hang upH8518 — Full Word Study → by their handsבְּיָדָ֣םbə·yā·ḏām — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →; eldersזְקֵנִ֖יםzə·qê·nîm — An old person; an elder with authority and wisdomH2205 — Full Word Study → receive noלֹ֥אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → respectפְּנֵ֥יpə·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →. 13Young menבַּחוּרִים֙ba·ḥū·rîm — Young man, youth, chosen oneH970 — Full Word Study → toilנָשָׂ֔אוּnā·śā·’ū — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → at millstonesטְח֣וֹןṭə·ḥō·wn — grinding grain into flourH2911 — Full Word Study →; boysוּנְעָרִ֖יםū·nə·‘ā·rîm — Young man, boy, or male servantH5288 — Full Word Study → staggerכָּשָֽׁלוּ׃kā·šā·lū — to stumble, fall, or collapseH3782 — Full Word Study → under loads of woodבָּעֵ֥ץbā·‘êṣ — Tree; wood; timberH6086 — Full Word Study →. 14The eldersזְקֵנִים֙zə·qê·nîm — An old person; an elder with authority and wisdomH2205 — Full Word Study → have leftשָׁבָ֔תוּšā·ḇā·ṯū — to cease, rest, or desist from laborH7673 — Full Word Study → the city gateמִשַּׁ֣עַרmiš·ša·‘ar — Gate; entrance to a city or enclosureH8179 — Full Word Study →; the young menבַּחוּרִ֖יםba·ḥū·rîm — Young man, youth, chosen oneH970 — Full Word Study → have stopped their music. 15Joyמְשׂ֣וֹשׂmə·śō·wś — Joy, gladness, or rejoicingH4885 — Full Word Study → has leftשָׁבַת֙šā·ḇaṯ — to cease, rest, or desist from laborH7673 — Full Word Study → our heartsלִבֵּ֔נוּlib·bê·nū — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study →; our dancingמְחֹלֵֽנוּ׃mə·ḥō·lê·nū — dance, dancingH4234 — Full Word Study → has turnedנֶהְפַּ֥ךְneh·paḵ — to overturn, turn over, transformH2015 — Full Word Study → to mourningלְאֵ֖בֶלlə·’ê·ḇel — mourning, lamentation, griefH60 — Full Word Study →. 16The crownעֲטֶ֣רֶת‘ă·ṭe·reṯ — Crown; royal headpiece or honorH5850 — Full Word Study → has fallenנָֽפְלָה֙nā·p̄ə·lāh — to fall; collapse; perishH5307 — Full Word Study → from our headרֹאשֵׁ֔נוּrō·šê·nū — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study →. Woeאֽוֹי־’ō·w- — Woe; an exclamation of grief, lamentation, or warningH188 — Full Word Study → to us, forכִּ֥יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → we have sinnedחָטָֽאנוּ׃ḥā·ṭā·nū — To sin; to miss the mark; to commit wrongdoingH2398 — Full Word Study →! 17Because ofעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → thisזֶ֗הzeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study →, our heartsלִבֵּ֔נוּlib·bê·nū — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → areהָיָ֤הhā·yāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → faintדָוֶה֙ḏā·weh — to be sick, ill, or faintH1739 — Full Word Study →; because ofעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → theseאֵ֖לֶּה’êl·leh — These; those; the onesH428 — Full Word Study →, our eyesעֵינֵֽינוּ׃‘ê·nê·nū — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → grow dimחָשְׁכ֥וּḥā·šə·ḵū — To darken, obscure, or hideH2821 — Full Word Study → 18because ofעַ֤ל‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Mountהַר־har- — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → Zionצִיּוֹן֙ṣî·yō·wn — The Lord's MountainH6726 — Full Word Study →, which lies desolateשֶׁשָּׁמֵ֔םšeš·šā·mêm — to be desolate; to be appalled; to lie wasteH8074 — Full Word Study →, patrolledהִלְּכוּ־hil·lə·ḵū- — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → by foxesשׁוּעָלִ֖יםšū·‘ā·lîm — fox; a cunning or destructive creatureH7776 — Full Word Study →. 19Youאַתָּ֤ה’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, reignתֵּשֵׁ֔בtê·šêḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → foreverלְעוֹלָ֣םlə·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →; Your throneכִּסְאֲךָ֖kis·’ă·ḵā — Throne; seat of authority and rulershipH3678 — Full Word Study → endures from generationלְדֹ֥רlə·ḏōr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study → to generationוָדֽוֹר׃wā·ḏō·wr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study →. 20Whyלָ֤מָּהlām·māh — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → have You forgotten usתִּשְׁכָּחֵ֔נוּtiš·kā·ḥê·nū — to forget, neglect, lose memory ofH7911 — Full Word Study → foreverלָנֶ֙צַח֙lā·ne·ṣaḥ — perpetual strength; eternal enduranceH5331 — Full Word Study →? Why have You forsaken usתַּֽעַזְבֵ֖נוּta·‘az·ḇê·nū — to abandon, forsake, or leave behindH5800 — Full Word Study → for so longלְאֹ֥רֶךְlə·’ō·reḵ — Length, duration, or extensivenessH753 — Full Word Study →? 21Restore usהֲשִׁיבֵ֨נוּhă·šî·ḇê·nū — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → to Yourselfאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙’ê·le·ḵā — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֤ה׀Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, so we may returnוְנָשׁוּבwə·nå̄·šūḇ — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study →; renewחַדֵּ֥שׁḥad·dêš — to renew, restore, or repairH2318 — Full Word Study → our daysיָמֵ֖ינוּyā·mê·nū — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → as of oldכְּקֶֽדֶם׃kə·qe·ḏem — East; ancient times; beforeH6924 — Full Word Study →, 22unlessכִּ֚יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You have utterly rejected usמָאֹ֣סmā·’ōs — to reject, despise, or spurn with contemptH3988 — Full Word Study → and remain angryקָצַ֥פְתָּqā·ṣap̄·tā — to be angry, to become wrathfulH7107 — Full Word Study → with usעָלֵ֖ינוּ‘ā·lê·nū — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → beyond measureעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Lamentations 5
Chapter Overview

Overview

Lamentations chapter 5 is the final acrostic poem of this mournful book, and it presents the corporate confession and desperate cry of God's people in the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction. Unlike the earlier chapters which focus on the city's physical devastation and the prophet's personal anguish, chapter 5 shifts to the community's unified voice pleading with the Lord to remember their suffering and to restore them. The people acknowledge their fathers' sins, confess their own guilt, describe their present misery, and ultimately appeal to God's eternal nature while wrestling with the apparent reality of His abandonment.

Verses 1–5: A Plea for God's Attention

The chapter opens with an urgent summons: "Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us." The people are not asking God to search His memory—rather, they are begging Him to act based on what He already knows. They paint a picture of complete dispossession: strangers occupy their land, they have lost their homes, and they are orphaned and widowed. Verses 4–5 deepen the despair by describing economic servitude and relentless oppression. They must buy water and wood—the very basics of survival—and they labor under constant threat with no rest. This vivid imagery communicates total helplessness and degradation.

Application: When circumstances overwhelm us, honest prayer often begins not with answers but with naming our pain before God. The Psalms and Lamentations teach us that God welcomes our raw, heartfelt complaints.

Verses 6–12: Admission of Bondage and Ancestral Sin

The people acknowledge their political vassalage—they have made treaties with Egypt and Assyria simply to survive (verse 6). Verses 7–8 introduce a critical spiritual dimension: "Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities." This is not fatalistic despair but honest recognition that sin accumulates across generations and that children suffer consequences of parental disobedience. Servants and foreign masters now rule over them with none to deliver. Verses 9–12 catalogue atrocities: starvation so severe their skin blackened like an oven, sexual violence against women, humiliation of leaders, and forced labor of the young.

Application: While we are not guilty for others' sins, we do inherit spiritual and social consequences of past wrongdoing. This should move us to repentance and prayer for healing across generational lines.

Verses 13–18: Cultural and Emotional Collapse

Verses 13–15 describe the silencing of normal life: young men are enslaved to grinding grain, music ceases, and joy is replaced by mourning. "The crown is fallen from our head" (verse 16) symbolizes the loss of Jerusalem's glory and dignity. The people explicitly link this to sin: "woe unto us, that we have sinned!" Verses 17–18 close this section with the physical and spiritual toll—hearts faint, eyes dimmed, and even Mount Zion left desolate for foxes to walk upon.

Application: Sin's consequences extend beyond legal punishment; they damage the soul's joy and rob communities of their vitality. True repentance grieves not just punishment but loss of communion with God.

Verses 19–22: Desperate Appeal and Unresolved Tension

The final section pivots to theology. Verse 19 anchors hope in God's eternality: "Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation." Yet this only deepens the mystery of verses 20–22. How can the eternal God forget His people? The people cry out for restoration (verse 21) but seem to end in darkness, with God's rejection appearing absolute. This unresolved tension reflects the raw honesty of biblical lament—faith coexisting with bewilderment.

Application: Suffering does not always resolve neatly. God calls us to trust His character (verse 19) while honestly expressing our confusion. Such prayers, brought in faith, honor God more than forced cheerfulness.

Application for Today

Lamentations 5 teaches us that genuine faith includes the freedom to lament. In our prosperity-gospel culture, this chapter reminds us that God welcomes our complaints and that acknowledging sin, expressing grief, and clinging to His eternity are all marks of mature faith. When life crumbles and hope seems distant, we can pray as these ancient believers did—naming our pain, confessing our sin, remembering God's character, and trusting that His throne remains firm even when ours has fallen.

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