Lamentations 5:6
What does Lamentations 5:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Lamentations 5:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Lamentations 5:6 means
“We have given the hand” to Egyptians and Assyrians—an idiom of submission or making treaties—just to be fed. In desperation they sought sustenance from historic rivals and former oppressors. The verse exposes the futility and shame of trusting nations rather than the Lord. Instead of deliverance, such dealings deepened dependence and highlighted their powerlessness. It is a confession of failed strategy as much as of need. By bringing it into prayer, they implicitly renounce misplaced confidences. Bread obtained at the price of dignity cannot heal a covenant breach. Only Jehovah can satisfy and restore without the bondage that comes with foreign entanglements.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000We have given the hand to the Egyptians, And to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
KJV
King James Version · 1611We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901We have given the hand to the Egyptians, And to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949We have given our hands to the Egyptians and to the Assyrians so that we might have enough bread.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862<FI> To<Fi> Egypt we have given a hand, <FI>To<Fi> Asshur, to be satisfied with bread.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752We have given our hand to Egypt, and to the Assyrians, that we might be satisfied with bread.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890We have given the hand to Egypt, [and] to Asshur, to be satisfied with bread.
Context
After describing relentless oppression, the prayer recalls attempts to secure survival through alliances. Verse 6 stands as a historical reminder of Judah’s policy missteps and spiritual compromise. The next verse will acknowledge generational sin and its consequences, keeping the lament honest about why such humiliation came. The movement balances external suffering with internal responsibility, leading toward explicit confession in verse 16.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hosea 5:13
When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to Assyria, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound.
- Ezekiel 17:18
For he hath despised the oath by breaking the covenant; and behold, he had given his hand, and yet hath done all these things; he shall not escape.
- Genesis 24:2
And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
- Jeremiah 44:12
And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed; in the land of Egypt shall they fall; they shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine; they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine; and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.
- Hosea 12:1
Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.
- Jeremiah 2:36
Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt also, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
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