The Meaning of Lamentations 5:6 Explained

Lamentations 5:6

KJV: We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

YLT: To Egypt we have given a hand, To Asshur, to be satisfied with bread.

Darby: We have given the hand to Egypt, and to Asshur, to be satisfied with bread.

ASV: We have given the hand to the Egyptians, And to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

We have given  the hand  [to] the Egyptians,  [and to] the Assyrians,  to be satisfied  with bread. 

What does Lamentations 5:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Even to get enough food to live, the people had to appeal to Egypt and Assyria for help. This may refer to Judah"s earlier alliances with these nations that proved futile (cf. Ezekiel 16:26-28; Ezekiel 23:12; Ezekiel 23:21). But probably the writer used Assyria as a surrogate for Babylonia (cf. Jeremiah 2:18). Judah could no longer provide for herself but had to beg for help from her Gentile enemies.

Chapter Summary: Lamentations 5

1  A complaint of Zion in prayer unto God

What do the individual words in Lamentations 5:6 mean?

[to] Egypt we have given our hand [And] Assyria to be satisfied with bread
מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ נָתַ֣נּוּ יָ֔ד אַשּׁ֖וּר לִשְׂבֹּ֥עַֽ לָֽחֶם

מִצְרַ֙יִם֙  [to]  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרִי  
Sense: Egyptian—an inhabitant or citizen of Egypt.
נָתַ֣נּוּ  we  have  given 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
יָ֔ד  our  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
אַשּׁ֖וּר  [And]  Assyria 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַשּׁוּר  
Sense: the second son of Shem, eponymous ancestor of the Assyrians.
לִשְׂבֹּ֥עַֽ  to  be  satisfied 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׂבַע  
Sense: to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited.
לָֽחֶם  with  bread 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.