Lamentations 5:13 (KJV)

What does Lamentations 5:13 mean?

Lamentations 5:13 describes how, during a time of national disaster, young men were forced to do hard labor at the grinding mills, and children collapsed under the heavy loads of wood they were made to carry. The verse highlights the suffering and harsh treatment of the most vulnerable people in Jerusalem after its fall.

The speaker is the community of survivors in Jerusalem, crying out to God about the humiliations and abuses they are enduring under foreign rule. The verse paints a picture of a society where normal roles are overturned: instead of learning or growing, the young are crushed by forced labor, showing how deeply the city’s destruction has affected every generation.

The Hebrew behind Lamentations 5:13

• "took" (נָשָׂא, nāśā’): This word often means "to lift" or "to carry," but here it is used in the sense of being taken or forced into labor, emphasizing the lack of choice and the oppression involved.
• "grind" (רֵחַיִם, rêḥayim): This refers to operating a millstone, a task usually done by slaves or animals. Forcing young men to grind grain highlights their humiliation and the reversal of normal social order.
• "children" (נַעַר, na‘ar): This word can mean boys or youths, not just small children. It shows that even those who were not yet adults were made to do heavy, exhausting work.
• "fell" (כָּשַׁל, kāshal): This word means to stumble or collapse, suggesting that the children were physically overwhelmed by their burdens.
• "wood" (עֵץ, ‘ēts): This refers to logs or firewood, a heavy and menial load. The image is of children buckling under the weight, stressing the cruelty of their situation.

Why Lamentations 5:13 matters

• Lamentations 5:13 makes clear that the suffering after Jerusalem’s fall was not limited to soldiers or leaders; even the young and defenseless were exploited and abused.
• The verse emphasizes the complete breakdown of normal life and dignity, showing how defeat and captivity affected every layer of society.
• This detail connects to the wider chapter, where the community lists their losses and humiliations, building a case for God’s attention and mercy.