Lamentations 5:6 (KJV)

What does Lamentations 5:6 mean?

Lamentations 5:6 describes how the people of Jerusalem had to humble themselves and seek help from both the Egyptians and the Assyrians just to get enough food to survive. The verse shows their desperation and dependence on foreign nations after their own resources failed.

The speaker is the community of Judah, expressing their suffering after Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon. In their distress, they turned to former enemies—Egypt and Assyria—hoping these nations would provide them with bread. This verse highlights the depth of their hardship: they were forced to "give the hand," a phrase meaning to submit or make an agreement, just to meet basic needs.

The Hebrew behind Lamentations 5:6

• "Given" (נָתַן, natan): This word means to give, hand over, or yield. Here, it suggests the people had to surrender or submit themselves in some way to foreign powers.
• "Hand" (יָד, yad): In Hebrew, "hand" often symbolizes power, agreement, or submission. "Giving the hand" is a gesture of making a pact or showing surrender.
• "Satisfied" (שָׂבַע, sava): This word means to be filled or have enough. The people were not seeking luxury—just enough bread to survive.
• "Bread" (לֶחֶם, lechem): While "bread" can mean literal bread, it often stands for basic food or sustenance in general.

Why Lamentations 5:6 matters

• This verse clears up the idea that Judah could rely on its neighbors; instead, it shows that even turning to Egypt and Assyria brought only humiliation and dependence, not real help.
• The verse emphasizes the reversal of fortunes: once independent, Judah now must beg for survival from nations it once dealt with as equals or rivals.
• In the wider chapter, this detail helps paint a full picture of the suffering and loss of dignity experienced by the people after Jerusalem's fall.