Lamentations 1 5

Lamentations 1:5 kjv

Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

Lamentations 1:5 nkjv

Her adversaries have become the master, Her enemies prosper; For the LORD has afflicted her Because of the multitude of her transgressions. Her children have gone into captivity before the enemy.

Lamentations 1:5 niv

Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The LORD has brought her grief because of her many sins. Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe.

Lamentations 1:5 esv

Her foes have become the head; her enemies prosper, because the LORD has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions; her children have gone away, captives before the foe.

Lamentations 1:5 nlt

Her oppressors have become her masters,
and her enemies prosper,
for the LORD has punished Jerusalem
for her many sins.
Her children have been captured
and taken away to distant lands.

Lamentations 1 verses

Lamentations 1 5 Meaning

Jerusalem, once glorious, is now subdued by her foes, who thrive while she suffers. This dire state, including the forced exile of her people, is directly attributed to the LORD's severe affliction as a righteous consequence for the overwhelming magnitude of her rebellious sins.

Lamentations 1 5 Context

Lamentations chapter 1 paints a vivid picture of Jerusalem's utter desolation following its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Personified as a solitary, weeping widow, "Zion," Jerusalem grieves over her ruined state, loss of people, and public humiliation. This verse, Lam 1:5, functions as a theological explanation for this catastrophe, moving beyond mere sorrow to identify the divine hand and the cause. It connects Jerusalem's subjugation, the prosperity of her enemies, and the tragic exile of her children directly to God's judgment against her persistent and abundant rebellion against His covenant. The historical context is critical: the end of an era, the collapse of a nation due to centuries of sin against Yahweh, despite repeated prophetic warnings.

Lamentations 1 5 Word analysis

• Her adversaries (צָרֶיהָ - tsareha): From Hebrew צַר (tsar), meaning "adversary, foe, oppressor," or "source of distress." It highlights those who actively inflict harm and cause deep anguish. Their presence is a symbol of Jerusalem's lost sovereignty.
• have become her masters (לְרֹאשׁ הָיוּ - l'rosh hayu): Literally, "for a head they became," or "they became the chief." This idiom signifies reaching a position of dominance and authority. Judah, once supreme, is now subordinate. It underlines a complete reversal of status, with foreigners now dictating terms.
• Her enemies (אֹיְבֶיהָ - oyeveha): From Hebrew אוֹיֵב (oyev), referring to active, hostile opponents. This distinguishes them slightly from mere "adversaries" by emphasizing their inherent antagonism towards Jerusalem.
• prosper (שָׁלָוּ - shalavu): From Hebrew שָׁלָה (shalah), meaning "to be at ease, tranquil, secure, successful, prosperous." This word creates a stark and painful contrast: Jerusalem suffers, while her destructive enemies flourish. This prosperity is divinely permitted or even enabled.
• for the LORD (כִּי יְהוָה - ki YHWH): The particle כִּי (ki) means "because" or "indeed," establishing the reason. יְהוָה (YHWH), the covenant name of God (Yahweh), underscores that this calamity is not random misfortune or the triumph of other gods, but the deliberate, righteous act of Israel's own covenant God. He holds ultimate control and responsibility.
• has afflicted her (הוֹגָהּ - hogah): From Hebrew יָגָה (yagah), meaning "to cause grief, to distress, to afflict." This indicates active intervention and direct punitive action from God. He is not merely distant, but actively bringing sorrow.
• for the multitude (עַל רֹב - al rov): "Because of the abundance of," "on account of the greatness of." This phrase highlights the sheer quantity and overwhelming nature of Jerusalem's offenses.
• of her transgressions (פְּשָׁעֶיהָ - pisha'eha): From Hebrew פֶּשַׁע (pesha'), which denotes rebellion, revolt, or a deliberate breaking of a covenant. It implies conscious defiance against God's law, not merely unintentional errors. This is the root cause of God's severe judgment.
• Her children (עוֹלָלֶיהָ - olaleha): From Hebrew עוֹלָל (`olal), often referring to infants or very young children. Their inclusion tragically emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the devastation, impacting even the most vulnerable and innocent, and symbolizing the nation's lost future.
• have gone into captivity (הָלְכוּ שְׁבִי - halekhu shevi): הָלְכוּ (halekhu) "they have gone" (past tense of הָלַךְ halak, to go); שְׁבִי (shevi) "captivity" or "captives." This signifies forcible removal, loss of freedom, and the tearing apart of families, a core feature of the exile.
• before the enemy (לִפְנֵי צָר - lifnei tsar): "In the face of," or "in the presence of the adversary." This denotes the humiliation and powerlessness of Jerusalem's children, led away publicly by their captors.

Words-group analysis:

• "Her adversaries have become her masters; Her enemies prosper": This segment depicts the ultimate reversal of fortune for Judah. Once a sovereign nation, she is now enslaved and utterly subjugated, while those who caused her ruin enjoy success. This reversal underscores divine disfavor and the fulfilment of covenant curses (e.g., Deut 28).
• "for the LORD has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions": This is the theological lynchpin of the verse, explaining the preceding tragedy. It attributes the adversity directly to God's hand (YHWH has afflicted her) and specifies the precise reason: the sheer quantity and grievous nature of Judah's rebellious acts against Him. This statement affirms God's justice and sovereignty over historical events, debunking any idea that pagan gods or sheer luck brought about Judah's downfall.
• "Her children have gone into captivity before the enemy": This phrase paints a deeply poignant image of the ultimate tragic consequence. The vulnerability of the "children" emphasizes the sweeping destruction, impacting future generations and completing the national humiliation. Being led away "before the enemy" highlights the public and absolute nature of the defeat and subjugation.

Lamentations 1 5 Bonus section

• This verse explicitly challenges any pagan understanding that a nation's defeat implied its god was weaker. Instead, it powerfully affirms Yahweh's absolute sovereignty and power, demonstrating that He orchestrates events, even using foreign powers, to bring judgment upon His own rebellious people.
• It highlights the corporate responsibility for sin, where the entire nation and even future generations (children) suffer the consequences of collective rebellion.
• The pain described in this verse is amplified by the knowledge that this suffering comes from the hand of the covenant God who had historically delivered Israel, making the affliction more grievous due to the broken relationship.

Lamentations 1 5 Commentary

Lamentations 1:5 delivers a profound theological explanation for Jerusalem's devastation. The initial observation of her subjugation—her enemies triumphant and prosperous—is immediately grounded in the sovereign will of Yahweh. This is not arbitrary misfortune; it is deliberate divine judgment. The prosperity of the oppressors serves as a bitter, yet divinely ordained, indictment against Judah. The crucial causality is explicit: God Himself has brought this affliction because of the "multitude of her transgressions" (pesha'), indicating a prolonged and defiant rebellion against His covenant. The verse moves from the nation's humiliation to the painful reality experienced by its most vulnerable members—the children—forcibly taken into captivity. This complete desolation, from national sovereignty to the scattering of families, testifies to the full measure of divine justice against chronic sin. The verse asserts God's ultimate control even amidst perceived chaos and offers no escape from the consequences of persistent disobedience to His Word.