Lamentations 5:10 kjv
Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.
Lamentations 5:10 nkjv
Our skin is hot as an oven, Because of the fever of famine.
Lamentations 5:10 niv
Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger.
Lamentations 5:10 esv
Our skin is hot as an oven with the burning heat of famine.
Lamentations 5:10 nlt
The famine has blackened our skin
as though baked in an oven.
Lamentations 5 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lam 5:10 | Our skin is black like an oven because of the fierce wind of famine. | Lamentations 4:8 (Wickedness) |
| Lam 5:10 | We are afflicted and crushed. | Psalm 31:10 (Suffering) |
| Lam 5:10 | Our skin has become blackened. | Job 30:30 (Suffering, skin condition) |
| Lam 5:10 | We are afflicted, wasted and worn. | Isaiah 24:16 (Calamity) |
| Lam 5:10 | A scorched land, desolate and wasted. | Jeremiah 9:10 (Devastation) |
| Lam 5:10 | The sun will not warm them by day, nor the frost by night. | Genesis 31:40 (Harsh conditions) |
| Lam 5:10 | They are crushed and utterly broken. | Psalm 51:17 (Broken spirit) |
| Lam 5:10 | The mighty have been made weak. | 1 Samuel 2:9 (Powerlessness) |
| Lam 5:10 | Oppression and groaning. | Ecclesiastes 4:1 (Oppression) |
| Lam 5:10 | We were brought low, and overthrown. | Psalm 42:7 (Brought low) |
| Lam 5:10 | Your land is made desolate. | Jeremiah 5:16 (Desolation of land) |
| Lam 5:10 | A day of darkness and gloom. | Joel 2:2 (Day of judgment) |
| Lam 5:10 | A time of distress and trouble. | Daniel 12:1 (Time of trouble) |
| Lam 5:10 | For the anger of the LORD is a mighty flood. | Isaiah 10:25 (God's wrath) |
| Lam 5:10 | His wrath is a consuming fire. | Hebrews 12:29 (God's wrath) |
| Lam 5:10 | Their tongues cleave to the roof of their mouths. | Psalm 22:15 (Thirst) |
| Lam 5:10 | They cry to God for help. | Psalm 77:1 (Crying out) |
| Lam 5:10 | He hears their cry. | Psalm 18:6 (God hears) |
| Lam 5:10 | But the earth is barren. | Isaiah 3:1 (Barrenness) |
| Lam 5:10 | Suffering and pain are on every side. | Psalm 38:17 (Pain) |
Lamentations 5 verses
Lamentations 5 10 Meaning
The verse describes a harsh reality where Israel's land is overrun by enemies, leading to famine and widespread suffering, characterized by extreme conditions and desperation.
Lamentations 5 10 Context
Chapter 5 of Lamentations is a direct prayer of the people of Judah to God, detailing their utter devastation after the Babylonian conquest and exile. The entire nation is suffering immensely, facing extreme hardship, loss, and indignity. The preceding verses vividly describe the loss of property, the enslavement of people, the deaths of elders and children, and the desecration of sacred sites. This verse continues the lament, focusing on the physical deterioration and immense suffering caused by famine and oppressive conditions. The audience, the exiled Jews, are reminded of their current miserable state as a consequence of their sins.
Lamentations 5 10 Word Analysis
- our (nu): Possessive pronoun, indicating ownership or belonging to the speakers (the people of Judah).
- skin (ʿōr): Hebrew word for skin, flesh, or hide. Here it denotes the external covering of the body, directly affected by external conditions.
- is (nāp̄al): This verb in Hebrew is often implied or translated in such constructions. It suggests a state of being or becoming.
- blackened (ʾāp̄ərû): From the root ʾāp̄ar, meaning "to cover with dust" or "to become dusty." In this context, it conveys a desiccation, a severe drying out, and darkening of the skin due to extreme hardship and exposure, likely during famine and harsh weather. This is a strong metaphor for severe affliction and depletion.
- like (kə-): Preposition indicating similarity or comparison.
- oven (tannūr): A traditional oven, usually made of clay or brick, used for baking bread. It gets extremely hot, often scorched on the outside. Comparing their skin to a scorched oven highlights the extreme heat and burning sensation from famine and possibly fevers, coupled with exposure to harsh winds.
- because of (mi-): Preposition signifying the cause or reason.
- the fierce wind (rûaḥ): Hebrew for "wind," "breath," or "spirit." Here, rûaḥ signifies a powerful, harsh wind, implying severe weather.
- of famine (rāʿāb): Hebrew for "famine" or "hunger." This directly links the cause of their suffering to a severe lack of food and the ensuing environmental and physical effects.
Words Group Analysis:
- "Our skin is blackened like an oven": This phrase vividly depicts the physical impact of famine. The skin, usually representing the living body, becomes parched, cracked, and darkened, similar to the exterior of an oven that has endured intense heat and exposure. It speaks of extreme suffering and deterioration of the body's condition.
- "because of the fierce wind of famine": This links the external desiccation (blackened skin) to the relentless forces of famine, personified by a fierce, scouring wind that exacerbates the already dire situation. It suggests that the environmental conditions, amplified by the famine, are directly causing this bodily affliction.
Lamentations 5 10 Bonus Section
The imagery of skin turning black due to heat and exposure is potent. In the ancient Near East, exposure to the elements was common, but the description here suggests an abnormal and agonizing condition, a direct result of divine disfavor and the desolations of war and famine. The "fierce wind of famine" can also be understood metaphorically as the relentless breath of God's judgment sweeping over the land, exacerbating the hunger and despair. This verse connects physical suffering directly to a spiritual or divine cause, a recurring theme in Lamentations. The extreme sensory details serve to evoke empathy and highlight the depth of their anguish before God.
Lamentations 5 10 Commentary
The people of Judah, facing the severe consequences of their exile, lament their physically emaciated state. Their skin, no longer healthy, has become dark and withered, comparable to an oven scorched by intense heat and relentless wind. This imagery underscores the profound impact of famine—the drying out of their bodies, the parching of their lips, and the overall physical breakdown brought about by starvation and the harsh environmental conditions that accompany it. The "fierce wind of famine" symbolizes the oppressive forces of divine judgment and the unforgiving circumstances of their affliction. It highlights how their suffering is not merely internal but visibly manifests on their bodies, a stark testament to God's judgment and their desperate plight.