Lamentations 5 3

Lamentations 5:3 kjv

We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.

Lamentations 5:3 nkjv

We have become orphans and waifs, Our mothers are like widows.

Lamentations 5:3 niv

We have become fatherless, our mothers are widows.

Lamentations 5:3 esv

We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows.

Lamentations 5:3 nlt

We are orphaned and fatherless.
Our mothers are widowed.

Lamentations 5 verses

Lamentations 5 3 Meaning

This verse describes the consequence of Israel's past transgressions, leading to a state of shame and distress. They lament that foreigners have taken possession of their inheritance, symbolizing the loss of their land and the desecration of what was sacred to them.

Lamentations 5 3 Context

Lamentations chapter 5 is a prayer of communal confession and a plea for God's restoration following the devastating destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people. The people acknowledge their sins as the cause of their suffering and lament the subsequent suffering, humiliation, and loss of their inheritance. This verse specifically highlights the profound sense of abandonment and vulnerability experienced by the surviving population, with families broken and social structures destroyed by the calamities.

Lamentations 5 3 Word analysis

• Kɪ Yɪrāšû (יִרָשׁוּ): "they inherit" or "they take possession." In the Hebrew Bible, inheritance is often linked to God's promised land and blessings. The use of this word here by foreigners signifies an illegitimate and forceful seizure of what was rightfully Israel's, highlighting a divine injustice from their perspective.
• Nəḥalâṯênû (נַחֲלָתֵנוּ): "our inheritance." This refers specifically to the land of Canaan, which God allocated to the twelve tribes of Israel as an eternal possession (Joshua 13:6, 14:1-2). The loss of this inheritance represented a severing of their covenant relationship with God and a forfeiture of the promised blessings.
• Pōsē qêⱣôⱣê (פּוֹסְקִ֣י): "to decide," "to decree," "to sell," or "to assess." In this context, it conveys the idea of owners being forcibly driven off their land, perhaps implying that their land was effectively sold or disposed of without their consent or during their displacement.
• ʾÊmɛⱣô (אִמְּהֹ): "mother."
• ʾÎmmⱦôth Kə·Mōšəḇōth (אִמְּהֹתֵנוּ כְּמוֹ שְׁוּרְרִי): "our mothers are like windows" or "our mothers are like abandoned dwellings." The Hebrew word can mean both "widow" and "bereaved mother," or in some readings, describe something desolate or desolate. The more common understanding relates to widowhood and maternal sorrow. This captures the tragic state of women, deprived of their husbands and left to fend for themselves, adding to the pervasive sense of desolation and loss of family structure.

Words-group analysis:

• "Our inheritance": This collective phrase emphasizes the communal nature of their possession and its spiritual significance tied to God's covenant promises to Israel.
• "We have no houses of our own": This signifies not just a lack of physical dwelling places but the loss of security, stability, and rootedness in the land God had given them.
• "our mothers are like widows": This poignant image underscores the societal breakdown and the personal grief resulting from the invasion and conquest. It signifies the loss of protection, the severing of family ties, and the deep emotional toll on the community.

Lamentations 5 3 Bonus section

The concept of "inheritance" in the Bible is multi-layered, encompassing not only land but also spiritual blessings, lineage, and the covenant itself. When Israel lost their physical inheritance in the land of Canaan due to their disobedience, it mirrored a spiritual impoverishment. The imagery of widowed mothers and orphaned children resonates with Jesus' own lament over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37-39), where he expresses a desire to gather the people like a hen gathers her chicks, but they refused, leading to their ultimate judgment and dispersion. The Old Testament prophets consistently linked national prosperity to social justice and adherence to covenant laws, and the violation of these principles invariably led to loss of inheritance and divine discipline. The New Testament shifts the concept of inheritance to spiritual blessings and eternal life through faith in Christ, reminding believers of their true inheritance in God.

Lamentations 5 3 Commentary

This verse paints a grim picture of national desolation and personal anguish. The suffering described is not merely political but deeply personal and familial. The phrase "we have no houses of our own" speaks to a total displacement, losing not only their homes but their sense of belonging and security. The image of "our mothers are like widows" vividly illustrates the collapse of family structures, leaving women vulnerable and grief-stricken. The inheritance, a symbol of God's covenantal faithfulness, has been usurped, indicating a profound break in their relationship with the Divine, stemming from their own unfaithfulness. Yet, the lament also implies a longing for what was lost, a hope for restoration, and a recognition of divine sovereignty over both blessing and curse.