Lamentations 5 5

Lamentations 5:5 kjv

Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.

Lamentations 5:5 nkjv

They pursue at our heels; We labor and have no rest.

Lamentations 5:5 niv

Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest.

Lamentations 5:5 esv

Our pursuers are at our necks; we are weary; we are given no rest.

Lamentations 5:5 nlt

Those who pursue us are at our heels;
we are exhausted but are given no rest.

Lamentations 5 verses

Lamentations 5 5 meaning

This verse profoundly articulates the relentless suffering of the people, stating they are under constant pursuit and oppressive burden, which leaves them utterly exhausted. They experience a total absence of peace or security, indicative of a prolonged state of humiliation, physical toil, and spiritual weariness from their subjugation to their adversaries.

Lamentations 5 5 Context

Lamentations chapter 5 is a communal prayer and a direct plea to the Lord from the perspective of the people suffering after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The chapter describes the depth of their national humiliation and personal desolation, recounting how they have lost their inheritance, suffered starvation, endured forced labor, witnessed the violation of women, and the murder of elders. This specific verse (5:5) graphically portrays the ongoing, pervasive torment under foreign rule, embodying the physical toll and psychological burden of living in servitude within their desolate homeland. The historical context is one of profound national catastrophe and loss of sovereignty, where the surviving populace faced unrelenting hardship and oppression.

Lamentations 5 5 Word analysis

• "Our necks" (צוּאַרֵּינוּ, tsu'areinu): The noun tsawar (צוואר) refers to the neck. In ancient Near Eastern imagery, the neck is often associated with submission, bearing burdens (yokes), or humiliation when a victor would place their foot upon it. Here, it signifies the absolute loss of freedom and dignity, depicting forced subjugation akin to a heavy yoke of servitude being pressed down.
• "are under persecution" (נִרְדָּפְנוּ, nirdaphnu): Derived from the verb radaph (רָדַף), meaning "to pursue, chase, persecute, harass." The Niph'al stem renders it passive, "we are being pursued" or "we have been persecuted." This denotes a relentless and active harassment by their enemies, indicating that their suffering is not merely a static state but an ongoing, aggressive experience without relief.
• "we are weary" (יָגַעְנוּ, yaganu): From the verb yaga (יָגַע), "to be weary, to toil, grow tired, labor." The Qal perfect tense describes a settled, profound state of exhaustion. This weariness is not temporary but deep-seated, resulting from continuous physical and mental strain imposed by their persecutors, implying an overwhelming sense of fatigue and enervation.
• "and have no rest" (לֹא הָיָה לָּנוּ מָנוּחַ, lo hayah lanu manuach):
  • Lo (לֹא): A strong negation, meaning "not" or "no."
  • Hayah (הָיָה): "Was" or "existed."
  • Lanu (לָּנוּ): "For us."
  • Manuach (מָנוּחַ): From the root nuach (נוּחַ), meaning "rest, repose, quiet, relief, cessation, or a resting place." This phrase emphatically states the utter absence of any form of rest, peace, or respite. It signifies a complete deprivation of comfort, security, or opportunity for recovery, deepening the sense of unending hardship.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "Our necks are under persecution": This powerful idiom paints a visceral picture of total subjugation and harassment. It conveys a relentless pursuit and forced servitude, stripping the people of their autonomy and dignity. The image emphasizes continuous oppression where enemies metaphorically press down upon them.
  • "we are weary, and have no rest": This phrase captures the physical and emotional exhaustion resulting from the incessant persecution. The profound weariness stems directly from the inability to find any relief or cessation from their suffering. The absence of "rest" (whether physical, emotional, or spiritual) highlights the depth of their despair and the chronic, unrelenting nature of their tribulation, a life entirely devoid of peace or safety.

Lamentations 5 5 Bonus section

• The communal pronoun "our" consistently employed in Lamentations 5, especially in this verse, underscores the collective nature of suffering and humiliation endured by the entire surviving population of Judah, fostering a sense of shared experience and unity in lament before God.
• This verse starkly contrasts with the Sabbath rest (Exod 20:10, 23:12) and the rest in the Promised Land (Deut 12:9-10), blessings traditionally bestowed by God. Its deprivation underscores the severity of their punishment and the extent to which they had deviated from the covenant.
• The descriptions of constant pursuit, heavy yokes, and lack of rest directly fulfill the warnings and curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28, illustrating the dire consequences of disobedience as experienced through foreign conquest and subjugation.

Lamentations 5 5 Commentary

Lamentations 5:5 is a raw expression of the sustained anguish and abject servility experienced by the people of Judah. The vivid image of "necks under persecution" speaks to an intense, forced subjugation, symbolizing not only physical burdens and hard labor but also the profound humiliation and loss of their national identity and freedom. This unrelenting harassment drains them of all vitality, culminating in a state of utter weariness. The desperate cry, "have no rest," encapsulates a chronic condition where peace, security, or respite from their toil is completely unattainable. It is a profound testament to the devastating impact of divine judgment, highlighting the complete and overwhelming despair of a people continuously oppressed and longing for any moment of peace.