Lamentations 5:4

4 We have drunk our water for money: we have bought our wood.

Lamentations 5:4 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 5:4

We have drunken our water for money
They who in their own land, which was a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths, had wells of water of their own, and water freely and in abundance, now were obliged to pay for it, for drink, and other uses: our wood is sold unto us;
or, "comes to us by a price" ^F18; and a dear one; in their own land they could have wood out of the forest, for cutting down and bringing home; but now they were forced to give a large price for it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (waby ryxmb) "in pretio venerunt", Pagninus, Montanus; "caro nobis pretio veniunt", Michaelis.

Lamentations 5:4 In-Context

2 Our inheritance is turned to aliens: our houses to strangers.

3 We are become orphans without a father: our mothers are as widows.

4 We have drunk our water for money: we have bought our wood.

5 We were dragged by the necks, we were weary and no rest was given us.

6 We have given our hand to Egypt, and to the Assyrians, that we might be satisfied with bread.