Lamentations 5:4

4 We have to pay for our drinking 1water, Our wood comes to us at a price.

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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

Lamentations 5:4 In-Context

2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, Our houses to aliens.
3 We have become orphans without a father, Our mothers are like widows.
4 We have to pay for our drinking water, Our wood comes to us at a price.
5 Our pursuers are at our necks; We are worn out, there is no rest for us.
6 We have submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.

Cross References 1

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Lit "We drink our water for silver"
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