Lamentations 5:8

8 Slaves rule over us;^[a] no one rescues [us] from their hands.

Lamentations 5:8 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 5:8

Servants have ruled over us
The Targum is,

``the sons of Ham, who were given to be servants to the sons of Shem, they have ruled over us;''

referring to the prophecy of Noah, ( Genesis 9:26 Genesis 9:27 ) ; or such as had been tributary to the Jews, as the Edomites; so Aben Ezra; the Babylon, an, are meant; and not the nobles and principal inhabitants only, but even their servants, had power and authority over the Jews and they were at their beck and command; which made their servitude the more disagreeable and intolerable: [there is] none that doth deliver [us] out of their hand;
out of the hand of these servants.

Lamentations 5:8 In-Context

6 We made a treaty with Egypt and with Assyria, to get enough food.

7 Our fathers sinned; they no longer exist, but we bear their punishment.

8 Slaves rule over us; no one rescues [us] from their hands.

9 We secure our food at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the wilderness.

10 Our skin is as hot as an oven from the ravages of hunger.

Footnotes

• [a] Pr 30:21-23; Ec 10:7