Lamentations 5:8

8 Our rulers are no better than slaves, and no one can save us from their power.

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 To get food enough to stay alive, we went begging to Egypt and Assyria.

7 Our ancestors sinned, but now they are gone, and we are suffering for their sins.

8 Our rulers are no better than slaves, and no one can save us from their power.

9 Murderers roam through the countryside; we risk our lives when we look for food.

10 Hunger has made us burn with fever until our skin is as hot as an oven.