Lamentations 5:8

8 Slaves rule over us. No one can set us free from their powerful 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 put ourselves under the control of Egypt and Assyria just to get enough bread.

7 Our people before us sinned. And they are now dead. We are being punished because of their sins.

8 Slaves rule over us. No one can set us free from their powerful hands.

9 We put our lives in danger just to get some bread to eat. Robbers in the desert might kill us with their swords.

10 Our skin is as hot as an oven. We are so hungry we're burning up with fever.