King James Version

What Does Lamentations 1:14 Mean?

Lamentations 1:14 in the King James Version says “The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strengt...” — study this verse from Lamentations chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.”

Lamentations 1:14 · KJV

StrengthSalvation

Context

12

Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. Is it: or, It is nothing pass by: Heb. pass by the way?

13

From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.

14

The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

15

The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress. the virgin: or, the winepress of the virgin, etc

16

For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed. relieve: Heb. bring back

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The metaphor shifts to a yoke: "The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand" (niskad ol pesha'ai be-yado yishtargu, נִשְׂקַד עֹל פְּשָׁעַי בְּיָדוֹ יִשְׂתָּרְגוּ). God Himself fastens the yoke of sin's consequences upon His people. The verb sakar (שָׂקַר) means to weave together or intertwine—sins are woven into an inescapable burden. This illustrates how sins accumulate and compound. Individual transgressions weave together into systemic bondage. The yoke "is come up upon my neck" (alu al-tsavari)—the burden crushes. "He hath made my strength to fall" (hikshal kochi) shows the yoke's effect: total exhaustion. The closing phrase is chilling: "the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise" (netnani Adonai bi-yedei lo-ukhal kum). God actively delivers His people to enemies. This isn't Satan's victory over God but God using enemy nations as instruments of judgment.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The yoke metaphor was familiar in ancient Near Eastern contexts—both for animal labor and for subjugation. Conquered peoples were said to be under the yoke of their conquerors. Jeremiah 27-28 uses yoke symbolism extensively: Jeremiah wore a wooden yoke to symbolize Babylon's dominion, which false prophet Hananiah broke, claiming God would break Babylon's yoke. God responded by making an iron yoke—heavier and unbreakable (Jeremiah 28:13-14). The phrase 'delivered me into their hands' was literally fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar captured Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:6-7) and the city (Jeremiah 39:1-10). God explicitly states in Jeremiah 21:7, 'I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah...into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.' Divine sovereignty over even enemy actions is absolute.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the image of sins being 'woven together' into a yoke help us understand how patterns of sin create bondage?
  2. What does it mean that God Himself binds this yoke, and how does this relate to the principle that sin carries inherent consequences?
  3. How does Jesus's invitation 'Take my yoke upon you' (Matthew 11:29) offer liberation from the crushing yoke of transgression?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
נִשְׂקַד֩1 of 16

“is bound”

H8244

to fasten

עֹ֨ל2 of 16

“The yoke”

H5923

a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or figuratively

פְּשָׁעַ֜י3 of 16

“of my transgressions”

H6588

a revolt (national, moral or religious)

בִּידֵ֖י4 of 16

“by his hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

יִשְׂתָּ֥רְג֛וּ5 of 16

“they are wreathed”

H8276

to intwine

עָל֥וּ6 of 16

“and come up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

עַל7 of 16
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

צַוָּארִ֖י8 of 16

“upon my neck”

H6677

the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are bound)

הִכְשִׁ֣יל9 of 16

“to fall”

H3782

to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication, to falter, stumble, faint or fall

כֹּחִ֑י10 of 16

“he hath made my strength”

H3581

vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce)

נְתָנַ֣נִי11 of 16

“hath delivered”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

אֲדֹנָ֔י12 of 16

“the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

בִּידֵ֖י13 of 16

“by his hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

לֹא14 of 16
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

אוּכַ֥ל15 of 16

“from whom I am not able”

H3201

to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)

קֽוּם׃16 of 16

“to rise up”

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Lamentations. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Lamentations 1:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Lamentations 1:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 28:48Isaiah 47:6Ezekiel 25:4Jeremiah 28:14Proverbs 5:22Ezekiel 25:7

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