King James Version
What Does Lamentations 5:9 Mean?
“We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.”
Context
7
Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.
8
Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand.
9
We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.
10
Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine. terrible: or, terrors, or, storms
11
They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(9) **The sword of the wilderness.**—Another element of suffering is hinted at. Those who were left in the land were attacked, as they gathered in their scanty harvest, by the nomad tribes of the wilderness. Amalekites, Midianites, and others. (Comp. Jeremiah 40:14.)
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
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 5:9 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 5:9
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge