Lamentations 5:6

⁴ We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.

⁵ Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.

We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

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.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
KJV: We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
WEB: We have given our hands to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
ASV: We have given the hand to the Egyptians, And to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
DARBY: We have given the hand to Egypt, [and] to Asshur, to be satisfied with bread.
BLB: [To] Egypt we have given our hand, [to] Assyria to be satisfied with bread.

ÅB: Til Egypt har vi overgitt oss, og til Assyria, for å bli mettet med brød.
OTB: Vi har underkastet oss Egypt og Assyria for å sikre nok brød.
B1930: Til Egypten har vi overgitt oss, og til Assyria, for å bli mettet med brød.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Hosea 12:1
Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
Read in context
Hosea 9:3
They shall not dwell in the LORD’s land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:18
And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
Read in context
Hosea 7:11
Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
Read in context
Genesis 24:2
And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:36
Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
Read in context
Hosea 5:13
When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
Read in context
Jeremiah 50:15
Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.
Read in context