Lamentations 5:3

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows.

Complete Jewish Bible:

We have become fatherless orphans, our mothers now are widows.

Berean Standard Bible:

We have become fatherless orphans; our mothers are widows.

American Standard Version:

We are orphans and fatherless; Our mothers are as widows.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

We are orphans^{H3490} and fatherless^{H369}{H1}, our mothers^{H517} are as widows^{H490}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Lamentations 5:3

Lamentations 5:3 is part of the Book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, which mourns the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. The verse poignantly expresses the sense of loss and desolation experienced by the survivors of the siege and subsequent exile. In the historical context, the people of Judah are depicted as being stripped of their family structures and social support systems, with the mention of "orphans," "fatherless," and "widows." These terms highlight the breakdown of the traditional family unit, which was central to the society's stability and well-being.

The themes of this verse include the profound grief and vulnerability that come with the loss of protective figures—fathers and husbands—who would have been pivotal in providing for and leading their families in ancient Israelite society. The imagery underscores the communal trauma and the disintegration of the social fabric following the catastrophic events of the city's fall. The verse speaks to the human cost of war and the suffering of those left behind, emphasizing the emotional and psychological toll on the population. It reflects a moment when the community's identity and future are thrown into uncertainty, as they grapple with the aftermath of devastation and the challenge of rebuilding their lives amidst profound loss.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3490
   There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָתוֹם
   Transliteration: yâthôwm
   Pronunciation: yaw-thome'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be lonely; a bereaved person; fatherless (child), orphan.
   
2. Strong's Number: H369
   There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַיִן
   Transliteration: ʼayin
   Pronunciation: ah'-yin
   Description: as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle; else, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare אַיִן.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1
   There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָב
   Transliteration: ʼâb
   Pronunciation: awb
   Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.
   
4. Strong's Number: H517
   There are 387 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵם
   Transliteration: ʼêm
   Pronunciation: ame
   Description: a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father)); dam, mother, [idiom] parting.
   
5. Strong's Number: H490
   There are 303 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַלְמָנָה
   Transliteration: ʼalmânâh
   Pronunciation: al-maw-naw'
   Description: feminine of אַלְמָן; a widow; also a desolate place; desolate house (palace), widow.