Lamentations 5:4

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

We have drunken {H8354} our water {H4325} for money {H3701}; our wood {H6086} is sold {H935}{H4242} unto us.

Complete Jewish Bible

We have to pay to drink our own water; we have to buy our own wood.

Berean Standard Bible

We must buy the water we drink; our wood comes at a price.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Lamentations 5:4 poignantly captures the utter economic and social degradation experienced by the people of Judah following the catastrophic Babylonian conquest and the razing of Jerusalem. It paints a vivid picture of a community stripped of its most fundamental rights and resources, reduced to a humiliating state of destitution where even the most basic necessities for survival—water and wood—could only be acquired through payment, symbolizing their complete loss of sovereignty, dignity, and self-sufficiency under foreign occupation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the final chapter of the book of Lamentations, which deviates from the acrostic structure of the preceding chapters. Chapter 5 functions as a communal prayer, a raw and direct appeal to God for remembrance and restoration, moving from the general expressions of grief to concrete examples of the people's suffering. Verse 4 specifically details the immediate, tangible consequences of their subjugation by highlighting the economic oppression they faced. This shift from broader lament to specific deprivations intensifies the plea for divine intervention that characterizes the remainder of the chapter, particularly evident in the desperate cry for a return to God's favor found in passages like [Lamentations 5:19-22](/lamentations/5-19-22 "Lamentations 5:19-22 - Plea for Restoration and Renewal"). The verse underscores the severity of their plight by focusing on the commodification of life's essentials, setting a somber tone for the chapter's earnest supplication.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Lamentations 5:4 is the devastating aftermath of the Babylonian siege and conquest of Jerusalem, which culminated in the destruction of the city and the First Temple by Nebuchadnezzar's forces in 586 BC (see [2 Kings 25](/2_kings/25 "2 Kings 25 - The Fall of Jerusalem")). In ancient Near Eastern societies, water sources (wells, cisterns, springs) and wood (from forests and groves) were generally considered common resources, accessible to all for daily survival. Forcing the defeated populace to pay for these essentials on their own land was a profound act of humiliation and economic exploitation. It signified a complete reversal of their societal status, transforming them from free citizens with access to their land and resources into subjugated people utterly dependent on the whims of their occupiers. The Babylonians, as victors, asserted total control over all means of sustenance and commerce, reflecting the harsh realities of ancient conquest where the vanquished were often plundered and burdened with severe economic tribute.
* **Key Themes:** Lamentations 5:4 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book. Firstly, it vividly illustrates the theme of **Extreme Destitution and Oppression**, showing how the people were reduced to a state where even life's most fundamental necessities—water for drinking and wood for fuel—were commodified and made inaccessible without payment. This starkly symbolizes their economic ruin and the comprehensive control exerted by their conquerors. Secondly, the verse underscores the profound **Loss of Sovereignty and Dignity**. Being compelled to purchase basic resources on what was once their own land profoundly symbolized their lost independence and the deep humiliation endured under foreign rule, emphasizing a total loss of control over their lives and means of sustenance. This aligns with the broader theme of divine judgment and the consequences of covenant disobedience, as warned in passages like [Deuteronomy 28:48](/deuteronomy/28-48 "Deuteronomy 28:48 - Curses for Disobedience"), which speaks of serving enemies in hunger, thirst, and nakedness, thereby showing the fulfillment of prophetic warnings regarding the curses of the covenant.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **water (Hebrew, _mayim'_):** H4325. This term, typically used in a dual sense but singular in meaning, refers to water, a fundamental necessity for all life. In this context, its forced purchase underscores the extreme deprivation and the absolute control exerted by the conquerors, transforming a freely available and essential resource into a commodity that must be bought, highlighting the depth of the people's suffering.
* **money (Hebrew, _keçeph'_):** H3701. Derived from a root meaning "silver" (from its pale color), this term broadly signifies money or price. Its presence here highlights the transactional nature of obtaining even water, emphasizing the severe economic burden placed upon the Judahites and their complete lack of free access to resources that were once abundant and considered common goods.
* **wood (Hebrew, _ʻêts'_):** H6086. This term refers to a tree or, by extension, wood, which was essential for fuel, building, and warmth in ancient society. Like water, wood was typically gathered freely from the land. Its sale to the subjugated people signifies their profound loss of land, autonomy, and the basic right to gather resources for survival, further illustrating their utter destitution and the extent of their oppressors' control.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"We have drunken our water for money":** This clause vividly portrays the dire economic straits of the Judahites. Water, a basic human right and absolute necessity for survival, was no longer freely available from the wells, springs, or cisterns on their own land. Instead, they were compelled to purchase it, indicating that their traditional water sources were either controlled by the Babylonian occupiers, destroyed, or that the people were so impoverished they could not access them without payment. This highlights extreme oppression, economic exploitation, and a fundamental denial of basic human dignity.
* **"our wood is sold unto us":** This parallel clause powerfully reinforces the theme of destitution and subjugation. Wood, essential for cooking, heating, and building, was also no longer freely gathered from the land. The phrase "sold unto us" implies that even what was once rightfully theirs, or what they once had free access to as a common resource, was now a commodity controlled by their oppressors. This signifies a complete loss of self-sufficiency and a profound humiliation, as they were forced to buy back what was inherently theirs or what they should have had free access to, further emphasizing their powerlessness.

#### Literary Devices
Lamentations 5:4 employs several potent literary devices to convey the profound depth of suffering. **Metonymy** is powerfully evident as "water" and "wood" stand in for all basic necessities of life, symbolizing the complete economic subjugation and comprehensive deprivation of the people. The verse also utilizes **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the two clauses "We have drunken our water for money" and "our wood is sold unto us" express a similar idea of the forced purchase of essentials. This structural repetition amplifies the pervasive nature of their plight, reinforcing the sense of injustice and humiliation. Furthermore, there is a strong element of **Pathos**, which is the appeal to emotion, skillfully evoking deep sympathy and sorrow for a people reduced to such a desperate state, where even the most fundamental elements of life are denied without exorbitant cost. The stark imagery of paying for water and wood paints a vivid picture of their utter powerlessness and the severity of their oppression.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 5:4 offers a poignant theological commentary on the devastating consequences of national sin and the severity of divine judgment, yet it simultaneously highlights the enduring human need for basic provisions and the profound impact of their denial. The forced commercialization of water and wood serves as a stark reminder that God's covenant blessings include abundant provision and security, while disobedience can lead to a reversal of these blessings, resulting in scarcity, oppression, and humiliation. This verse underscores the deep economic ruin and loss of dignity that accompanies the loss of divine favor and national sovereignty, prompting profound reflection on the value of freedom, self-sufficiency, and the fundamental right to sustenance. It calls believers to recognize the interconnectedness of spiritual faithfulness and societal well-being.

* [Deuteronomy 28:48](/deuteronomy/28-48 "Deuteronomy 28:48 - Curses for Disobedience and Serving Enemies")
* [Nehemiah 9:37](/nehemiah/9-37 "Nehemiah 9:37 - Servitude and Tribute to Foreign Kings")
* [Isaiah 3:1](/isaiah/3-1 "Isaiah 3:1 - Famine and Scarcity as Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 5:4 compels us to reflect deeply on the immense value of basic necessities that are often taken for granted in times of peace and prosperity. The harrowing image of a people forced to pay for water and wood on their own land serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of security and the devastating impact of oppression and injustice. For contemporary believers, this verse cultivates a profound sense of gratitude for God's abundant provision in our lives and challenges us to consider our stewardship of resources, both personal and communal. It also calls us to cultivate empathy and spur to action for those around the world who continue to suffer from extreme poverty, lack of access to clean water, food, or shelter due to conflict, systemic injustice, or natural disaster. The lament serves as a spiritual mirror, prompting us to examine our own reliance on God's grace and to advocate for justice and dignity for all, recognizing that true freedom includes equitable access to life's essentials and the restoration of human dignity.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do I take basic necessities for granted in my daily life, and how can I cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude for them?**
* **How does this verse challenge my understanding of economic justice, human dignity, and the responsibilities of those in positions of power?**
* **What practical steps can I take to show empathy and provide support for those experiencing extreme deprivation or oppression in my community or globally today?**

### FAQ
**What does "drunken our water for money" signify in this context?**

Answer: This phrase signifies extreme economic hardship, profound humiliation, and complete subjugation. In ancient Judah, water sources like wells, springs, and cisterns were typically communal or freely accessible. Being forced to pay for water indicates that the Babylonians, as occupiers, had either seized control of these vital resources, destroyed them, or imposed exorbitant taxes and tributes that left the Judahites with no free access to even the most basic necessity for survival. It underscores their complete loss of autonomy and the severe economic exploitation they endured, highlighting a reversal of their former status as a free people.

**Why is the sale of wood particularly significant?**

Answer: The sale of wood is profoundly significant because wood was essential for daily life—for cooking, heating, and construction. Like water, it was generally gathered freely from the surrounding land. The fact that "our wood is sold unto us" means that the people were denied access to their own natural resources, or that the land itself was no longer theirs to freely utilize. This highlights a profound loss of sovereignty, a complete economic stranglehold by the oppressors, and a deep humiliation where they had to purchase what was once a common good, further emphasizing their dire destitution and powerlessness under foreign rule. It speaks to the comprehensive nature of their oppression.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Lamentations 5:4 vividly portrays the depths of human suffering and the devastating consequences of covenant disobedience, it also subtly points towards the ultimate provision and restoration found in Christ. The desperate need for water and wood, which had to be purchased at a humiliating and unsustainable cost, foreshadows humanity's deeper spiritual thirst and hunger that cannot be satisfied by earthly means or human effort. Jesus Christ presents Himself as the true source of living water, declaring, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and [drink!](/john/7-37 "John 7:37 - Jesus the Living Water")" (cf. [John 7:37-38](/john/7-37-38 "John 7:37-38 - Jesus the Living Water")). He also provides the spiritual "wood" of the cross, where His sacrifice offers eternal life and true sustenance, freely given, not purchased by human merit or silver (cf. [Isaiah 55:1](/isaiah/55-1 "Isaiah 55:1 - Invitation to the Thirsty and Hungry")). The humiliation of paying for essentials in Lamentations finds its profound reversal in Christ, who purchased our redemption not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with His own [precious blood](/1_peter/1-18-19 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redemption by Christ's Blood") (cf. [1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18-19 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redemption by Christ's Blood")), offering salvation and spiritual abundance without cost to those who believe. He is the ultimate provision, transforming our spiritual destitution into an inheritance of grace and eternal life, ensuring that those who follow Him will never thirst or hunger for righteousness, for they will be filled (cf. [Matthew 5:6](/matthew/5-6 "Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 3:1

¶ For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

Ezekiel 4:9

¶ Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, [according] to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.

Ezekiel 4:17

That they may want bread and water, and be astonied one with another, and consume away for their iniquity.

Deuteronomy 28:48

Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all [things]: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.