Lamentations 5:7

KJV

Our fathers have sinned, [and are] not; and we have borne their iniquities.

KJV (with Strong's)

Our fathers {H1} have sinned {H2398}, and are not {H369}; and we have borne {H5445} their iniquities {H5771}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Our ancestors sinned and no longer exist; we bear the weight of their guilt.

Berean Standard Bible

Our fathers sinned and are no more, but we bear their punishment.

American Standard Version

Our fathers sinned, and are not; And we have borne their iniquities.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Lamentations 5:7 is a poignant lament from the exiles of Judah, articulating their deep suffering as a direct consequence of the sins of their ancestors. This verse captures the tragic reality that while the previous generation, who committed the transgressions, are now deceased, their descendants are left to bear the enduring societal, spiritual, and physical burdens of those iniquities, highlighting the far-reaching and intergenerational impact of corporate sin and covenant disobedience within the nation of Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Lamentations 5:7 is situated within the final chapter of the Book of Lamentations, which serves as a communal prayer and desperate plea for divine mercy following the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC. Unlike the preceding four chapters, which are acrostic poems, Chapter 5 is a collective lament, structured as a twenty-two-verse communal prayer, reflecting the unified voice of the surviving remnant. It details the profound physical, social, and spiritual degradation experienced by the people, painting a vivid picture of their desolation. Verse 7 specifically functions as a confession and a theological explanation for their current plight, linking their present suffering directly to the historical unfaithfulness of their forefathers, thereby setting the stage for the desperate appeals for restoration that conclude the book, such as the cry for renewal in [Lamentations 5:21](/lamentations/5-21 "Lamentations 5:21 - Restore Us, O Lord").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the Babylonian conquest of Judah and the subsequent exile, a devastating event that shattered the nation's identity, sovereignty, and religious life. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was not seen as random misfortune but as divine judgment for centuries of idolatry, injustice, and covenant breaking, as frequently prophesied by figures like [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/25 "Jeremiah 25 - Prophecy of Seventy Years of Exile"). In ancient Israelite thought, the concept of corporate responsibility was significant; the actions of leaders or a generation could have profound consequences for the entire community and future generations. While individual accountability was also taught (e.g., [Ezekiel 18](/ezekiel/18 "Ezekiel 18 - Individual Responsibility")), the national covenant with God meant that widespread disobedience could lead to national calamity, including famine, pestilence, and exile, as explicitly outlined in the covenant curses of the Law in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). The lament reflects a people grappling with the theological implications of their suffering within this covenantal framework, seeking to understand God's justice in their present reality.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Lamentations and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the **Generational Consequences of Sin**, illustrating how the effects of past transgressions can ripple through time, impacting descendants who did not personally commit the original offenses. This is not about inherited guilt but inherited suffering and societal brokenness, a concept also touched upon in [Exodus 34:7](/exodus/34-7 "Exodus 34:7 - God's Mercy and Justice"). Secondly, it highlights the **Burden of History** and the inescapable weight of a nation's past, where the "fathers" are "not" (dead), yet their actions continue to inflict pain on the living. This emphasizes the enduring nature of sin's impact. Thirdly, it is an act of **Confession and Acknowledgment**, demonstrating the people's understanding that their plight is not random but a just consequence of their corporate unfaithfulness, even if they are bearing the brunt of sins committed by previous generations. This acknowledgment is a crucial step towards repentance and hope for restoration, echoing the pattern seen in other post-exilic confessions like [Daniel 9:4-19](/daniel/9-4-19 "Daniel 9:4-19 - Daniel's Prayer of Confession").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **sinned (Hebrew, _châṭâʼ'_):** From H2398, this primitive root properly means "to miss" a mark, but figuratively and generally, it means "to sin." It encompasses a wide range of moral failures, including forfeiture, lack, and acting astray from a prescribed path. In this context, it refers to the deliberate and persistent disobedience of the Israelite fathers against God's covenant, leading to national unfaithfulness and a profound breach of their relationship with Yahweh.
* **not (Hebrew, _ʼayin'_):** From H369, this word signifies a "non-entity" or "not exist." Here, it dramatically conveys the physical absence of the fathers – they are dead and gone. This emphasizes the tragic irony that those who committed the sins are no longer present to bear the immediate, cataclysmic consequences, leaving the current generation to suffer. It highlights the finality of their departure and the enduring, inescapable nature of their destructive legacy.
* **iniquities (Hebrew, _ʻâvôn'_):** From H5771, this term denotes "perversity" or "moral evil." Crucially, it refers not only to the sin itself but also to the guilt, punishment, or consequence that sin brings. The current generation is not just bearing the _guilt_ of their fathers' sins, but the _punishment_ and devastating societal effects that resulted from those sins, such as exile, national ruin, and the loss of their cherished temple and homeland.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Our fathers have sinned,"**: This clause is a direct, painful, and theological confession, acknowledging the historical reality of the previous generations' persistent disobedience to God's covenant. It points to a long pattern of moral failure, idolatry, and injustice that characterized Judah's history leading up to the Babylonian exile. The use of "our fathers" signifies a corporate and generational acknowledgment of a shared national heritage of unfaithfulness, recognizing a continuity of rebellion against God's commands.
* **"and are not;"**: This stark phrase highlights the tragic irony and profound sense of abandonment felt by the survivors. The generation that committed the sins is now gone, having passed away, presumably spared the full brunt of the cataclysmic judgment that has fallen upon their descendants. Their physical absence underscores the enduring nature of the consequences that have outlived the perpetrators, leaving the current generation to face a legacy of devastation alone.
* **"and we have borne their iniquities."**: This final clause articulates the core lament: the current generation is suffering the devastating consequences and punishment ("iniquities" here implying the penalty and effects) of their ancestors' transgressions. This is not about personal guilt for sins they did not commit, but rather the communal experience of living under the curse and societal breakdown that resulted from a long history of national covenant disobedience. They are carrying the immense weight of a broken past, experiencing the full measure of divine judgment that accumulated over generations.

#### Literary Devices
Lamentations 5:7 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its poignant message of inherited suffering and national grief. The primary device is **Confession**, as the verse opens with a direct admission of ancestral sin, setting a tone of humble self-awareness and theological understanding of their plight. There is a strong element of **Irony** in the phrase "and are not," highlighting the tragic paradox that the original perpetrators are gone, yet their destructive legacy persists and is borne by the living. This creates a deep sense of injustice and pathos. The verse also utilizes **Generational Language** ("Our fathers," "we") to emphasize the intergenerational impact of sin, creating a vivid sense of historical continuity in suffering and responsibility. Furthermore, the entire verse functions as a profound **Lament**, expressing deep sorrow, pain, and a desperate plea arising from the current, unbearable circumstances. The stark contrast between the fathers' absence and the descendants' burden amplifies the emotional weight of this communal cry.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 5:7 powerfully illustrates the biblical concept of corporate solidarity and the intergenerational consequences of sin, particularly within the context of a covenant nation. While later prophets like Ezekiel emphasized individual responsibility for sin (e.g., [Ezekiel 18:20](/ezekiel/18-20 "Ezekiel 18:20 - Individual Accountability")), this verse does not contradict that truth but rather speaks to the reality that a nation's accumulated corporate sin can lead to systemic brokenness and judgment that profoundly affects subsequent generations. The children are not guilty of their fathers' specific acts, but they inherit the societal, spiritual, and physical consequences of those acts, such as exile, loss of land, national humiliation, and the breakdown of social order. This dynamic underscores the profound seriousness of sin, demonstrating its far-reaching ripple effects beyond the immediate perpetrator, serving as a solemn warning about the legacy we leave. It highlights how sin creates a broken world into which future generations are born, inheriting the consequences of past choices.

* [Exodus 20:5](/exodus/20-5 "Exodus 20:5 - God's Jealousy and Generational Consequences")
* [Numbers 14:18](/numbers/14-18 "Numbers 14:18 - God's Forbearance and Visiting Iniquity")
* [Jeremiah 31:29-30](/jeremiah/31-29-30 "Jeremiah 31:29-30 - The Proverb of Sour Grapes and Individual Accountability")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 5:7 compels us to confront the enduring impact of past actions, both individual and collective. While we are not personally culpable for the specific sins of our ancestors, we often inherit the consequences of their choices – whether these are societal injustices, broken systems, cultural norms, spiritual strongholds, or even physical predispositions. This verse calls us to a posture of humble self-reflection and corporate repentance, recognizing that our present circumstances may be shaped by a historical legacy of unrighteousness. It challenges us to consider the "iniquities" we might be perpetuating or the "burdens" we are creating for future generations through our own choices today. Understanding this dynamic fosters compassion for those who suffer from historical wrongs and motivates us to actively work towards breaking cycles of sin, injustice, and brokenness, seeking God's mercy and pursuing righteousness for the sake of a healthier, more just future. It also encourages us to pray for healing and restoration, acknowledging that only God can truly reverse the long-term effects of sin and bring about genuine transformation. This verse invites us to consider our own legacy and strive to be good ancestors.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might the "sins of the fathers" (historical injustices, systemic issues, cultural patterns) still be impacting our communities or society today?**
* **How does understanding generational consequences motivate us to live more righteously and intentionally for the sake of future generations?**
* **What specific "iniquities" or harmful patterns in our own lives or families might we need to confess and seek God's help to break, so as not to pass them on?**
* **How can we balance the biblical truth of corporate responsibility with individual accountability in our understanding of sin and suffering, especially in our pursuit of justice and reconciliation?**

### FAQ
**Does Lamentations 5:7 mean children are guilty of their parents' sins?**

Answer: No, Lamentations 5:7 does not teach that children are personally guilty of their parents' specific sins. Instead, it speaks to the profound biblical concept of corporate solidarity and the enduring consequences of national or communal sin. The current generation is "bearing their iniquities" in the sense that they are experiencing the devastating societal, physical, and spiritual effects of the long-standing unfaithfulness of previous generations. For the Israelites, this meant the destruction of Jerusalem, the Temple, and the exile – direct consequences of centuries of covenant disobedience. Prophets like [Ezekiel](/ezekiel/18 "Ezekiel 18 - Individual Responsibility") clearly taught individual accountability, stating, "The soul who sins shall die" ([Ezekiel 18:4](/ezekiel/18-4 "Ezekiel 18:4 - Individual Responsibility")). Lamentations 5:7 reflects the communal experience of suffering the _effects_ of historical sin, not the imputation of personal guilt for ancestral acts, but rather the inheritance of a broken world shaped by those transgressions.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Lamentations 5:7, with its cry of inherited burden and the crushing weight of ancestral sin, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "iniquities" that the people of Judah bore point forward to the universal human condition of being born into a world marred by sin, inheriting the consequences of Adam's fall (as profoundly described in [Romans 5:12](/romans/5-12 "Romans 5:12 - Sin and Death Through Adam")). While the lament speaks of the corporate sin of Israel, Christ steps in as the perfect Lamb of God, who alone is able to "take away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). He did not merely bear the _consequences_ of sin, but He himself "bore our sins in his body on the tree" ([1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - Christ Bearing Our Sins")), becoming the ultimate substitute for humanity's collective and individual transgressions. Through His atoning sacrifice, the curse of sin and its generational effects are broken for those who believe ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeems from the Curse")). In Christ, we are not defined by the burdens of the past or the iniquities of our fathers, but by a new identity as adopted children of God, freed from the dominion of sin and death ([Romans 6:6-7](/romans/6-6-7 "Romans 6:6-7 - Freedom from Sin and New Life")). He offers a new covenant where sins are remembered no more ([Hebrews 8:12](/hebrews/8-12 "Hebrews 8:12 - The New Covenant")), providing not just relief from suffering, but radical redemption, reconciliation, and a path to true restoration and eternal life in Him.

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

Jeremiah 31:29

In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.

Jeremiah 16:12

And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:

Jeremiah 14:20

We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, [and] the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.

Ezekiel 18:2

What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

Exodus 20:5

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;

Jeremiah 31:15

Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, [and] bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they [were] not.

Genesis 42:36

And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved [of my children]: Joseph [is] not, and Simeon [is] not, and ye will take Benjamin [away]: all these things are against me.