The Meaning of Lamentations 5:5 Explained

Lamentations 5:5

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

YLT: For our neck we have been pursued, We have laboured -- there hath been no rest for us.

Darby: Our pursuers are on our necks: we are weary, we have no rest.

ASV: Our pursuers are upon our necks: We are weary, and have no rest.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Lamentations 5:5 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Lamentations 5

1  A complaint of Zion in prayer unto God

What do the individual words in Lamentations 5:5 mean?

At our heels [They] pursue we labor - [and] no Have rest to
עַ֤ל צַוָּארֵ֙נוּ֙ נִרְדָּ֔פְנוּ יָגַ֖עְנוּ [לא] (וְלֹ֥א) הֽוּנַ֖ח‪‬ לָֽנוּ

עַ֤ל  At 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
צַוָּארֵ֙נוּ֙  our  heels 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: צַוָּאר 
Sense: neck, back of neck.
נִרְדָּ֔פְנוּ  [They]  pursue 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.
יָגַ֖עְנוּ  we  labor 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: יָגַע  
Sense: to toil, labour, grow weary, be weary.
[לא]  - 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
(וְלֹ֥א)  [and]  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הֽוּנַ֖ח‪‬  Have  rest 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נוּחַ 
Sense: to rest.