Lamentations 1:11

Authorized King James Version

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All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.

Original Language Analysis

כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 1 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עַמָּ֤הּ All her people H5971
עַמָּ֤הּ All her people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 2 of 16
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
נֶאֱנָחִים֙ sigh H584
נֶאֱנָחִים֙ sigh
Strong's: H584
Word #: 3 of 16
to sigh
מְבַקְּשִׁ֣ים they seek H1245
מְבַקְּשִׁ֣ים they seek
Strong's: H1245
Word #: 4 of 16
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
לֶ֔חֶם bread H3899
לֶ֔חֶם bread
Strong's: H3899
Word #: 5 of 16
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
נָתְנ֧וּ they have given H5414
נָתְנ֧וּ they have given
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 6 of 16
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
מַחֲמַודֵּיהֶ֛ם H4262
מַחֲמַודֵּיהֶ֛ם
Strong's: H4262
Word #: 7 of 16
desired; hence, a valuable
בְּאֹ֖כֶל for meat H400
בְּאֹ֖כֶל for meat
Strong's: H400
Word #: 8 of 16
food
לְהָשִׁ֣יב to relieve H7725
לְהָשִׁ֣יב to relieve
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 9 of 16
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
נָ֑פֶשׁ the soul H5315
נָ֑פֶשׁ the soul
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 10 of 16
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
רְאֵ֤ה see H7200
רְאֵ֤ה see
Strong's: H7200
Word #: 11 of 16
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
יְהוָה֙ O LORD H3068
יְהוָה֙ O LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 12 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְֽהַבִּ֔יטָה and consider H5027
וְֽהַבִּ֔יטָה and consider
Strong's: H5027
Word #: 13 of 16
to scan, i.e., look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care
כִּ֥י H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 14 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
הָיִ֖יתִי H1961
הָיִ֖יתִי
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 15 of 16
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
זוֹלֵלָֽה׃ for I am become vile H2151
זוֹלֵלָֽה׃ for I am become vile
Strong's: H2151
Word #: 16 of 16
figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless or prodigal

Analysis & Commentary

The personified city cries: "All her people sigh, they seek bread" (kol-amah ne'enachim mevakshim lechem). The verb anach (אָנַח, "sigh, groan") indicates deep distress. "Seeking bread" describes the siege's famine. Verse 19 reveals even priests and elders "gave up the ghost" while seeking food. The phrase "they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul" (natnu machmudihem be-okhel lehashiv nafesh) shows people bartering family treasures and heirlooms for food—the ultimate desperation. Material possessions prove worthless when survival is at stake. This challenges materialism: what we accumulate means nothing in crisis compared to daily bread. The verse concludes with a plea: "See, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile" (zole hayiti, זוֹלֵלָה הָיִיתִי). The term zolel means despised, worthless—Jerusalem acknowledges her degradation, appealing to God's compassion.

Historical Context

Archaeological evidence confirms severe famine during ancient sieges. At Lachish, excavators found evidence of hasty mass burials during the Babylonian conquest. Skeletal remains show signs of malnutrition. The bartering of treasures for food was common in desperate sieges. Later, during the AD 70 siege described by Josephus, similar conditions prevailed—people trading gold and jewelry for tiny amounts of food. The 'pleasant things' (machmudim) likely included family jewelry, precious metals, and other valuables normally passed as inheritance. Proverbs 31:10 says a virtuous woman is worth more than rubies; these same rubies were now exchanged for a loaf of bread.

Questions for Reflection