Lamentations 5:2 — Word Study
WLCנַחֲלָתֵ֙נוּ֙ נֶֽהֶפְכָ֣ה לְזָרִ֔ים בָּתֵּ֖ינוּ לְנָכְרִֽים׃
BSAOur inheritancenachălâh [heritage, property] has been turned overhâphak■ [completely reversed, overturned] to strangerszûwr [foreigners, aliens] our housesbayith [dwelling places, homes] to foreignersnokrîy [those who are not our countrymen, aliens]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| נַחֲלָתֵ֙נוּ֙ | inheritance our | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| נֶֽהֶפְכָ֣ה | it has been turned over | Verb, Niphal, perfect third person feminine singular |
| לְזָרִ֔ים | to strangers | Preposition |
| בָּתֵּ֖ינוּ | houses our | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| לְנָכְרִֽים׃ | to foreigners | Preposition |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners. |
| KJV | Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. |
| ASV | Our inheritance is turned unto strangers, Our houses unto aliens. |
| YLT | Our inheritance hath been turned to strangers, Our houses to foreigners. |
| WEB | Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to aliens. |
| BBE | Our heritage is given up to men of strange lands, our houses to those who are not our countrymen. |
Where they part company is in the specific wording of the terms used, but the core meaning remains consistent across translations.
The sentence is structured with two main clauses connected by a shared subject, emphasizing the dual loss experienced by the people.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָפַךְ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Lamentations 5:2
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Lament of the Peoplegenerated
Lamentations 5:2 expresses the sorrow of the people as they reflect on their loss of inheritance and homes, which have been taken by foreigners. This verse captures a moment of deep anguish, as the community grapples with the consequences of their situation, feeling disconnected from their land and heritage. The lament continues to highlight their suffering and the state of their lives in the aftermath of calamity.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 28:30–68 | You will be pledged in marriage to a woman, but another man will violate her. You will build a house but will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard but will not enjoy its fruit. |
| 2 | Psalm 79:1–2 | The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble. |
| 3 | Isaiah 1:7 | Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Foreigners devour your fields before you— a desolation demolished by strangers. |
| 4 | Isaiah 5:17 | Lambs will graze as in their own pastures, and strangers will feed in the ruins of the wealthy. |
| 5 | Isaiah 63:18 | For a short while Your people possessed Your holy place, but our enemies have trampled Your sanctuary. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נַחֲלָתֵ֙נוּ֙, na.cha.la.Te.nugenerated
The word נַחֲלָה (nachalah) means inheritance, encompassing the ideas of heritage and property. It is a noun in the feminine singular construct form, indicating a possession that is passed down through generations, such as land or family heirlooms. This word appears frequently in the context of biblical discussions about the division of land among tribes, emphasizing the importance of legacy and ownership.
The lexicons consistently define נַחֲלָה as related to concepts of possession and inheritance. It is derived from a root meaning to inherit, and its usage in the text highlights the deep connection the people have to their land and the pain of losing it to outsiders.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations of this verse largely agree, using terms like inheritance and houses consistently across versions.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb נֶֽהֶפְכָ֣ה (it has been turned over) governs the entire verse, with two main noun phrases acting as subjects: נַחֲלָתֵ֙נוּ֙ (our inheritance) and בָּתֵּ֖ינוּ (our houses). The structure emphasizes the loss experienced by the people, as both their inheritance and homes are mentioned as having been taken away.
The Hebrew word order places the subjects before the verb, highlighting the focus on what has been lost before describing the action of being turned over to strangers.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word נַחֲלָה is rendered as ἡμῶν (our), indicating a direct translation of possession. This choice maintains the sense of belonging and loss experienced by the people.
The Greek word μετεστράφη is used for נֶֽהֶפְכָ֣ה, which means 'it has been turned over.' This translation captures the same sense of reversal and transformation found in the Hebrew text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Lamentations 5:2 tells us that the people's inheritance and homes have been taken away by strangers and foreigners. This verse expresses their deep sorrow over losing their land and the places they call home, highlighting the pain of disconnection from their heritage.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This phrase indicates that the people's rightful claim to their land and possessions has been lost, leaving them vulnerable and disconnected from their heritage.
The mention of houses signifies not just physical dwellings but also the emotional and cultural ties that the people have to their homes, which have been taken from them.
This lament teaches us about the pain of loss and the importance of heritage and community, reminding us of the deep connections we have to our homes and history.
This verse reflects the overarching themes of grief, loss, and the consequences of disobedience found throughout Lamentations, as the people mourn their situation and seek restoration.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does inheritance mean to me, and how do I value my heritage?
- In what ways have I experienced loss in my life, and how have I processed that grief?
- How can I support others who are facing similar losses or disconnections from their homes?
- What steps can I take to reconnect with my own heritage and community?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary on this verse reflects on the affliction of the people, noting their sorrow and the specific nature of their suffering.
Verse 2 considers the people's affliction. First, in general, second by going down to particular persons. As expressed in Verse 11: "Women are ravished in Zion,Early Church Fathers on Lamentations 5 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Lamentations 5:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleOur inheritance is turned to strangers,.... The land of Canaan in general, which was given to Abraham and his seed to be their inheritance; and their field, and vineyards in particular, which came to
Read John Gill on Lamentations 5 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryOur inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. Our inheritance - which is at the same time "thine inheritance" . The land given of old to us by thy gift.
Read Robert Jamieson on Lamentations 5 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhat our fathers inherited as given them by thee, and we as left to us by them, is come into the hands of the Chaldeans.
Read Matthew Poole on Lamentations 5 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsLamentations 5:2 Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.Ver. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers.] So the Jews called all other nations, as the Greeks, barbarians. From hence to Lamentations 5:19 there are so many verses, so many different complaints. While we are in this "vale of misery and valley of tears," we are sure of many ailments, and still to have somewhat to cry for.
Read John Trapp on Lamentations 5 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) Turned.—Used here as in the sense of transferred. Houses.—In Jer. Iii. 13, the Chaldæans are said to have burnt the houses of Jerusalem, and those of the great men elsewhere; here, therefore, the “houses” spoken of are those of the farmers and peasants in the country.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Lamentations 5 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers] The greater part of the Jews were either slain or carried away captive; and even those who were left under Gedaliah were not free, for they were vassals to the Chaldeans.
Read AdamClarke on Lamentations 5 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges2. Our inheritance] our land, forfeited to the conquerors.
Read Cambridge on Lamentations 5 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleTurned - “transferred.” The inheritance was the land of Canaan Leviticus 20:24. Aliens - Or, “foreigners:” i. e. the Chaldaeans upon their conquest of the country.
Read Albert Barnes on Lamentations 5 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.
Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to aliens.
Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.
Our inheritance is turned over to strangers; foreigners now occupy our homes.
Tyndale line
Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.
Our inheritance is turned unto strangers, Our houses unto aliens.
Our inheritance is turned unto strangers, our houses unto aliens.
Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.
Our inheritance is turned to the strangers, our houses to the aliants.
Strictly literal
Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.
Our inheritance hath been turned to strangers, Our houses to foreigners.
Our inheritance has been turned to strangers, || Our houses to foreigners.
Our inheritance is turned over to strangers, our houses to aliens.
Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers; our houses to foreigners.
From the Latin
Our inheritance is turned to aliens: our houses to strangers.
Simplified
The land we used to own has been handed over to strangers, our houses have been given to foreigners.
Our heritage is given up to men of strange lands, our houses to those who are not our countrymen.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads, "Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all five words correspond, though the word order and articles differ due to the nature of the Greek translation. The Dead Sea Scrolls (5Q6) contain two of the key words and have three words supplied by an editor, but they also convey the same essential message, indicating that our inheritance and houses have been given to outsiders. Overall, the witnesses show a strong agreement on the core meaning of the verse, despite some differences in wording and completeness.
נַחֲלָתֵ֙נוּ֙ נֶֽהֶפְכָ֣ה לְזָרִ֔ים בָּתֵּ֖ינוּ לְנָכְרִֽים׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[נחלת׳נו] [נהפכה] [לזרים] בתי׳נו לנוכריאם
2 words on the leather — 3 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Lamentations 5:2
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
נַחֲלָה (nachalah) refers to concepts of possession and inheritance, encompassing property, shares, and heritage. It is derived from a root meaning to inherit and is used in the context of estates and heirlooms. The entries consistently highlight its relation to ownership and inheritance without significant disagreement among lexicons.
נַחֲלָה 224 n.f. possession, property, inheritance
property
portion, share
inheritance
base
H5159 נַחֲלָה possession, property, inheritance . property
. portion, share
. inheritance
5159 nachalah nakh-al-aw'
from 5157 (in its usual sense); properly, something
inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an
heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or
portion:--heritage, to inherit, inheritance, possession.
Compare 5158.
see HEBREW for 05157
see HEBREW for 05158
נַחֲלָה (na.cha.lah) — inheritance.
1) possession, property, inheritance, heritage
1a) property
1b) portion, share
1c) inheritance, portion
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bp
הָפַךְ (haphak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn or overturn, with implications of change and transformation. It can describe actions like turning back, being reversed, or even being perverse. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, including reflexive and passive uses, indicating a wide range of applications in the Old Testament.
הָפַךְ vb. turn, overturn
Qal
trans.
turn, turn about, turn over
overturn, overthrow
turn = change, transform
intrans.
turn, turn back
turn = change, change into
Niph.
reflex. & intrans.
turn oneself, turn, turn back
turn = change (oneself)
be perverse
pass.
be turned, turn over to
be reversed
be turned, changed
be overturned, overthrown
be upturned, of subterran. work of miners
Hithp.
turn this way & that, every way
transform oneself
Hoph. there have been turned upon me terrors
base
H2015 הָפַךְ turn, overturn .. trans. . turn, turn about, turn over
. overturn, overthrow
. turn = change, transform
. intrans. . turn, turn back
. turn = change, change into
. . reflex. & intrans. . turn oneself, turn, turn back
. turn = change (oneself)
. be perverse
. pass. . be turned, turn over to
. be reversed
. be turned, changed
. be overturned, overthrown
. be upturned, of subterran. work of miners
. . turn this way & that, every way
. transform oneself
. there have been turned upon me terrors
2015 haphak haw-fak'
a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to
change, overturn, return, pervert:--X become, change, come, be
converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse,
retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary,
every way).
הָפַךְ (ha.phakh) — to overturn.
1) to turn, overthrow, overturn
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to overturn, overthrow
1a2) to turn, turn about, turn over, turn around
1a3) to change, transform
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to turn oneself, turn, turn back
1b2) to change oneself
1b3) to be perverse
1b4) to be turned, be turned over, be changed, be turned against
1b5) to be reversed
1b6) to be overturned, be overthrown
1b7) to be upturned
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to transform oneself
1c2) to turn this way and that, turn every way
1d) (Hophal) to turn on someone
V-Niphal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person feminine singularHVNp3fs
זוּר (zuwr) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be a stranger or to become estranged. It can describe a person as strange or foreign, and it also has connotations of loathsomeness. The word can refer to committing adultery or being alienated, with its usage found in contexts involving estrangement or foreignness.
[זוּר] vb. be a stranger
Qal
Pf. become estranged
Pt. as adj. strange, or as noun stranger
Niph. Pf. be estranged
Hoph. Pt. estranged
H2114a זוּר be a stranger .. Pf. become estranged
. Pt. as adj. strange, or as noun stranger
. Pf. be estranged
. Pt. estranged
H2114b זוּר, זִיר be loathsome
2114 zuwr zoor
a primitive root; to turn aside (especially for lodging);
hence to be a foreigner, strange, profane; specifically
(active participle) to commit adultery:--(come from) another
(man, place), fanner, go away, (e-)strange(-r, thing, woman).
זוּר (zur) — be a stranger.
1) to be strange, be a stranger
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to become estranged
1a2) strange, another, stranger, foreigner, an enemy (participle)
1a3) strange woman, prostitute, harlot (meton)
1b) (Niphal) to be estranged
1c) (Hophal) to be a stranger, be one alienated
זוּר (zur) — be loathsome.
loathsome (of breath) (participle)
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHR/Aampa
The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between
base
בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house
house
place
receptacle
of house as containing a family
household, family (592 t.)
house, including household affairs
lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards
מִבַּיִת
adv. on the inside
prep. within
base
H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house
1004 bayith bah'-yith
probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest
variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,
daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as
would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),
inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,
temple, web, + within(-out).
see HEBREW for 01129
בֵּית (bet) — place.
nm
place, origin, between
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.
: home/temple/building
nm
1) house
1a) house, dwelling habitation
1b) shelter or abode of animals
1c) human bodies (fig.)
1d) of Sheol
1e) of abode of light and darkness
1f) of land of Ephraim
2) place
3) receptacle
4) home, house as containing a family
5) household, family
5a) those belonging to the same household
5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body
6) household affairs
7) inwards (metaph.)
8) (TWOT) temple
adv
9) on the inside
prep
10) within
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bp
נָכְרִי (nokriy) means foreign or alien, covering a range of meanings from a foreign person to something unfamiliar or strange. It can also refer specifically to a foreign woman or harlot. The word is built from a root that suggests strangeness in various contexts.
נָכְרִי adj. foreign, alien
base
H5237 נָכְרִי foreign, alien
5237 nokriy nok-ree'
from 5235 (second form); strange, in a variety of degrees and
applications (foreign, non-relative, adulterous, different,
wonderful):--alien, foreigner, outlandish, strange(-r,
woman).
see HEBREW for 05235
נׇכְרִי (nokh.ri) — foreign.
1) foreign, alien
1a) foreign
1b) foreigner (subst)
1c) foreign woman, harlot
1d) unknown, unfamiliar (fig.)
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHR/Aampa