Hosea 13:13

KJV

The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he [is] an unwise son; for he should not stay long in [the place of] the breaking forth of children.

KJV (with Strong's)

The sorrows {H2256} of a travailing woman {H3205} shall come {H935} upon him: he is an unwise {H2450} son {H1121}; for he should not stay {H5975} long {H6256} in the place of the breaking forth {H4866} of children {H1121}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The pain of being born will come to him; but he is an unwise son. The time has come; and he shouldn't delay, there at the mouth of the womb.

Berean Standard Bible

Labor pains come upon him, but he is an unwise son. When the time arrives, he fails to present himself at the opening of the womb.

American Standard Version

The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for it is time he should not tarry in the place of the breaking forth of children.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hosea 13:13 vividly portrays Israel's impending judgment using the metaphor of a difficult childbirth. It describes Ephraim as an "unwise son" who, like a child refusing to emerge from the birth canal, delays repentance and misses the critical moment for deliverance, thereby ensuring their own painful demise rather than new life. This verse underscores the severe consequences of spiritual folly and procrastination in responding to God's warnings.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hosea 13 is part of the final, most severe pronouncements of judgment against Israel (Ephraim) before the book concludes with a call to repentance and promises of restoration in chapter 14. Chapter 13 specifically recounts God's past faithfulness and Israel's persistent idolatry (e.g., Baal worship, calf worship in [Bethel](/hosea/10-5 "Hosea 10:5 - Idolatry in Bethel")), leading to their inevitable destruction. The preceding verses ([Hosea 13:1-12](/hosea/13-1-12 "Hosea 13:1-12 - Israel's Rebellion and God's Wrath")) detail Israel's rise and fall, their forgetfulness of God, and their reliance on false gods, culminating in God's declaration that He will be like a lion or a leopard to them ([Hosea 13:7-8](/hosea/13-7-8 "Hosea 13:7-8 - God's Judgment Like a Predator")). Verse 13:13 introduces a new, equally visceral metaphor to describe the inescapable pain of this judgment.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Hosea prophesied during the turbulent final decades of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, before its fall to Assyria in 722 BC. This period was marked by political instability, assassinations of kings, and rampant idolatry, often syncretized with Yahweh worship. The imagery of childbirth was deeply familiar in ancient Israelite society, where large families and successful births were seen as blessings from God ([Psalm 127:3](/psalms/127-3 "Psalm 127:3 - Children as a Heritage")). The pain of childbirth was a common metaphor for intense distress or judgment (e.g., [Isaiah 13:8](/isaiah/13-8 "Isaiah 13:8 - Pain like a Woman in Labor")). The concept of a "wise" or "unwise" son resonated strongly in a culture that valued wisdom literature (like Proverbs) and saw wisdom as rooted in the fear of the Lord ([Proverbs 9:10](/proverbs/9-10 "Proverbs 9:10 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom")). Israel's "unwisdom" was not intellectual deficiency but a moral and spiritual failure to live in covenant with God.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Hosea. Firstly, the theme of **Divine Judgment** is starkly presented, emphasizing its inevitability and severity due to Israel's unfaithfulness. Secondly, it highlights **Israel's Spiritual Folly and Rebellion**, portraying them as an "unwise son" who rejects the path of life and persists in self-destructive behavior. This contrasts sharply with God's persistent **Covenant Love and Faithfulness** (Hosea's central message, seen in chapters like [Hosea 11](/hosea/11 "Hosea 11 - God's Tender Love for Israel")). The metaphor of childbirth also subtly touches on themes of **Life and Death**, where Israel's refusal to "break forth" signifies a choice for spiritual death over the new life offered by repentance.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sorrows (Hebrew, _chebel'_):** From H2256. This word denotes a rope, a measuring line, or a noose. Crucially, it also signifies "throes" or "pangs," especially those of parturition (childbirth). Here, it specifically refers to the intense, unavoidable, and agonizing pain of labor, emphasizing the sudden and overwhelming nature of the impending judgment.
* **Unwise (Hebrew, _châkâm'_):** From H2450. While the root means "wise," the KJV translates "unwise" (Hebrew: *lo chakam*). This signifies a lack of practical wisdom, discernment, or spiritual understanding. It's not merely intellectual deficiency but a moral and spiritual failure to act prudently in light of God's truth and warnings, leading to self-destructive choices.
* **Breaking forth (Hebrew, _mishbêr'_):** From H4866. This term specifically refers to the "orifice of the womb" from which the fetus emerges, or the "birthstool." It represents the critical moment of delivery, the threshold between life and death for both mother and child. In this context, it symbolizes the crucial point of crisis or opportunity for Israel to turn to God and be "born" anew into deliverance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him":** This striking simile immediately establishes the nature of the impending judgment. The "sorrows" (pangs, throes) of a woman in labor are sudden, intense, unavoidable, and progressively more severe until the "breaking forth." This imagery conveys the inescapable, agonizing, and escalating nature of the divine judgment that will befall Israel (Ephraim). Just as birth pains are a natural, albeit painful, part of bringing forth new life, so too are these judgments the inevitable consequence of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness.
* **"he is an unwise son":** This phrase directly identifies the reason for Israel's predicament. Described as a "son" (H1121, *bên*, referring to Ephraim as God's child), the term "unwise" (H2450, *lo chakam*) highlights their profound spiritual folly. It's not a lack of intelligence, but a stubborn refusal to heed God's warnings, to repent, or to act with spiritual discernment. This moral and spiritual deficiency is the root cause of their inability to escape the impending doom.
* **"for he should not stay long in [the place of] the breaking forth of children":** This clause uses a powerful metaphor from childbirth to explain the "unwise" behavior. The "breaking forth" (H4866, *mishbêr*) refers to the critical moment of delivery, the threshold of birth. An infant who "stays long" in the birth canal is in mortal danger, risking suffocation and death for both itself and the mother. Spiritually, Israel is depicted as a child refusing to emerge from this perilous stage, refusing to embrace the opportunity for deliverance or repentance. They are stuck at the point of crisis, delaying the decisive action needed for new life, thereby ensuring their own destruction instead of salvation.

#### Literary Devices
Hosea 13:13 is rich in **Imagery** and **Metaphor**, primarily drawing from the visceral experience of childbirth. The "sorrows of a travailing woman" serves as a powerful **Simile** to convey the sudden, intense, and inescapable nature of divine judgment, evoking a sense of agonizing inevitability. The description of Israel as an "unwise son" is a direct **Metaphor** for their spiritual folly and stubborn refusal to heed God's warnings. The most profound literary device is the extended **Metaphor** of the child "staying long in the place of the breaking forth of children." This vivid imagery of a stalled birth functions as a **Symbol** of Israel's spiritual procrastination and their failure to seize the crucial moment for repentance and deliverance. This **Analogy** underscores the fatal consequences of their delay, implying that just as a prolonged birth leads to death, so too will Israel's spiritual obstinacy lead to their demise. The prophet uses these stark images to shock his audience into recognizing the gravity of their situation and the self-inflicted nature of their impending doom.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hosea 13:13 profoundly illustrates the biblical principle that persistent rebellion against God's revealed will leads to inevitable and painful consequences. It highlights God's justice in holding His covenant people accountable, even as His love remains steadfast. The "unwise son" motif resonates with the wisdom tradition in Scripture, where true wisdom is rooted in obedience to God and folly in rejecting His ways. This verse serves as a stark warning against spiritual procrastination, emphasizing that there are critical moments for repentance and decision that, if missed, can lead to irreversible outcomes. It underscores the urgency of responding to God's call before it is too late, a theme echoed throughout prophetic literature.

* [Isaiah 13:8](/isaiah/13-8 "Isaiah 13:8 - Travail and Terror")
* [Jeremiah 30:6-7](/jeremiah/30-6-7 "Jeremiah 30:6-7 - Jacob's Trouble")
* [Proverbs 1:7](/proverbs/1-7 "Proverbs 1:7 - The Beginning of Knowledge")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hosea 13:13 offers a profound and sobering call to introspection for believers today. The imagery of the "unwise son" stuck in the birth canal challenges us to consider areas in our lives where we might be delaying a necessary spiritual "breakthrough." Are we procrastinating on repentance, clinging to old habits, or resisting God's clear leading? Just as the physical act of birth requires decisive movement, so too does spiritual growth often demand courageous steps of faith, obedience, or surrender. This verse reminds us that prolonged spiritual stagnation or resistance to God's will can lead to increasing "sorrows"—consequences that, while painful, are often designed to bring us to the point of desperate reliance on Him. It urges us to embrace wisdom by heeding God's voice promptly, seeking His deliverance, and moving forward into the new life He offers, rather than remaining in a perilous state of spiritual indecision.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be acting as an "unwise son," delaying necessary spiritual "breakthroughs" or resisting God's clear guidance?**
* **What "sorrows" or painful consequences have I experienced, or am I currently experiencing, that might be God's way of urging me to move forward from a state of spiritual stagnation?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater sense of urgency and wisdom in responding to God's calls for repentance and decisive action in my spiritual journey?**

### FAQ
**What does "the sorrows of a travailing woman" signify in this verse?**

Answer: This vivid imagery signifies the sudden, intense, and unavoidable nature of the divine judgment that is about to come upon Israel. Just as the pains of childbirth are agonizing and inescapable once they begin, so too will God's judgment be for His unfaithful people. This metaphor is commonly used in prophetic literature to describe overwhelming distress and the inevitability of a catastrophic event, as seen in [Isaiah 13:8](/isaiah/13-8 "Isaiah 13:8 - Travail and Terror") and [Jeremiah 30:6-7](/jeremiah/30-6-7 "Jeremiah 30:6-7 - Jacob's Trouble").

**Why is Israel called an "unwise son"?**

Answer: Israel is called an "unwise son" because their folly is not merely intellectual but spiritual and moral. Despite God's repeated warnings and acts of deliverance, they stubbornly refused to repent, turning instead to idolatry and disobedience. This "unwisdom" reflects a profound lack of discernment and a willful rejection of God's truth, leading them down a path of self-destruction. It contrasts with the biblical understanding of wisdom, which begins with the fear of the Lord and obedience to His commands, as articulated in [Proverbs 1:7](/proverbs/1-7 "Proverbs 1:7 - The Beginning of Knowledge").

**What is the meaning of "stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children"?**

Answer: This powerful metaphor refers to a child remaining too long in the birth canal during delivery. In ancient times, and even today, a prolonged birth is perilous, threatening the life of both mother and child. Spiritually, it means Israel is at a critical juncture, a moment of crisis or opportunity for new life and deliverance. By "staying long"—by procrastinating on repentance and refusing to turn back to God—they are choosing spiritual death rather than embracing the path to salvation and renewal. They are stuck at the threshold of breakthrough, but their stubbornness prevents them from entering into it, sealing their doom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hosea 13:13, with its imagery of an "unwise son" failing to emerge from the "place of breaking forth," finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the stark contrast between Israel's spiritual failure and the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ. While Israel, as God's "son," refused to embrace deliverance and delayed repentance, leading to judgment, Jesus, the true Son of God, perfectly fulfilled God's will, even to the point of death on the cross. He did not "stay long" in the throes of suffering but willingly entered into and passed through the ultimate "breaking forth"—His death and resurrection—to bring forth new life for humanity. His agony in Gethsemane ([Luke 22:44](/luke/22-44 "Luke 22:44 - Jesus' Agony in Gethsemane")) and His cry on the cross ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry on the Cross")) echo the "sorrows of a travailing woman," yet these were not the pains of an "unwise son" but the redemptive pangs of the Savior bringing forth spiritual birth for all who believe. Through Christ, the opportunity for true "breaking forth" from sin and death into eternal life is offered, a spiritual birth that Israel, in its folly, rejected but which is now freely available through faith in the [risen Lord](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Buried and Raised with Christ"). He is the wise Son who perfectly accomplished the Father's will, ensuring that all who are "in Christ" can experience genuine spiritual rebirth, escaping the judgment that comes from spiritual foolishness and delay ([John 3:3-7](/john/3-3-7 "John 3:3-7 - Born Again")).

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 37:3

And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day [is] a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and [there is] not strength to bring forth.

Isaiah 13:8

And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces [shall be as] flames.

Micah 4:9

Now why dost thou cry out aloud? [is there] no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.

Micah 4:10

Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go [even] to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

2 Kings 19:3

And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day [is] a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and [there is] not strength to bring forth.

Isaiah 26:17

Like as a woman with child, [that] draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, [and] crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.

Psalms 48:6

Fear took hold upon them there, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail.