Isaiah 21:3

KJV

Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing [of it]; I was dismayed at the seeing [of it].

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore are my loins {H4975} filled {H4390} with pain {H2479}: pangs {H6735} have taken hold {H270} upon me, as the pangs {H6735} of a woman that travaileth {H3205}: I was bowed down {H5753} at the hearing {H8085} of it; I was dismayed {H926} at the seeing {H7200} of it.

Complete Jewish Bible

This is why my insides are racked with pain; I am seized by pangs, like a woman in labor; wrenched by what I hear, aghast at what I see.

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see.

American Standard Version

Therefore are my loins filled with anguish; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 21:3 powerfully captures the prophet Isaiah's profound and visceral anguish upon receiving a divine revelation concerning the impending, devastating fall of Babylon. His physical and emotional collapse, vividly likened to the excruciating pain of a woman in childbirth, underscores the overwhelming burden of God's righteous judgment, demonstrating not only the terrifying severity of the coming destruction but also the deep empathetic suffering of the prophet tasked with conveying such a weighty and somber message.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within a series of prophetic oracles, often referred to as "burdens" (Hebrew: *massa*), which are found in [Isaiah chapters 13-23](/isaiah/13 "Isaiah's Oracles Against the Nations"). Specifically, [Isaiah 21:1](/isaiah/21-1 "The Burden of the Desert of the Sea") initiates this particular oracle, cryptically designating it as "the burden of the desert of the sea," a symbolic reference to Babylon. The immediate preceding verses, [Isaiah 21:1-2](/isaiah/21-1-2 "Isaiah 21:1-2 - The Vision of Babylon's Treachery and Desolation"), describe a terrifying vision of treachery and desolation, portraying Elam and Media rising against Babylon. Isaiah's intense personal reaction in verse 3 directly follows this horrific preview, indicating that his profound pain and distress are a direct, empathetic response to the detailed and devastating vision of Babylon's impending destruction and the chaos it will unleash. This personal anguish serves to authenticate the vision's severity and highlights the prophet's deep, personal engagement with the divine message.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy in [Isaiah 21](/isaiah/21 "Isaiah 21 - The Burden of the Desert of the Sea") concerns the formidable city of Babylon, a dominant imperial power in the ancient Near East, renowned for its immense wealth, military might, and pervasive idolatry. While Babylon would later conquer Judah, this specific oracle most likely refers to its momentous fall to the Medes and Persians under Cyrus the Great in 539 BC, an event that dramatically reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the ancient world. The enigmatic phrase "desert of the sea" is a symbolic and perhaps ironic reference to Babylon, possibly alluding to its location in the marshy plains of Mesopotamia, prone to flooding from the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, or metaphorically describing it as a vast, turbulent "sea" of humanity destined for desolation. Prophetic "burdens" were a common literary form in ancient Israel, signifying a heavy divine message, often one of impending judgment, that weighed profoundly upon the prophet's spirit. The comparison of suffering to "childbirth pangs" was a widely understood and potent idiom in the ancient world for unavoidable, intense, and sudden suffering, frequently employed in the Old Testament to describe the onset of divine judgment or a great, inescapable crisis.
* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 21:3 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes present within the book of Isaiah and biblical prophecy as a whole. Firstly, it vividly illustrates **Prophetic Anguish and Empathy**, demonstrating that God's chosen messengers often bore the immense emotional and even physical weight of the messages they were commissioned to deliver. Isaiah's agony is not merely an intellectual comprehension but a profound, empathetic identification with the future suffering of those involved in the judgment, even the enemies of God's people, a sentiment echoed in [Jeremiah 4:19](/jeremiah/4-19 "Jeremiah's Anguish Over Judah's Judgment"). Secondly, the verse underscores **The Weight of Divine Revelation**, emphasizing that receiving and truly comprehending God's truth, particularly concerning impending judgment, can be an overwhelming, distressing, and even physically debilitating experience. The prophet is "bowed down" and "dismayed" by the sheer severity of what he hears and sees, indicating the profound and transformative impact of God's holy word (compare [Habakkuk 3:16](/habakkuk/3-16 "Habakkuk's Trembling at God's Power")). Finally, the intensity of Isaiah's reaction serves as a powerful indicator of the **Severity and Certainty of Impending Judgment and Destruction**. The vision is so terrifying and absolute that it physically afflicts the one who beholds it, signaling the absolute certainty and horror of Babylon's ultimate downfall, a theme reverberating throughout other prophetic books concerning God's judgment on proud and idolatrous nations (e.g., [Jeremiah 50-51](/jeremiah/50 "Jeremiah's Prophecy Against Babylon")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **pain (Hebrew, _chalchâlâh'_):** This feminine noun (H2479) is derived from a root meaning "writhing" and specifically denotes the agony of childbirth. By implication, it also signifies terror and great suffering. Its use here emphasizes the intense, gripping, and unavoidable nature of the prophet's distress, mirroring the physical contortions and emotional anguish associated with labor.
* **pangs (Hebrew, _tsîyr'_):** This noun (H6735), appearing twice in the verse, refers to a throe or a sharp, acute pain, often linked to physical or mental pressure. When explicitly paired with "travaileth," it unequivocally evokes the contractions of childbirth, symbolizing a sudden, overwhelming, and progressively intense suffering that leads to an inevitable and often dramatic outcome. The repetition of the word reinforces the overwhelming severity and inescapable nature of the pain.
* **dismayed (Hebrew, _bâhal'_):** As a primitive root (H926), this verb signifies an inward trembling or palpitation, leading to a state of being suddenly alarmed, agitated, or even hastened anxiously. Isaiah's dismay is a profound psychological and emotional shock, indicating a state of being utterly overwhelmed and terrified by the vision's content, causing internal turmoil and external agitation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore are my loins filled with pain:"** The prophet directly attributes his profound physical suffering to the divine revelation he has received. His "loins" (H4975), metaphorically the seat of strength, vitality, and procreation, are described as being "filled" (H4390), indicating a complete saturation and overwhelming inundation with pain. This is a profound, total bodily response, suggesting that the burden is not merely intellectual or emotional but has permeated his very being, incapacitating him.
* **"pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth:"** This powerful and vivid simile compares Isaiah's agony to the inescapable, excruciating, and progressively intense pain of childbirth. The "pangs" (H6735) have "taken hold" (H270) of him, emphasizing their gripping, unavoidable, and relentless nature. This imagery conveys the suddenness, the overwhelming intensity, and the inevitable outcome associated with the impending divine judgment.
* **"I was bowed down at the hearing [of it];"** The prophet describes a physical collapse, being "bowed down" (H5753), a posture indicative of weakness, defeat, profound grief, or overwhelming burden. This reaction is specifically tied to "the hearing" (H8085) of the prophetic message, indicating the terrifying and incapacitating nature of the divine pronouncement itself, which has struck him with immense force.
* **"I was dismayed at the seeing [of it]."** Complementing the auditory impact, the "seeing" (H7200) of the vision also causes him to be "dismayed" (H926). This dual sensory experience — both hearing the divine pronouncement and seeing the terrifying vision — underscores the comprehensive and utterly overwhelming nature of the revelation, leading to a state of profound shock, agitation, and internal trembling.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 21:3 is rich in **Sensory Imagery**, vividly depicting the prophet's extreme physical and emotional distress through explicit descriptions of pain, the act of hearing, and the act of seeing. The central **Simile** comparing his suffering to "the pangs of a woman that travaileth" is exceptionally potent. This comparison, a common biblical idiom, is employed here with powerful effect to convey the sudden, unavoidable, and excruciating nature of the pain, emphasizing its progressive intensity and the inevitable, often catastrophic, outcome it portends. The use of **Hyperbole** in describing the prophet's extreme physical reaction ("my loins filled with pain," "I was bowed down," "I was dismayed") effectively underscores the immense gravity and terror of the divine revelation. Furthermore, the phrase "pangs have taken hold upon me" contains an element of **Personification**, as if the pain itself is an active, living agent seizing and gripping the prophet. These literary devices collectively amplify the sense of overwhelming dread and the profound, debilitating burden placed upon the prophet as he apprehends the future judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah's profound anguish in this verse serves as a stark and visceral reminder of the gravity of divine judgment and the empathetic burden often carried by those who faithfully proclaim God's truth. It highlights that God's justice is not an abstract concept but a terrifying reality that can evoke deep distress, even in His chosen messengers. This prophetic suffering underscores the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin, which necessitates such severe and devastating consequences. Furthermore, it reveals a God who, while perfectly just, is not indifferent to the suffering that results from judgment, allowing His prophet to experience a measure of that pain as a testament to its reality. This profound empathy in the prophet foreshadows a deeper divine empathy for humanity's plight, even as judgment unfolds.

* [1 Thessalonians 5:3](/1_thessalonians/5-3 "1 Thessalonians 5:3 - Sudden Destruction and Birth Pains")
* [Jeremiah 4:19](/jeremiah/4-19 "Jeremiah's Lament Over Judah's Destruction")
* [Isaiah 13:1](/isaiah/13-1 "Isaiah 13:1 - The Burden of Babylon")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah's visceral reaction to the prophecy of Babylon's fall challenges us to consider our own response to God's word, especially its more difficult truths concerning sin, judgment, and suffering. It calls us beyond a mere intellectual assent to a deeper, more empathetic, and transformative engagement. Just as Isaiah was "bowed down" and "dismayed," we too should allow the weight of God's holiness and the profound consequences of rebellion to deeply affect us, fostering a healthy and reverent fear of the Lord and a profound compassion for a world desperately in need of redemption. This passage encourages us to cultivate genuine empathy for those who face the consequences of their choices, even when those consequences are deserved, and to pray earnestly for repentance and mercy. It also serves as a poignant reminder to honor and support spiritual leaders who often carry heavy burdens as they faithfully convey God's truth, witnessing spiritual realities and their profound implications that may be unseen by others. Ultimately, while the judgment is severe and terrifying, the underlying purpose of such prophecies is often to call people to repentance and to highlight God's unwavering justice, which ultimately paves the way for His glorious salvation for all who turn to Him in faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Isaiah's intense physical and emotional reaction to God's word challenge my own often-superficial or detached engagement with scripture?**
* **In what specific ways might I be called to cultivate a deeper and more compassionate empathy for those who are experiencing the consequences of sin, whether their own or others'?**
* **What "burdens" or difficult truths might God be calling me to acknowledge, internalize, and respond to in my own life or in the world around me today?**
* **How can I better support and pray for spiritual leaders who bear the weight of proclaiming God's truth, especially when that truth is unpopular, challenging, or brings personal cost?**

### FAQ
**Why was Isaiah in such extreme pain and distress over the fall of Babylon, an enemy nation?**

Answer: Isaiah's profound anguish was not primarily sympathy for Babylon itself, but rather a deep, empathetic, and visceral response to the sheer horror and devastation that God's righteous judgment would unleash. As a prophet, he was granted a divine vision (H7200, *râʼâh*) and heard a divine pronouncement (H8085, *shâmaʼ*) that allowed him to perceive the future reality with extraordinary clarity and intensity. This direct encounter with the severity of God's holy wrath and the ensuing chaos was so overwhelming that it manifested physically, causing him to be "filled with pain" (H4390, *mâlêʼ* with H2479, *chalchâlâh'*) and "dismayed" (H926, *bâhal*). His suffering underscores the immense gravity of sin and judgment, demonstrating the weighty responsibility of conveying God's messages, even those against His enemies, and highlighting the prophet's profound identification with the divine perspective on justice and its terrifying consequences.

**What is the significance of comparing Isaiah's pain to "the pangs of a woman that travaileth"?**

Answer: This powerful simile (H6735, *tsîyr* with H3205, *yâlad*) is a frequently used and highly evocative idiom in the Old Testament to describe sudden, unavoidable, and intensely excruciating pain. It emphasizes several key aspects of the coming judgment: the agonizing nature of the suffering, its progressive and unrelenting intensity, its absolute inevitability, and the fact that it leads to a definitive, often dramatic, and irreversible outcome. In the context of divine judgment, it signifies that the coming destruction is not only severe but also inescapable, arriving with a sudden, overwhelming, and gripping force, much like labor pains that seize a woman without warning and culminate in a birth. This vivid imagery underscores the absolute certainty, terror, and transformative power of Babylon's impending fall.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaiah's anguish in [Isaiah 21:3](/isaiah/21-3 "Isaiah 21:3 - Isaiah's Anguish") powerfully reveals the prophet's empathetic burden in proclaiming divine judgment, it ultimately points forward to the ultimate burden-bearer, Jesus Christ. Isaiah, as a human prophet, experienced a measure of the pain and dismay (H926, *bâhal*) associated with God's righteous judgment against sin. Yet, Christ, as the eternal Son of God, would not merely *witness* judgment but would *bear* it in its fullness. The "pangs" (H6735, *tsîyr*) that took hold of Isaiah foreshadow the infinitely greater "pangs" that took hold of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, where His soul was "very sorrowful, even to death" ([Matthew 26:38](/matthew/26-38 "Matthew 26:38 - Jesus' Anguish in Gethsemane")). There, He was "bowed down" (H5753, *ʻâvâh*) under the immense weight of the world's sin, experiencing an agony so profound that it caused Him to sweat drops of blood ([Luke 22:44](/luke/22-44 "Luke 22:44 - Jesus' Agony in Gethsemane")). On the cross, Jesus became sin for us ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")), fully absorbing the divine wrath and judgment that humanity deserved. His suffering was the ultimate fulfillment of the prophetic burden, as He, the Lamb of God, truly "takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Thus, Isaiah's pain, though real and profound, serves as a dim reflection of the immeasurable, redemptive suffering Christ endured to secure salvation and deliver humanity from the very judgment that caused the prophet such dismay.

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 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.

Psalms 48:6

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

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.

Jeremiah 48:41

Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

Isaiah 16:11

Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.

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.