Jeremiah 13:21

KJV

What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them [to be] captains, [and] as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?

KJV (with Strong's)

What wilt thou say {H559} when he shall punish {H6485} thee? for thou hast taught {H3925} them to be captains {H441}, and as chief {H7218} over thee: shall not sorrows {H2256} take {H270} thee, as a woman {H802} in travail {H3205}?

Complete Jewish Bible

When he sets over you as rulers those you trained to be allies, what will you say? Won't pains seize you like those of a woman in labor?

Berean Standard Bible

What will you say when He sets over you close allies whom you yourself trained? Will not pangs of anguish grip you, as they do a woman in labor?

American Standard Version

What wilt thou say, when he shall set over thee as head those whom thou hast thyself taught to be friends to thee? shall not sorrows take hold of thee, as of a woman in travail?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 13:21 delivers a stark and poignant prophetic warning to the unfaithful kingdom of Judah, declaring the inevitable and agonizing judgment that awaits them. The verse highlights Judah's profound culpability, revealing that their own actions—specifically their idolatrous practices and reliance on foreign alliances—have effectively empowered their future oppressors, making them "captains" and "chief" over the nation. This self-inflicted wound will culminate in a period of intense, inescapable suffering likened to the throes of childbirth, underscoring the divine justice that meticulously responds to their rebellion and misplaced trust.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 13:21 is positioned within a series of urgent warnings and symbolic acts in Jeremiah 13-20, which vividly portray Judah's spiritual decay and the impending divine judgment. Immediately preceding this verse, Jeremiah employs powerful object lessons: the ruined linen belt in [Jeremiah 13:1-11](/jeremiah/13-1 "Jeremiah 13:1-11 - The Ruined Linen Belt") symbolizes Judah's pride and corruption, destined for ruin; and the wine jars in [Jeremiah 13:12-14](/jeremiah/13-12 "Jeremiah 13:12-14 - The Wine Jars of Wrath") illustrate God's intent to fill the nation with wrath and shatter them. Verse 21 directly follows Jeremiah's plea for Judah to humble themselves and listen to God's warnings ([Jeremiah 13:15-17](/jeremiah/13-15 "Jeremiah 13:15-17 - A Call to Humility and Warning of Exile")), and his lament over the coming exile of the king and queen mother ([Jeremiah 13:18-20](/jeremiah/13-18 "Jeremiah 13:18-20 - Warning to the King and Queen Mother")). This verse thus serves as a direct, rhetorical confrontation, exposing Judah's self-destructive path and the logical consequence of their choices.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE were a tumultuous period for Judah, caught between the declining Assyrian Empire, the rising Babylonian Empire, and a resurgent Egypt. Judah, rather than trusting in the Lord, repeatedly sought political alliances with these foreign powers, particularly Egypt, to secure their safety against Babylon. This act of seeking help from ungodly nations was seen by God as a profound betrayal of the covenant and a form of spiritual adultery, effectively elevating these foreign entities to a position of authority and reliance over Judah. Culturally, the concept of "captains" (`ʼallûwph`) and "chief" (`rôʼsh`) would have been understood as military or political leaders, signifying those who hold dominion. Judah's "teaching" them to be such implies their active participation in empowering their future oppressors through treaties, tribute, and adopting their idolatrous practices, thereby weakening their own spiritual and national sovereignty.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 13:21 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and Accountability**, emphasizing that God's impending punishment is not arbitrary but a just and direct consequence of Judah's persistent sin and rebellion. The rhetorical question, "What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee?", highlights Judah's defenselessness and lack of excuse before God's righteous decree, a theme prevalent throughout prophetic literature, as seen in [Amos 3:2](/amos/3-2 "Amos 3:2 - God's Unique Knowledge and Judgment"). Secondly, the verse illuminates the **Consequences of Misplaced Trust**. Judah's sin was not merely idolatry but also its reliance on foreign powers and their gods, making these nations "captains" and "chief" over them. This act of seeking help from ungodly sources ultimately led to their subjugation, echoing warnings found in [Isaiah 30:1-3](/isaiah/30-1 "Isaiah 30:1-3 - Woe to Those Who Trust in Egypt"). Finally, the imagery of "sorrows... as a woman in travail" vividly portrays the **Inevitable and Intense Suffering** that will befall Judah. This metaphor, frequently used in biblical prophecy, signifies a pain that is sudden, inescapable, and agonizing, much like the labor pains of childbirth, emphasizing the severity and certainty of God's judgment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **taught (Hebrew, _lâmad'_):** From `H3925`, a primitive root meaning "to goad," and by implication, "to teach" or "to make accustomed." This word suggests a deliberate process of instruction or habituation. In Jeremiah 13:21, it carries a profound irony: Judah, through its own choices and actions—such as forming alliances with foreign nations and adopting their ways—effectively "taught" or accustomed these powers to exert authority over them, thereby empowering their future oppressors. It implies Judah's active role in creating the very conditions for their subjugation.
* **captains (Hebrew, _ʼallûwph'_):** From `H441`, meaning "familiar," "friend," "gentle," and by extension, "a bullock (as being tame)," or "a chieftain" / "governor." The term denotes positions of leadership, authority, and prominence. The irony here is stark: Judah, meant to be God's sovereign nation, had, through its apostasy and reliance on foreign alliances, effectively handed over its authority and destiny to those who would become its oppressors. They elevated their enemies to the status of "captains" or rulers over themselves.
* **sorrows (Hebrew, _chebel'_):** From `H2256`, meaning "a rope" (especially a measuring line or a noose), and figuratively, "a company," "a throe" (especially of parturition), or "ruin." In this context, "sorrows" specifically refers to the intense, unavoidable pain and distress associated with childbirth, linking directly to the subsequent simile "as a woman in travail." It conveys the idea of inescapable, sudden, and agonizing pain, signifying the severity and certainty of the divine judgment that will "take" Judah.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee?"**: This is a powerful rhetorical question, designed to highlight Judah's utter defenselessness and lack of an excuse before God's impending judgment. It implies that there will be no valid defense, no mitigating circumstances, and no words of protest that can alter their fate. The "he" refers to God, who will use an instrument (Babylon) to execute His punishment.
* **"for thou hast taught them [to be] captains, [and] as chief over thee:"**: This clause reveals the profound culpability of Judah. Their punishment is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of their own actions. By seeking alliances with foreign powers (like Babylon or Egypt) and adopting their customs or gods, Judah effectively empowered these nations, granting them authority and influence ("captains" and "chief") over themselves. They "taught" or accustomed these foreign entities to exert dominion, thereby inviting their own subjugation.
* **"shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?"**: This vivid simile underscores the nature of the impending judgment: it will be sudden, intense, unavoidable, and excruciatingly painful. The "sorrows" are the pangs of childbirth, a universal experience of severe, inescapable agony. Just as a woman cannot avoid or lessen the pain of labor once it begins, Judah will be unable to escape or mitigate the suffering of God's judgment, particularly the Babylonian invasion and exile.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 13:21 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. The verse opens with a **Rhetorical Question**, "What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee?", which serves not to elicit an answer but to emphasize Judah's utter lack of defense or justification in the face of divine judgment. This technique powerfully underscores their culpability and the inevitability of their fate. Following this, there is profound **Irony** in the statement "for thou hast taught them [to be] captains, [and] as chief over thee." Judah, meant to be a sovereign nation under God, actively empowered its future oppressors through its own unfaithfulness and misplaced alliances, effectively training its enemies to rule over it. Finally, the verse concludes with a stark **Simile**: "shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?" This comparison vividly portrays the nature of the coming judgment as sudden, inescapable, and intensely agonizing, drawing on the universal experience of childbirth pains to communicate the severity and inevitability of Judah's suffering.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 13:21 profoundly articulates the theological principle of divine justice, where God's judgment is a direct, proportionate, and inevitable consequence of human sin and rebellion. It highlights the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, emphasizing that turning away from the Lord to rely on worldly powers constitutes a grave betrayal, effectively inviting self-destruction. The verse underscores that God, though patient, will ultimately hold His people accountable for their choices, particularly when they elevate anything or anyone above Him. The "sorrows" are not merely punitive but also corrective, intended to bring about repentance and a return to the true source of security and authority—the Lord Himself. This passage serves as a timeless warning against spiritual compromise and the futility of seeking security apart from God.

* [Deuteronomy 28:43-44](/deuteronomy/28-43 "The Foreigner Shall Rise Above You")
* [Isaiah 42:14](/isaiah/42-14 "God's Patience and Sudden Action")
* [Hosea 13:13](/hosea/13-13 "The Pangs of Childbirth for Ephraim")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 13:21 offers a profound and sobering mirror for contemporary believers, prompting us to examine the allegiances and trusts we cultivate in our own lives. The warning to Judah, that they "taught" their oppressors to be "captains" and "chief," powerfully illustrates how our own choices—our spiritual compromises, our misplaced trusts, and our reliance on worldly systems or human wisdom apart from God—can inadvertently empower forces that ultimately bring us sorrow and subjugation. This verse calls us to a radical self-examination: What "captains" or "chiefs" have we allowed to rise over us, whether they be idols of success, security, comfort, or even political ideologies, that subtly or overtly diminish God's rightful sovereignty in our lives? The inevitable "sorrows" that follow such misplaced trust serve as a stark reminder that disobedience and spiritual infidelity carry real, often painful, consequences. True freedom and security are found only in absolute reliance on God, allowing Him alone to be the "chief" and "captain" of our souls.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life have I unknowingly "taught" or empowered worldly systems or values to become "captains" or "chief" over my decisions and priorities, rather than God?**
* **What are the "sorrows" or painful consequences I have experienced, or might experience, as a result of trusting in something or someone other than God?**
* **How can I actively dismantle any misplaced trusts in my life and intentionally reaffirm God's sole authority and sovereignty over all things?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure that my reliance is solely on God, even when facing uncertainty or the temptation to seek worldly solutions?**

### FAQ
**Who is "he" who will punish Judah in this verse?**

Answer: The "he" refers to God. While God is the ultimate punisher and the one who orchestrates judgment, He often uses human instruments to carry out His will. In the context of Jeremiah, the primary instrument of God's punishment against Judah was the rising Babylonian Empire, which would eventually conquer Jerusalem and lead its people into exile. Thus, "he" is God acting through Babylon.

**How did Judah "teach" their oppressors to be "captains" and "chief"?**

Answer: Judah "taught" their oppressors in several ways, primarily through their spiritual infidelity and political choices. Instead of trusting solely in God for protection and guidance, Judah repeatedly sought alliances with powerful foreign nations like Egypt and Babylon. By forming treaties, paying tribute, and adopting the religious practices and cultural norms of these nations, Judah effectively acknowledged their authority and empowered them. This weakened Judah's own spiritual and national sovereignty, making them vulnerable and accustomed to being ruled by those who would eventually become their conquerors.

**Why is the metaphor of "a woman in travail" used to describe Judah's coming sorrows?**

Answer: The metaphor of "a woman in travail" (childbirth) is used to convey the nature of the coming judgment as inescapable, sudden, and intensely agonizing. Childbirth pains are universally understood as severe, unavoidable, and often overwhelming. Just as a woman cannot escape or lessen the pain of labor once it begins, Judah would be unable to avoid or mitigate the suffering of God's judgment, particularly the horrors of invasion, siege, and exile. It emphasizes the profound distress and the certainty of their impending doom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 13:21, with its stark portrayal of Judah's self-inflicted judgment and inevitable "sorrows," finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. While Judah experienced the painful consequences of their misplaced trust and rebellion, humanity's deepest "sorrows" and the ultimate "punishment" for sin were borne by Christ on the cross. He became the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), absorbing the divine wrath that our own spiritual infidelity and idolatry deserved. The "captains" and "chiefs" that ruled over humanity—sin, death, and the power of Satan—were decisively defeated by Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection. Through His atoning work, we are no longer under the dominion of these oppressive forces, nor do we face the "travail" of God's judgment for sin. Instead, by faith in Him, we are brought into a new covenant where Christ alone is our [true Head and Chief](/ephesians/1-22 "Ephesians 1:22 - Christ as Head over All Things"), our [Lord and Savior](/titus/2-13 "Titus 2:13 - Our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ"), delivering us from the very "sorrows" that Judah experienced and pointing us to the eternal peace found only in Him.

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.

Jeremiah 4:31

For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, [and] the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, [that] bewaileth herself, [that] spreadeth her hands, [saying], Woe [is] me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.

Isaiah 39:2

And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

Isaiah 39:4

Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that [is] in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

Isaiah 10:3

And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation [which] shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

Jeremiah 5:31

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

Jeremiah 38:22

And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house [shall be] brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those [women] shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, [and] they are turned away back.