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.
For I have heard {H8085} a voice {H6963} as of a woman in travail {H2470}, and the anguish {H6869} as of her that bringeth forth her first child {H1069}, the voice {H6963} of the daughter {H1323} of Zion {H6726}, that bewaileth {H3306} herself, that spreadeth {H6566} her hands {H3709}, saying, Woe {H188} is me now! for my soul {H5315} is wearied {H5888} because of murderers {H2026}.
For I have heard a sound like a woman in labor, in anguish giving birth to her first child. It is the sound of the daughter of Tziyon gasping for breath as she spreads her hands: "Woe to me! Everything in me is so weary before the killers."
For I hear a cry like a woman in labor, a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child— the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands to say, “Woe is me, for my soul faints before the murderers!”
For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that gaspeth for breath, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul fainteth before the murderers.
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Isaiah 1:15
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. -
Lamentations 1:17
Zion spreadeth forth her hands, [and there is] none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, [that] his adversaries [should be] round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them. -
Jeremiah 13:21
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? -
Isaiah 21:3
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]. -
Jeremiah 30:6
Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? -
Job 10:1
¶ My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. -
Jeremiah 14:18
If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.
Commentary on Jeremiah 4:31 KJV
Jeremiah 4:31 paints a vivid and agonizing picture of Jerusalem, personified as the "daughter of Zion," in a state of extreme distress. The prophet Jeremiah conveys the immense suffering that is about to befall Judah due to their persistent sin and rebellion against God.
Context
This verse is situated within a series of prophecies in Jeremiah where God warns Judah of impending judgment, primarily through an invasion from the north (likely the Babylonians). Jeremiah had consistently called the people to repentance, but they largely refused to heed God's warnings. The preceding verses in Chapter 4 describe the devastating impact of this coming invasion, likening the land to a desolate wilderness and the cities to ruins. The "voice of a woman in travail" and the "anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child" are powerful metaphors for the unspeakable pain and terror that the inhabitants of Jerusalem will experience as their city is besieged and conquered. The "murderers" refer to the brutal invading army.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "travail" (חֵבֶל, chevel) and "anguish" (צָרָה, tsarah) both convey intense pain, distress, and constriction. Chevel specifically relates to the pangs of childbirth, while tsarah is a broader term for trouble or distress. The combination emphasizes the extreme, life-threatening nature of the suffering. The phrase "daughter of Zion" (בַּת־צִיּוֹן, bat-Tzion) is a common poetic personification of Jerusalem and its inhabitants, often used to evoke a sense of intimacy or, as here, to heighten the pathos of its vulnerability and suffering.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 4:31 serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of sin and the inevitable consequences of persistently ignoring God's warnings. While the immediate context is historical Israel, the principle remains: spiritual rebellion leads to anguish and despair. It calls believers to:
This verse, though grim, ultimately points to the need for a renewed heart and a deep reliance on God's grace to avoid such profound spiritual anguish.