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Isaiah 13:8

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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.

And they shall be afraid {H926}: pangs {H6735} and sorrows {H2256} shall take hold {H270} of them; they shall be in pain {H2342} as a woman that travaileth {H3205}: they shall be amazed {H8539} one {H376} at another {H7453}; their faces {H6440} shall be as flames {H3851}.

They will be gripped by panic, seized with pain and agony, writhing like a woman in labor, looking aghast at each other, faces aflame.

Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear.

and they shall be dismayed; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman in travail: they shall look in amazement one at another; their faces shall be faces of flame.

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 13:8 (KJV)

Isaiah 13:8 is part of a prophetic oracle (often called a "burden" in the KJV) against Babylon, foretelling its catastrophic downfall. This verse vividly describes the immediate and overwhelming terror that will seize its inhabitants on the Day of the Lord, a theme prevalent throughout prophetic literature.

Context

Chapter 13 of Isaiah begins a series of prophecies concerning various nations, with Babylon being the first and most significant focus. This particular prophecy was delivered centuries before Babylon's actual fall to the Medes and Persians in 539 BC, demonstrating God's sovereign knowledge and control over human history. The preceding verses in chapter 13 describe the mustering of a mighty army, God's instruments of wrath, and the darkening of the heavens, setting a scene of impending doom. Verse 8 zeroes in on the human experience of this divine judgment, painting a picture of universal panic and suffering among those facing destruction.

Key Themes

  • Overwhelming Terror and Anguish: The verse vividly portrays the sheer dread and physical pain that will grip the people. "They shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them" emphasizes the inescapable nature of their suffering.
  • The Metaphor of Labor Pains: The comparison "they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth" is a powerful and frequently used biblical metaphor to describe sudden, intense, unavoidable, and excruciating suffering, often associated with the arrival of judgment or the Day of the Lord. It signifies a pain that builds, is all-consuming, and cannot be escaped. Similar imagery is found in other prophecies, such as Jeremiah 4:31.
  • Mutual Despair and Helplessness: "They shall be amazed one at another" indicates a breakdown of social order and mutual support. People will look at each other in bewildered horror, unable to offer comfort or aid, highlighting their collective helplessness in the face of divine wrath.
  • Visible Manifestation of Fear: "Their faces [shall be as] flames" is a striking image. This could suggest faces flushed with fever from terror, burning with shame, or reflecting the literal flames of a burning city. It powerfully conveys the intensity of their internal anguish made outwardly visible.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "pangs" (ḥabal) and "sorrows" (ṣîr) are often used together to describe the intense, sharp pains of childbirth. The phrase "as a woman that travaileth" (k'yôledâh) makes this comparison explicit, highlighting the unavoidable and intense nature of the impending doom. The phrase "faces [shall be as] flames" uses the Hebrew word lappîd, meaning "torch" or "flame," underscoring the severity of their distress and the visible impact of their fear.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness of God's judgment against nations and individuals who oppose His will or live in rebellion. It underscores that even powerful empires like Babylon are not exempt from divine accountability. For believers, it reinforces the truth of God's sovereignty and His ultimate justice, bringing comfort that evil will not prevail indefinitely. For all, it is a call to humility and to heed divine warnings, recognizing that the consequences of pride and sin can be devastating, as witnessed in the historical and prophetic fall of Babylon.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 26:17 (4 votes)

    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.

  • Nahum 2:10 (4 votes)

    She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain [is] in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:3 (4 votes)

    For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

  • Isaiah 21:3 (3 votes)

    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].

  • Isaiah 21:4 (3 votes)

    My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.

  • Jeremiah 50:43 (2 votes)

    The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, [and] pangs as of a woman in travail.

  • Joel 2:6 (2 votes)

    Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.