Isaiah 26:17 kjv
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.
Isaiah 26:17 nkjv
As a woman with child Is in pain and cries out in her pangs, When she draws near the time of her delivery, So have we been in Your sight, O LORD.
Isaiah 26:17 niv
As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, LORD.
Isaiah 26:17 esv
Like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pangs when she is near to giving birth, so were we because of you, O LORD;
Isaiah 26:17 nlt
Just as a pregnant woman
writhes and cries out in pain as she gives birth,
so were we in your presence, LORD.
Isaiah 26 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 26:17 | As the pregnant woman… groans, so were we in Your sight, O LORD. | Israel's birth pangs |
| Isaiah 66:7 | Before she was in labor… she gave birth… | Future restoration prophecy |
| Jeremiah 13:23 | Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then also you can do good… | Inherent sin and difficulty |
| Jeremiah 22:23 | “Occupy the cedars… groan, because the timbers are shattered.” | Suffering and distress |
| Jeremiah 50:4-5 | “In those days and in that time,” declares the LORD… “they will seek the LORD their God. They will ask the way to Zion… | Repentance and seeking God |
| Hosea 13:13 | The pangs of childbirth come upon him… | Judgment and suffering |
| Micah 4:9-10 | Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you?… Pains have taken hold of you like the pangs of childbirth. | Lament and deliverance |
| Matthew 24:8 | All these are but the beginning of birth pains. | Signs of the end times |
| Mark 13:8 | Nations will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom… These are but the beginning of birth pains. | Eschatological suffering |
| John 16:21 | When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come… | Jesus' analogy of suffering |
| Romans 8:22 | For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. | Creation's suffering |
| Revelation 12:2 | She was pregnant and was in labor, crying out in pain to give birth. | Spiritual warfare and birth |
| Psalm 7:14 | Behold, he is pregnant with mischief; he conceives trouble and gives birth to falsehood. | Wickedness leads to ruin |
| Psalm 48:6 | Terror had seized them there… they writhed and turned away. | Judgment on enemies |
| Psalm 107:17 | Fools ! because of their rebellious ways, and because of their iniquities, they were afflicted. | Suffering due to sin |
| Isaiah 25:8 | He will swallow up death forever; the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces… | ultimate victory and comfort |
| Isaiah 60:1-3 | Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. | future glory and restoration |
| Isaiah 61:1-3 | The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me… to comfort all who mourn… | Messiah's coming and healing |
| Isaiah 42:14 | For a long time I have held My peace, I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will cry out like a woman in travail, I will gasp and pant! | God's righteous anger |
| Ezekiel 37:11-12 | Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel…” | Resurrection prophecy |
| John 5:28-29 | Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice… | Resurrection |
| Acts 24:15 | “having a hope in God which these men themselves also wait for, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.” | Future resurrection |
| 1 Corinthians 15:52 | in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible… | Resurrection at Christ's return |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:16 | For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout… and the dead in Christ will rise first. | Christ's return and resurrection |
Isaiah 26 verses
Isaiah 26 17 Meaning
This verse describes a future time of intense suffering for the people of Israel, preceding a powerful resurrection and restoration. It speaks of a painful period, like the pangs of childbirth, which ultimately leads to a new and glorious life for the nation.
Isaiah 26 17 Context
Chapter 26 of Isaiah speaks of God's faithfulness and the eventual triumph of His people. It shifts from themes of judgment and protection for Zion to a declaration of future deliverance. Verse 17 stands as a vivid depiction of the intense suffering Israel will endure before experiencing this ultimate redemption. Historically, this can be seen as pointing to the exilic periods, or more profoundly, to the eschatological suffering the people of God will face before the final restoration under Messiah. The imagery of "birth pangs" is frequently used in scripture to describe periods of intense travail leading to a new beginning or the birth of something new.
Isaiah 26 17 Word Analysis
- Like (כְּ־ kə) - A preposition indicating similarity or resemblance.
- a - Indefinite article.
- woman (אִשָּׁה ish’ah) - Feminine noun.
- in (בְּ־ bə) - Preposition.
- travail (חִיל ḥîl) - Primarily refers to the process of conception or pregnancy, but also carries the sense of "pain," "pain of childbirth," or "pangs."
- we (אָנוּ ’anû) - First person plural pronoun.
- in (בְּ־ bə) - Preposition.
- Your (לְפָנֶיךָ ləp̄ānêḵā) - Second person masculine singular possessive, meaning "before You" or "in Your sight/presence."
- sight (פָּנִים pānîm) - Literally "faces," but often used to refer to the "presence" or "sight" of God.
- O (יְהוָה YHWH) - Vocative particle followed by the name of God, "LORD."
- LORD
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis
As the pregnant woman in travail: This phrase (כְּאִשָּׁה בְּחִיל kə’ish’ah bəḥîl) evokes a strong, visceral image of the pain and struggle associated with childbirth. "Travail" here encapsulates the entire difficult process, not just the final act of delivery. It speaks of the intense internal suffering and straining experienced by a woman about to give birth.
so were we in Your sight, O LORD: This part connects the nation's suffering directly to their relationship with God. The "we" refers to the people of Israel. The phrase "in Your sight" (לְפָנֶיךָ ləp̄ānêḵā) emphasizes that God is an eyewitness to their pain. It’s not just a physical ailment but a spiritual and national agony perceived by God Himself. The cry to "O LORD" acknowledges God as the ultimate authority and the one to whom they turn in their suffering.
Isaiah 26 17 Bonus Section
The imagery of birth pangs is a recurring motif in Isaiah and other prophetic books, often symbolizing the painful but ultimately redemptive process leading to a new era of salvation for God's people. This verse contrasts with Isaiah 26:3, which speaks of a steadfast mind kept in peace because of trust in God. The travail described here signifies the opposite of that settled peace, representing a period where trust is tested through extreme distress. This intense suffering ultimately anticipates the complete overcoming of death and sorrow mentioned later in Isaiah 26 (verse 19 onwards) and New Testament passages concerning the resurrection and the new heavens and new earth. It speaks to a foundational principle: redemption often comes through deep affliction.
Isaiah 26 17 Commentary
This verse vividly portrays a future period of intense national suffering for Israel, akin to the excruciating pain a woman experiences during labor. This suffering is not merely a natural affliction but is presented as occurring "in the sight" of the Lord, implying He is fully aware and present during their anguish. It's a preparatory phase, a necessary prelude to a glorious rebirth and restoration, paralleling the pains that precede the delivery of new life. This metaphor highlights the agonizing yet ultimately fruitful nature of trials that lead to salvation and a renewed covenant. The imagery resonates throughout Scripture, signifying periods of intense trial before God's ultimate intervention and the inauguration of His kingdom.