Jeremiah 4 31

Jeremiah 4:31 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 4:31 nkjv

"For I have heard a voice as of a woman in labor, The anguish as of her who brings forth her first child, The voice of the daughter of Zion bewailing herself; She spreads her hands, saying, 'Woe is me now, for my soul is weary Because of murderers!'

Jeremiah 4:31 niv

I hear a cry as of a woman in labor, a groan as of one bearing her first child? the cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands and saying, "Alas! I am fainting; my life is given over to murderers."

Jeremiah 4:31 esv

For I heard a cry as of a woman in labor, anguish as of one giving birth to her first child, the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands, "Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers."

Jeremiah 4:31 nlt

I hear a cry, like that of a woman in labor,
the groans of a woman giving birth to her first child.
It is beautiful Jerusalem
gasping for breath and crying out,
"Help! I'm being murdered!"

Jeremiah 4 verses

Jeremiah 4 31 Meaning

Jeremiah 4:31 describes the prophetic vision of Jerusalem, personified as the "Daughter of Zion," experiencing excruciating distress akin to a woman undergoing the agony of her very first childbirth. This anguish is expressed through profound wailing and desperate gestures, stemming from her utter exhaustion and dread caused by the merciless invading enemy, referred to as "murderers." The verse vividly portrays the shock, pain, and ultimate despair facing the people of Judah as divine judgment, executed through foreign armies, looms imminent and inescapable.

Jeremiah 4 31 Context

Jeremiah chapter 4 describes the terrifying and irreversible advance of an unnamed enemy from the north, commonly understood to be the Babylonians. The prophet Jeremiah earnestly calls for Judah and Jerusalem to repent, but warns that God's judgment is set in motion. He paints vivid, harrowing pictures of the impending invasion: the land laid waste, cities abandoned, and the people scattered and suffering. Verse 31 culminates these images of impending disaster by focusing on the ultimate human cost of this judgment – the despair and agony of the city itself, personified as a woman in overwhelming pain. It immediately follows Jeremiah's own expressions of anguish (Jer 4:19-22) and precedes the description of a ravaged land (Jer 4:23-28), effectively setting the tone of ultimate and unavoidable doom due to Judah's unfaithfulness.

Jeremiah 4 31 Word analysis

• For (כִּי־ kî-): This conjunction often introduces an explanation or a reason. Here, it signifies the direct observation by the prophet of the scene he is about to describe, grounding the imagery in a prophetic experience.
• I heard (שָׁמַעְתִּי shām‘a‘tî): First-person singular perfect form, indicating Jeremiah himself as the one hearing the voice. This emphasizes the prophetic authority and the profound personal impact of this divine revelation on Jeremiah.
• a voice (קוֹל qōl): Refers to a sound or cry. It's an auditory manifestation of suffering, immediately setting a tone of lament. Its repetition later emphasizes the piercing nature of the sound.
• as of a woman in travail (כַּחֹלָה kaḥōlāh): Lit. "like a sick/pained woman." The prefix ka- (כ) means "like" or "as." ḥōlāh (חֹלָה) denotes deep physical suffering, often specifically used for labor pains, signifying a condition of intense, inescapable pain that affects the whole body.
• the anguish (צָרָה ṣārāh): This noun means distress, tribulation, or anguish. It complements "voice" and "woman in travail," reinforcing the severe suffering.
• as of her that bringeth forth her first child (כַּמַּבְכִּירָה kam·mab·kî·rāh): ka- (כ) again for comparison. mabkîrāh (מַבְכִּירָה) from the root bākar (בכר), meaning "to be first-born" or "to bring forth the first." The anguish of a first delivery is particularly intense, terrifying, and overwhelming, an experience without precedent or preparation. It evokes a primal, incomparable pain.
• the voice of the daughter of Zion (קוֹל בַּת־צִיּוֹן qōl bat-ṣî·yōwn): Personification of Jerusalem or Judah. "Daughter of Zion" is a common poetic term, linking the city and its inhabitants to a feminine identity. This clarifies whose voice is heard – the collective suffering of the capital.
• that waileth herself (תִּתְיַפֵּחַ tiṯ·yap·pê·aḥ): An intensive Piel form of the verb yāpaḥ (יפח), "to sigh" or "to breathe out." The reflexive prefix tit- implies deep, uncontrollable sobbing or groaning.
• that spreadeth her hands (תְּפָרֵשׂ כַּפֶּיהָ tə·p̄ā·rêś kap·pey·hā): təp̄ārêś (תְּפָרֵשׂ) means "she spreads out." kappeyhā (כַּפֶּיהָ) means "her hands" (dual, literally "two hands"). This gesture signifies intense distress, desperation, supplication, helplessness, or an appeal to heaven for aid. It's a common posture of lament in the ancient Near East.
• Woe is me now! (אוֹי־נָא לִי ’ōy-nā’ lî): A cry of lament, an interjection of despair meaning "Alas for me!" or "Oh, woe is me!" The nā’ (נא) particle adds emphasis to the plea or lament.
• for (כִּי kî): Another explanatory conjunction, providing the reason for her despair.
• my soul (נַפְשִׁי nap̄šî): Denotes the inner being, the very essence of life, consciousness, or personhood. The suffering is not merely external but internal and profound.
• is wearied (עָיְפָה ‘ā·yə·p̄āh): Perfect form of ‘āyap̄ (עיף), meaning "to be faint," "tired," "exhausted," or "weary." It expresses profound spiritual and emotional depletion.
• because of murderers (לְהֹרְגִים lə·hō·rə·ḡîm): lə- (ל) indicates the cause or reason ("because of"). hōrəgîm (הֹרְגִים) is the plural participle of hārag (הרג), "to kill" or "to murder." This identifies the concrete, terrifying source of Zion's anguish – the ruthless, slaughtering invaders.

• "I heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child": This group of words sets up a powerful double simile. The prophet's sensory experience (hearing a voice) is immediately associated with the universally recognized, intense, and inescapable pain of childbirth, especially for a first-time mother, emphasizing the magnitude and uniqueness of the impending suffering.
• "the voice of the daughter of Zion, that waileth herself, that spreadeth her hands": Here, the collective suffering of Judah/Jerusalem is identified. The combination of uncontrolled wailing and the desperate gesture of spreading hands visually and audibly portrays a state of profound grief, helplessness, and an appeal for assistance or mercy that will not come.
• "Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers": This phrase reveals the internal despair and its direct cause. The "Woe is me" is the verbal articulation of utter defeat and dread, while the mention of "murderers" makes the external threat undeniably clear and brutal. The weariness of "my soul" shows a deep-seated spiritual and psychological collapse in the face of violent death.

Jeremiah 4 31 Bonus section

Jeremiah 4:31 is notable for how the prophet himself seems to internalize and vocalize the impending suffering of his people, even as he delivers God's judgment. While the "voice" is that of the Daughter of Zion, the phrase "I heard" implies that Jeremiah's prophetic utterance is intimately connected with, or even indistinguishable from, this lament. This mirrors God's own pathos, where His love for Israel battles with His righteous anger at their sin. The term "murderers" (הֹרְגִים) starkly contrasts with God's typical self-description as a deliverer and protector, underscoring the severity of a situation where even God's people become prey to ruthless killers, due to divine withdrawal and judgment. This verse is often cited by scholars as a powerful example of prophetic empathy, where the prophet becomes the suffering voice of his community.

Jeremiah 4 31 Commentary

Jeremiah 4:31 is a profoundly moving and tragic verse that encapsulates the horror and despair facing Judah. The imagery of "a woman in travail," specifically one "bringing forth her first child," is an almost unparalleled depiction of suffering. This isn't just pain; it's a terrifying, primal, and unexperienced agony. It speaks to a future unknown, overwhelming, and potentially fatal, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the judgment coming upon Jerusalem. The prophet hears and conveys the ultimate, guttural cry of the "daughter of Zion," personifying the city as suffering not just externally but in her deepest essence. Her spread hands are a desperate, universal sign of helpless supplication or utter defeat, reinforcing her final declaration of "Woe is me!" The reason for this complete breakdown is chillingly clear: the imminent arrival of "murderers," the merciless Babylonian army, bringing death and desolation. This verse is not just a description of suffering, but an urgent prophetic cry embodying the pain of God over His people's demise, and a vivid warning of the ultimate consequence of their persistent sin and rejection of Him. It signifies the end of illusion and the onset of unavoidable, brutal reality.