Jeremiah 6 24

Jeremiah 6:24 kjv

We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

Jeremiah 6:24 nkjv

We have heard the report of it; Our hands grow feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, Pain as of a woman in labor.

Jeremiah 6:24 niv

We have heard reports about them, and our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.

Jeremiah 6:24 esv

We have heard the report of it; our hands fall helpless; anguish has taken hold of us, pain as of a woman in labor.

Jeremiah 6:24 nlt

We have heard reports about the enemy,
and we wring our hands in fright.
Pangs of anguish have gripped us,
like those of a woman in labor.

Jeremiah 6 verses

Jeremiah 6 24 Meaning

Jeremiah 6:24 vividly describes the paralyzing terror and anguish that will grip the people of Judah upon hearing reports of the approaching destructive enemy. It paints a picture of utter helplessness, where even the strong are reduced to quivering weakness. The verse likens this sudden, overwhelming dread and pain to the intense, inescapable suffering experienced by a woman in the throes of labor, highlighting its intensity, suddenness, and all-consuming nature.

Jeremiah 6 24 Context

Jeremiah chapter 6 is a somber prophetic warning to Judah and Jerusalem about the impending judgment from God due to their unrepentant sinfulness, idolatry, and corruption. Jeremiah repeatedly announces that an enemy "from the north" (likely Babylon, though not explicitly named) is gathering to lay siege to Jerusalem. The prophet describes the enemy's strength, cruelty, and determined advance (vv. 22-23). The surrounding verses describe the people's spiritual deafness, the false security promoted by corrupt prophets, and the ultimate futility of their defenses. Verse 24, therefore, serves as a direct emotional and psychological consequence of this dreadful reality: the terrifying reports of the enemy's approach (vv. 22-23) evoke a widespread, paralyzing fear that shatters all hope and strength, leading to the collective experience of anguish and despair. It's a direct counter to the earlier dismissive attitudes of the people.

Jeremiah 6 24 Word analysis

• We have heard (שָׁמַעְנוּ, shamá'nu): From the root shama', meaning "to hear, listen, obey." Here, it signifies the reception of an overwhelming and impactful report, implying that the news has pierced through their previous apathy or denial. This "hearing" is not just information gathering, but the active internalization of a terrifying reality, marking a shift from dismissiveness to dread.
• the report of it (אֶת־שִׂמְעוֹ, et-shim'o): Shema' refers to a message, a rumor, or what is heard. The suffix '-o' refers to 'it', which in context is the approaching enemy from the north mentioned in earlier verses (Jer. 6:22). This report is potent, conveying the imminent and formidable threat that shatters their complacency.
• our hands (יָדֵינוּ, yadênu): "Hands" symbolize strength, power, ability, and the capacity for action or defense. "Our hands" signifies the collective strength and resolve of the people.
• fall helpless / are weak (שָׁבַת, shábat): From the root shavat, typically meaning "to cease, rest," as in the Sabbath. However, in this context, it signifies a cessation of strength and function, implying paralysis, utter powerlessness, and the complete collapse of will and ability to act or defend themselves. Their capacity to fight, work, or even flee is gone.
• anguish (צָרָה, tzaráh): Derived from the root tsarar, meaning "to bind, be narrow, restricted." It describes a deep, constricting inner terror, distress, and oppression, often used to refer to adversity or tribulation caused by enemies. It is a profound feeling of being trapped and overwhelmed.
• has seized us / has gripped us (הֶחֱזִיקַתְנוּ, hechezîqátnu): From the root chazaq, "to be strong, take hold of, seize, grasp." This is an active and powerful verb. The anguish is not passive; it aggressively and overwhelmingly takes possession of them, suggesting an experience from which there is no escape.
• pain (חִיל, chîl): From the root chul or chil, "to writhe, travail, tremble, be in pain." This specifically refers to the intense, spasmodic, and deeply agonizing physical pain, particularly associated with childbirth.
• like that of a woman in labor (כַּיֹּלֵדָה, kayyôlêdâ): The prefix ka- means "like" or "as." Yoledah is "a woman giving birth, in labor." This is a profound and common biblical metaphor (Old and New Testaments) for suffering that is:
  • Intense: Unbearable and all-consuming.
  • Inevitable: Once begun, it cannot be stopped or delayed; it must run its course.
  • Sudden/Unexpected: The onset can be abrupt and without full warning, leaving one unprepared.
  • All-Encompassing: It overwhelms the entire being, incapacitating all other functions and thoughts.
  • It also vividly highlights vulnerability, contrasting with the often-presumed strength or resilience of the people.

Jeremiah 6 24 Bonus section

• The collective "We" (שָׁמַעְנוּ, יָדֵינוּ, הֶחֱזִיקַתְנוּ) indicates that this experience of terror and helplessness is not individual but communal, reflecting a society-wide psychological collapse in the face of judgment. This collective paralysis renders the nation utterly unable to stand against the enemy God is bringing.
• The progression from "hearing a report" to "helpless hands" and then to overwhelming "anguish" and "pain like labor" illustrates the stages of emotional shock and incapacitation. The "report" acts as the catalyst for a full-body, mind-numbing reaction.
• The metaphor of birth pangs (חִיל כַּיֹּלֵדָה) in prophetic literature frequently serves not only to describe intense pain but also the suddenness of divine judgment. Just as labor begins abruptly, so too will the destruction come, catching the unprepared off guard (cf. 1 Thes 5:3). While agonizing, labor does lead to birth; however, in these judgment passages, the metaphor often focuses solely on the inescapable suffering rather than a future positive outcome, at least for the immediate generation.
• Jeremiah 6:24 directly contrasts the false peace promised by false prophets (Jer 6:14) with the genuine terror that would soon engulf the people. Their "listening" here (שָׁמַעְנוּ) is to the horrific news, not to the word of God they rejected earlier.
• This verse contributes to a wider biblical theme where human strength and pride are ultimately revealed as nothing before the sovereign will and judgment of God. The physical inability to fight or flee becomes a stark sign of divine power acting through the invading army.

Jeremiah 6 24 Commentary

Jeremiah 6:24 captures the essence of national catastrophe through deeply personal and visceral language. The verse portrays Judah's shift from arrogant confidence to abject terror. "We have heard the report" signifies the moment truth pierces through denial. The description of "hands fall helpless" graphically illustrates a total collapse of human agency and the ability to mount any resistance, embodying despair and powerlessness. This isn't merely a tactical failure but a spiritual and psychological one. The use of "anguish has seized us" portrays a violent, inescapable grip of terror, emphasizing the severity and invasiveness of the distress. Finally, the metaphor of "pain like that of a woman in labor" is among the most potent in biblical literature for portraying unavoidable, excruciating, and suddenly overwhelming suffering. It underscores the utter vulnerability of even a nation in its pain, linking the impending divine judgment to a natural process that, once initiated, must be endured to its conclusion, full of dread, until the bitter end. The intensity suggested here implies a suffering that is both physical and mental, disorienting and utterly consuming. This verse functions as a powerful warning of the real-world, deeply personal consequences of ignoring God's word and persisting in sin.