Jeremiah 4:31

Zion

²⁹ Every city flees at the sound of the horseman and archer. They enter the thickets and climb among the rocks. Every city is abandoned; no inhabitant is left.

³⁰ And you, O devastated one, what will you do, though you dress yourself in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, though you enlarge your eyes with paint? You adorn yourself in vain; your lovers despise you; they want to take your life.

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!”

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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!”
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.
WEB: For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her who gives birth to her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, who gasps for breath, who spreads her hands, saying, “Woe is me now! For my soul faints before the murderers.”
ASV: 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.
DARBY: For I hear a voice, as of a woman in travail, anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion: she moaneth, she spreadeth forth her hands, [saying], Woe unto me! for my soul faileth because of murderers.
BLB: For I have heard a voice like a woman in labor, distress like one bearing her first child—the voice of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath; she spreads out her hands: “Woe now to me! For my soul has grown faint before those killing.”

ÅB: For jeg hører et rop som av en kvinne i barnsnød, et angstskrik som av en kvinne når hun føder sitt første barn; det er Sions datter som roper; hun stønner, hun strekker ut sine hender og sier: Ve meg! Maktløs synker min sjel i morderes vold.
[^1]: fienden. JES 5, 28. HAB 1, 8.
OTB: Jeg hører et rop som av en kvinne i fødsel, et stønn som av en som bærer sitt første barn—ropet fra datter Sion som gisper etter pust, strekker ut hendene og sier: «Akk! Jeg svinner hen; mitt liv er gitt over til mordere.»
B1930: For jeg hører et rop som av en kvinne i barnsnød, et angstskrik som av en kvinne når hun føder sitt første barn; det er Sions datter som roper; hun stønner, hun strekker ut sine hender og sier: Ve mig! Maktløs synker min sjel i morderes vold.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 1:15
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
Read in context
Lamentations 1:17
Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The LORD has decreed against Jacob that his neighbors become his foes. Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.
Read in context
Jeremiah 13:21
What will you say when He sets over you close allies whom you yourself trained? Will not pangs of anguish grip you, as they do a woman in labor?
Read in context
Jeremiah 18:21
Therefore, hand their children over to famine; pour out the power of the sword upon them. Let their wives become childless and widowed; let their husbands be slain by disease, their young men struck down by the sword in battle.
Read in context
Lamentations 2:21
Both young and old lie together in the dust of the streets. My young men and maidens have fallen by the sword. You have slain them in the day of Your anger; You have slaughtered them without compassion.
Read in context
Jeremiah 22:23
O inhabitant of Lebanon, nestled in the cedars, how you will groan when pangs of anguish come upon you, agony like a woman in labor.”
Read in context
Jeremiah 10:19
Woe to me because of my brokenness; my wound is grievous! But I said, “This is truly my sickness, and I must bear it.”
Read in context
Job 10:1
“I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul.
Read in context