Isaiah 21:3

¹ This is the burden against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.

² A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.”

Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see.

⁴ My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight of my desire has turned to horror.

⁵ They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields!

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: Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see.
KJV: 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.
WEB: Therefore my thighs are filled with anguish. Pains have seized me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am in so much pain that I can’t hear. I am so dismayed that I can’t see.
ASV: Therefore are my loins filled with anguish; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.
DARBY: Therefore are my loins filled with pain; anguish hath taken hold upon me, as the anguish of a woman in travail: I am bowed down so as not to hear, I am dismayed so as not to see.
BLB: Upon thus my loins are filled [with] pain; pangs have taken hold of me like the pangs of one giving birth. I am writhing from hearing; I am disturbed from seeing.

ÅB: Derfor er mine lender fulle av smerte, veer har grepet meg, som den fødendes veer; jeg vrir meg så jeg ikke kan høre; jeg er forferdet så jeg ikke kan se.
OTB: Derfor er mine lender fylt med angst; smerter griper meg som en kvinne i fødsel. Jeg er forvirret av det jeg hører, jeg er skremt av det jeg ser.
B1930: Derfor er mine lender fulle av smerte, veer har grepet mig, som den fødendes veer; jeg vrir mig så jeg ikke kan høre; jeg er forferdet så jeg ikke kan se.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 13:8
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.
Read in context
Isaiah 26:17
As a woman with child about to give birth writhes and cries out in pain, so were we in Your presence, O LORD.
Read in context
Psalms 48:6
Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.
Read in context
1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
Read in context
Jeremiah 48:41
Kirioth has been taken, and the strongholds seized. In that day the heart of Moab’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
Read in context
Isaiah 16:11
Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir-heres.
Read in context
Micah 4:9–10
Why do you now cry aloud? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?
Read in context
Deuteronomy 28:67
In the morning you will say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and in the evening you will say, ‘If only it were morning!’—because of the dread in your hearts of the terrifying sights you will see.
Read in context