Isaiah 21:3

¹ The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.

² A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.

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.

⁴ My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.

⁵ Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.

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
And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
Read in context
Isaiah 26:17
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.
Read in context
Psalms 48:6
Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
Read in context
1 Thessalonians 5:3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Read in context
Jeremiah 48:41
Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men’s hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
Read in context
Isaiah 16:11
Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir-haresh.
Read in context
Micah 4:9–10
Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 28:67
In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
Read in context