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Isaiah 66:8

Zion
New life and rebirth

6 Hear the uproar from the city; listen to the voice from the temple! It is the voice of the LORD, repaying His enemies what they deserve!

7 “Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before she was in pain, she delivered a boy.

Who has heard of such as this? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.

9 Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the LORD. “Or will I who deliver close the womb?” says your God.

10 Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her,

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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
Who has heard of such as this? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.
KJV
Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
WEB
Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she gave birth to her children.
ASV
Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? shall a nation be brought forth at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
DARBY
Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Can a land be made to bring forth in one day? shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her sons.
BLB
Who has heard such as this? Who has seen these [things]? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be born in one moment? For she begain writhing—as soon as Zion gave birth to her sons.
ÅB
Hvem har hørt slikt? Hvem har sett slike ting? Kommer et land til verden på en dag, eller fødes et folk på en gang? For Sion har vært i barnsnød og med det samme født sine sønner.
OTB
Hvem har noen gang hørt om slike ting? Hvem har noen gang sett slike ting? Kan et land bli født på en dag eller en nasjon bli frembrakt på et øyeblikk? Likevel, så snart Sion var i fødsel, fødte hun sine barn.
B1930
Hvem har hørt slikt? Hvem har sett sådanne ting? Kommer et land til verden på en dag, eller fødes et folk på en gang? For Sion har vært i barnsnød og med det samme født sine sønner.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 64:4

    From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

    Read in context

  • 1 Corinthians 2:9

    Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 49:20–22

    Yet the children of your bereavement will say in your hearing, ‘This place is too small for us; make room for us to live here.’

    Read in context

  • Romans 15:18–21

    I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,

    Read in context