John 16:21
19 Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’?
20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.
22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
23 In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.
- KJV
- A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
- WEB
- A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world.
- ASV
- A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world.
- DARBY
- A woman, when she gives birth to a child, has grief because her hour has come; but when the child is born, she no longer remembers the trouble, on account of the joy that a man has been born into the world.
- BLB
- The woman has pain when she is giving birth, because her hour has come; but when she brings forth the child, she remembers the tribulation no longer, because of the joy that a man has been born into the world.
- ÅB
- Når kvinnen føder, har hun sorg, fordi hennes tid er kommet; men når hun har født sitt barn, kommer hun ikke lenger sin trengsel i hu, av glede over at et menneske er født til verden.
- OTB
- En kvinne som skal føde, har smerte fordi hennes tid er kommet; men når barnet er født, glemmer hun smerten på grunn av gleden over at et menneske er født til verden.
- B1930
- Når kvinnen føder, har hun sorg, fordi hennes tid er kommet; men når hun har født sitt barn, kommer hun ikke lenger sin trengsel i hu, av glede over at et menneske er født til verden.
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 contextPsalms 113:9
He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
Read in context1 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 contextJeremiah 30:6–7
Ask now, and see: Can a male give birth? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor and every face turned pale?
Read in contextIsaiah 26:16–18
O LORD, they sought You in their distress; when You disciplined them, they poured out a quiet prayer.
Read in contextHosea 13:13–14
Labor pains come upon him, but he is an unwise son. When the time arrives, he fails to present himself at the opening of the womb.
Read in contextRevelation 12:2–5
She was pregnant and crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth.
Read in contextMicah 4:10
Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!
Read in context