For I heard a cry as of a woman in labor, anguish as of one giving birth to her first child, the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands, “Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just a cry of general distress; it's the agony of giving birth for the first time, emphasizing the shock and extreme pain of an unprecedented disaster. Zion's desperate gasping and outstretched hands aren't just for help, but a plea for mercy from those who will ultimately kill her, revealing a profound, helpless vulnerability.
For I heard a cry as of a woman in labor, anguish as of one giving birth to her first child, the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands, “Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Jeremiah has just described the impending destruction of Jerusalem, comparing the people's panicked flight to a deer or gazelle pursued by enemies. Now, he hears a visceral cry, personifying Jerusalem itself (the "daughter of Zion") as a woman in the agonizing throes of childbirth, gasping for breath and reaching out desperately for help she won't receive from those who are set to destroy her. This graphic imagery underscores the overwhelming pain and helplessness of the city facing its impending doom.
Why compare the destruction of a city to childbirth? This isn't just a metaphor for pain, but for the inevitable, forceful nature of God's judgment.
The prophet Jeremiah uses the intense, inescapable pain of a woman in labor to describe the coming judgment on Zion. This imagery is particularly striking because:
The 'daughter of Zion' isn't just crying out; she's gasping for breath and stretching out her hands. What does this posture reveal about her situation?
The verse vividly portrays the 'daughter of Zion' (representing the people of Jerusalem) in a state of utter helplessness and desperation. Her actions speak volumes:
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Understand the original words
qōl · Hebrew Noun
A vocal expression of distress, pain, or plea for help. In a biblical context, it often signifies a desperate appeal to God or a lamentation over impending destruction.
ṣîr · Hebrew Noun
The physical and emotional distress associated with childbirth. Biblically, it is frequently used as a metaphor for the intense suffering of a nation experiencing divine judgment or calamity.
ṣiyyôn · Hebrew Proper Noun
A personage representing the people of Jerusalem and God's covenant community. The term underscores the relational and vulnerable connection between the city and its covenant God.
'ôy · Hebrew Interjection
A lamentation or exclamation of extreme grief, sorrow, and impending doom. It often signifies the pronouncement of judgment or the recognition of irreversible tragedy.
reṣaḥ · Hebrew Noun
Those who kill unjustly or with malice. In the context of biblical judgment, they often represent the instruments of God's wrath or the enemies of His people.
Jeremiah's powerful imagery of a woman in agonizing labor, gasping for breath and crying out to murderers, vividly portrays the utter devastation and helplessness of Jerusalem during its final destruction by the Babylonians.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Sieges of Jerusalem
Jerusalem experienced several sieges by the Assyrian Empire, particularly during the reign of Hezekiah, which instilled a deep sense of vulnerability and the threat of destruction.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar's forces first besieged Jerusalem, leading to the deportation of many prominent citizens, including Daniel, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another major deportation occurred, including King Jehoiachin and many skilled workers, intensifying the sense of loss and despair for those left behind in Judah.
587/586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, a devastating event that represented the collapse of the nation and the loss of God's dwelling place.
c. 586 BC onwards
Exile in Babylon
The remaining population was largely exiled to Babylon, living in a foreign land without their king, temple, or homeland, fulfilling the prophecies of judgment.
This passage echoes the imagery of anguish and distress, describing how the people will be led away as if they were women in labor, highlighting the deep pain and helplessness associated with impending judgment.
Jeremiah 22:23Similar to Jeremiah 4:31, this verse portrays the daughter of Zion experiencing severe pain and distress, comparing her anguish to that of childbirth, emphasizing the overwhelming suffering that sin brings.
Micah 4:10This passage describes a similar scene of exile and suffering for the daughter of Zion, using the metaphor of a woman in labor to convey the intensity of her pain and the desperate need for deliverance.
Luke 21:23Jesus uses the same powerful imagery of a woman in labor to describe the great distress and anguish that will come upon those who do not heed His warnings, drawing a parallel between historical judgments and future calamities.
Isaiah 26:17This verse speaks of God's people being in pain and crying out as if in labor, but offers a promise of relief and restoration, contrasting the agony of distress with the hope of future deliverance.
pulpitJeremiah 4:31: "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."
Verse 31. - For I have heard a voice, etc. This explains the preceding statement, "They will seek thy life." It is this murderous plot which calls forth the "cry as of a woman in pangs." Bewaileth herself; rather, s…
cambridgeJeremiah 4:31: "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."
31 . Thy wiles shall have no effect; for already I hear thy cries of agony and dismay. daughter of Zion ] denoting the inhabitants as a whole. Cp. Jeremiah 6:2 , etc.
This isn't just a cry of general distress; it's the agony of giving birth for the first time, emphasizing the shock and extreme pain of an unprecedented disaster. Zion's desperate gasping and outstretched hands aren't just for help, but a plea for mercy from those who will ultimately kill her, revealing a profound, helpless vulnerability.
The prophet Jeremiah has just described the impending destruction of Jerusalem, comparing the people's panicked flight to a deer or gazelle pursued by enemies. Now, he hears a visceral cry, personifying Jerusalem itself (the "daughter of Zion") as a woman in the agonizing throes of childbirth, gasping for breath and reaching out desperately for help she won't receive from those who are set to destroy her. This graphic imagery underscores the overwhelming pain and helplessness of the city facing its impending doom.
The prophet Jeremiah has just described the impending destruction of Jerusalem, comparing the people's panicked flight to a deer or gazelle pursued by enemies. Now, he hears a visceral cry, personifying Jerusalem itself (the "daughter of Zion") as a woman in the agonizing throes of childbirth, gasping for breath and reaching out desperately for help she won't receive from those who are set to destroy her. This graphic imagery underscores the overwhelming pain and helplessness of the city facing its impending doom.
"For I heard a cry as of a woman in labor, anguish as of one giving birth to her first child, the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands, “Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers.”" — This isn't just a cry of general distress; it's the agony of giving birth for the first time, emphasizing the shock and extreme pain of an unprecedented disaster. Zion's desperate gasping and outst…
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Last reviewed October 2026