Jeremiah 49:24
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The verse paints a stark picture of Damascus, once a "city of praise," utterly undone. It’s not just that fear has seized them; the original phrasing suggests they’ve seized on fear itself, embracing terror instead of courageously taking up their arms. This intense imagery highlights their helplessness, trapped in debilitating anguish like a woman in the throes of childbirth, unable to defend themselves.
Damascus has become feeble, she turned to flee, and panic seized her; anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her, as of a woman in labor.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This prophecy is part of a series of judgments against surrounding nations, detailing their impending downfall. Following pronouncements against Babylon and other regions, Jeremiah turns to Damascus, the capital of Syria, describing its complete collapse and the utter panic that overwhelms its people. This vivid imagery of a woman in labor highlights the sudden, agonizing, and inescapable nature of the destruction that God has ordained for the city.
Damascus was once a powerful, even celebrated, city. What happened to its strength, and how did fear take hold?
This verse paints a vivid picture of a once-mighty city brought to its knees. Jeremiah describes Damascus as 'feeble' and turning to flee. This wasn't just a tactical retreat; it was a loss of their 'old courage and valour.' The text emphasizes that 'fear hath seized her' – it wasn't a choice they made, but an overwhelming force that gripped them. This sudden collapse highlights how quickly perceived strength can vanish when true crisis hits.
The verse compares the city's distress to a woman in labor. What does this powerful imagery tell us about their suffering?
The description of 'anguish and sorrows' taking hold of Damascus 'as of a woman in labor' is incredibly potent. This isn't just pain; it's the sharp, unavoidable, and often prolonged suffering associated with childbirth. In Scripture, this imagery often signifies a destruction that is both inevitable and intensely painful, leaving the sufferers helpless and unable to escape. It speaks to a deep, internal breaking, a loss of control that mirrors the physical experience of labor.
Understand the original words
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re'adah · Hebrew Noun
An internal state of sudden, intense terror or confusion that results in a loss of composure and the inability to act effectively.
chebel · Hebrew Noun
A state of profound distress, pain, or affliction, often used in prophetic contexts to describe the consequences of defying God’s sovereignty.
Damascus, once a mighty capital and frequent adversary or ally in the complex politics of the ancient Near East, is depicted here in a state of utter collapse. Jeremiah's prophecy likely reflects the terror and devastation experienced during the Assyrian or Babylonian conquests, when Damascus, like many other cities, faced overwhelming military defeat and the subsequent breakdown of societal order.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Conquest of Damascus
The powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire, under Tiglath-Pileser III, conquered Damascus and dissolved the Aramean kingdom of Syria, a major regional power and a long-standing rival to Judah. This event marked a significant shift in geopolitical power in the ancient Near East.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Under King Sennacherib, Assyria besieged Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. Although Jerusalem was not captured, the campaign devastated surrounding areas and demonstrated Assyria's military might.
605 BC
Battle of Carchemish
The Neo-Babylonian Empire, led by Nebuchadnezzar II, decisively defeated the Egyptian and remnants of Assyrian forces. This victory established Babylonian supremacy in the region, setting the stage for their future campaigns against Judah.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar II conquered Jerusalem, destroying the Temple and exiling a large portion of the Judean population to Babylon. This catastrophic event marked the end of the Davidic monarchy and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This shift in power allowed for the eventual return of Jewish exiles to Jerusalem.
c. 500 BC - 400 BC
Persian Rule and Relative Stability
Damascus was under Persian rule during this period. While facing regional conflicts and the rise of Greek influence, it maintained a degree of prosperity and importance within the vast Persian Empire.
c. 332 BC
Alexander the Great conquers Damascus
Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire, including Damascus. This ushered in the Hellenistic period, profoundly influencing the region's culture and politics for centuries.
This passage also uses the imagery of a woman in labor to describe the intense anguish and dread that has overcome God's people, mirroring Damascus's sudden and overwhelming distress.
Isaiah 13:8Here, the prophet describes the terrifying pangs of childbirth as a metaphor for the extreme suffering and fear that will accompany the judgment of Babylon, reflecting the intense anguish described for Damascus.
Psalm 48:6This psalm speaks of great terror seizing people, comparing their experience to the pangs of a woman in labor, reinforcing the powerful biblical metaphor used to describe Damascus's profound fear and helplessness.
Micah 4:9Micah uses the same imagery of a woman in labor to convey the intense anguish and the desperate situation faced by the people of Zion when under attack, highlighting the common biblical language for overwhelming distress.
barnesJeremiah 49:24: "Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail."
And turneth - Omit and. The original is a rapid sequence of unconnected sentences. "Damascus is unnerved; she turned to flee, and a trembling seized her; anguish and writhings took hold of her etc."
pooleJeremiah 49:24: "Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail."
Syria, whose head is Damascus, hath lost her old courage and valour; it was wont to be a formidable country to its neighbours, but now they flee before their enemies. Fear hath seized on her; they are seized, and overpowered by their own fears. Anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail; great sorrows are ordinarily in Sc…
The verse paints a stark picture of Damascus, once a "city of praise," utterly undone. It’s not just that fear has seized them; the original phrasing suggests they’ve seized on fear itself, embracing terror instead of courageously taking up their arms. This intense imagery highlights their helplessness, trapped in debilitating anguish like a woman in the throes of childbirth, unable to defend themselves.
This prophecy is part of a series of judgments against surrounding nations, detailing their impending downfall. Following pronouncements against Babylon and other regions, Jeremiah turns to Damascus, the capital of Syria, describing its complete collapse and the utter panic that overwhelms its people. This vivid imagery of a woman in labor highlights the sudden, agonizing, and inescapable nature of the destruction that God has ordained for the city.
This prophecy is part of a series of judgments against surrounding nations, detailing their impending downfall. Following pronouncements against Babylon and other regions, Jeremiah turns to Damascus, the capital of Syria, describing its complete collapse and the utter panic that overwhelms its people. This vivid imagery of a woman in labor highlights the sudden, agonizing, and inescapable nature of the destruction that God has ordained for the city.
"Damascus has become feeble, she turned to flee, and panic seized her; anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her, as of a woman in labor." — The verse paints a stark picture of Damascus, once a "city of praise," utterly undone. It’s not just that fear has seized them; the original phrasing suggests they’ve seized on fear itself, embraci…
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Last reviewed October 2026
