Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The "great distress" here isn't just general hardship, but a specific, crushing "necessity" or "constraint" that would make life unbearable, especially for those most vulnerable. This highlights how the immense suffering and divine wrath are not abstract concepts but deeply personal and physically debilitating realities for those caught in the midst of it.
Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just told his disciples about the destruction of the Temple, and now he describes the intense suffering that will accompany it. This particular prophecy highlights the unimaginable hardship for those most vulnerable, emphasizing the "great distress" and divine wrath coming upon the Jewish people because of their rejection of him. The context shows that this judgment is so severe it implies the potential annihilation of the nation, but God's mercy will spare a remnant.
Jesus doesn't shy away from the gut-wrenching realities of war. He points to a specific group that will suffer uniquely and intensely.
Jesus'
Jesus links immediate suffering with a deeper theological reality: God's judgment is at work.
The 'great distress' (which can also mean 'necessity' or 'constraint') Jesus describes isn't just bad luck. It's the consequence of 'wrath against this people'.
This points to the powerful concept of divine judgment. It's not arbitrary suffering, but a response to sin and rebellion. The people of Jerusalem and Judea had repeatedly rejected God's messengers and His Son, and this judgment, while terrible, was a consequence.
This wrath isn't God's passionate anger in a human sense, but His righteous opposition to sin. It's a holy and necessary response to evil, ensuring that sin has consequences.
While Jesus describes severe judgment, the context of Luke's Gospel points beyond immediate destruction.
The prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction wasn't just a historical event; it served as a powerful sign, foreshadowing future realities.
Luke, writing in a time after Jerusalem's fall, frames these words within a broader narrative of God's dealings with humanity. The 'times of the Gentiles' (mentioned later in Luke 21) speaks of a period where nations would exert influence, but it ultimately points to a fulfillment when God's people would be vindicated and His kingdom fully established.
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This means that even in the face of terrible judgment, God's ultimate plan involves redemption and restoration, not just destruction. The severe judgment on Jerusalem was a pivotal moment, but not the final word.
Understand the original words
anankē · Greek Noun
A state of extreme anguish, trouble, or pressure, often used in biblical prophecy to describe the intense suffering during periods of divine judgment or the final tribulation.
This prophecy vividly captures the brutal reality of the Roman siege of Jerusalem in AD 70. The specific mention of woe for pregnant women and nursing mothers highlights the extreme and indiscriminate nature of the suffering, emphasizing the immense distress and divine wrath faced by the Jewish people during this catastrophic event.
c. 4 BC - AD 30/33
Jesus' Ministry and Teachings
Jesus teaches and predicts the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, including warnings of distress and persecution for his followers. His teachings form the basis for this prophecy.
AD 66
Outbreak of the First Jewish Revolt
Revolt begins against Roman rule in Judea, escalating tensions and leading to Roman military campaigns.
AD 70— this verse
Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman army, led by Titus, besieges Jerusalem. The city is eventually captured, the Temple is destroyed, and immense suffering and loss of life occur.
c. AD 70
Massive Jewish Casualties and Captivity
Historical accounts report over a million Jewish deaths due to famine, disease, and violence during the siege, with tens of thousands taken captive.
After AD 70
The Temple's Holy Place Desecrated
Following the destruction of the Temple, Jerusalem and Judea are subjugated by the Roman Empire, fulfilling prophecies of the city being 'trodden under foot'.
This passage from Deuteronomy describes the horrific consequences of disobedience, including famine and the desperation of mothers, which directly parallels the 'woe' Jesus pronounces on those pregnant or nursing during the coming distress.
Jeremiah 6:22-24Jeremiah describes an invading force coming from the north and the terror it brings, including the anguish of mothers. This echoes Luke 21:23's warning of invasion and the specific suffering it will inflict.
Matthew 24:19Jesus repeats the exact phrase 'Alas for women who are pregnant...' in His discourse on the Mount of Olives, highlighting the shared prophetic warning about the unparalleled distress to come.
Revelation 6:16-17This vision of the great day of God's wrath describes people hiding in fear from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, painting a picture of the divine judgment that underpins the 'great distress' Jesus foretells.
pooleLuke 21:23: "But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people."
Ver. 23,24. Josephus tells us, that in the wars which ended in the taking of Jerusalem, by the famine and the sword there perished one million one hundred thousand Jews, and ninety seven thousand were carried into captivity. Jerusalem ever since that time hath been trodden down by the Gentiles, the Romans, Saracens, Franks, an…
vincentLuke 21:23: "But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people."
Distress (ἀνάγκη)Originally constraint, necessity; thence force or violence, and in the classical poets, distress, anguish.
The "great distress" here isn't just general hardship, but a specific, crushing "necessity" or "constraint" that would make life unbearable, especially for those most vulnerable. This highlights how the immense suffering and divine wrath are not abstract concepts but deeply personal and physically debilitating realities for those caught in the midst of it.
Jesus has just told his disciples about the destruction of the Temple, and now he describes the intense suffering that will accompany it. This particular prophecy highlights the unimaginable hardship for those most vulnerable, emphasizing the "great distress" and divine wrath coming upon the Jewish people because of their rejection of him. The context shows that this judgment is so severe it implies the potential annihilation of the nation, but God's mercy will spare a remnant.
Jesus has just told his disciples about the destruction of the Temple, and now he describes the intense suffering that will accompany it. This particular prophecy highlights the unimaginable hardship for those most vulnerable, emphasizing the "great distress" and divine wrath coming upon the Jewish people because of their rejection of him. The context shows that this judgment is so severe it implies the potential annihilation of the nation, but God's mercy will spare a remnant.
"Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people." — The "great distress" here isn't just general hardship, but a specific, crushing "necessity" or "constraint" that would make life unbearable, especially for those most vulnerable. This highlights how…
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Last reviewed October 2026