Luke 21:23
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)
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The verse highlights a specific, agonizing kind of suffering – for those pregnant or nursing – revealing that the "great distress" isn't just a general catastrophe but one with deeply personal and devastating impacts on the most vulnerable. This detail magnifies the overwhelming nature of the wrath coming upon "this people," making the coming judgment feel intensely personal and profound.
Jesus has just described the imminent destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the disciples are asking when this will happen. He explains that this destruction will be part of a larger period of distress, including war and famine, leading up to the end times. This verse specifically highlights the immense suffering that will fall upon those most vulnerable during this catastrophic period, emphasizing the severity of God's judgment against his people for their rejection of him.
Jesus's words here are stark and specific, highlighting a particular group in intense suffering. What does this tell us about God's heart and the reality of judgment?
Jesus issues a profound 'woe' – a cry of intense sorrow and warning – specifically for pregnant women and nursing mothers during the coming devastation. This isn't just a general prediction of hardship; it's a compassionate acknowledgment of the unique agony and helplessness these individuals would face.
Unimaginable Suffering
The distress (described by the Greek word 'ananke') was not merely inconvenience, but extreme constraint, necessity, and anguish. For those carrying or caring for the youngest, this 'necessity' would be amplified beyond measure. Imagine the terror of trying to flee or survive with infants, unable to move quickly or protect the most helpless.
Divine Awareness
This specific mention reveals Jesus's deep empathy. He sees the suffering of the most defenseless. The 'great distress upon the earth' and 'wrath against this people' are inextricably linked to their vulnerability.
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Jesus doesn't just predict suffering; he names the source: 'wrath against this people.' Who is this 'people,' and what does this wrath signify?
The 'woe' pronounced is directly tied to 'great distress' and 'wrath upon this people.' This 'people' refers specifically to the Jewish nation in Jerusalem, who had rejected God's Son and His message of salvation.
The Weight of Rejection
This wrath is not arbitrary; it's a consequence of their persistent rebellion and rejection of God's final offer of mercy through Jesus. It's a fulfillment of God's judgment against those who refuse His grace, as seen throughout Israel's history.
Historical Fulfillment and Divine Justice
Commentators note the immense historical catastrophe that befell Jerusalem in 70 AD, with over a million perishing and many more taken captive. This devastating event serves as a stark example of divine justice when a people collectively turns its back on God. The wrath described is a righteous, albeit terrifying, response to their spiritual and national defiance.
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.
Jesus' words in Luke 21:23 weren't just a distant prophecy; they were a dire warning about the horrific reality faced by the people of Judea during the First Jewish-Roman War, particularly the devastating siege and destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Jesus Predicts Jerusalem's Destruction
Jesus, while teaching in the Temple, predicts its complete destruction, a prophecy that deeply resonated with his followers.
c. AD 66
Jewish Revolt Begins
The First Jewish-Roman War erupts as Jews rebel against Roman rule, sparking a brutal conflict that leads to immense suffering.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Roman legions under Titus conquer Jerusalem, burning the Temple and devastating the city, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy.
Post AD 70
Mass Captivity and Dispersion
Hundreds of thousands of Jews are killed or taken captive, scattered throughout the Roman Empire, fulfilling the prophecy of wrath upon the people.
This verse speaks of God bringing a punitive judgment upon Babylon, mirroring the 'wrath against this people' mentioned in Luke, highlighting divine retribution for sin.
Matthew 24:19Jesus repeats the specific lament for pregnant and nursing women during the tribulation in Jerusalem, emphasizing the unique and intense suffering of the vulnerable during that calamitous time.
Deuteronomy 28:53This passage from Deuteronomy outlines curses for disobedience, including the gruesome prospect of eating one's own children due to famine, which resonates with the extreme 'great distress' Luke describes.
Isaiah 10:6Isaiah describes God using Assyria as an instrument of His wrath against a sinful people, a concept that parallels the 'great distress' and 'wrath' that Jesus foretells for Jerusalem.
Revelation 11:2This New Testament passage speaks of the holy city being 'trodden under foot by the Gentiles,' a future judgment that aligns with the historical fulfillment of the desolation of Jerusalem described in Luke.
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 verse highlights a specific, agonizing kind of suffering – for those pregnant or nursing – revealing that the "great distress" isn't just a general catastrophe but one with deeply personal and devastating impacts on the most vulnerable. This detail magnifies the overwhelming nature of the wrath coming upon "this people," making the coming judgment feel intensely personal and profound.
Jesus has just described the imminent destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the disciples are asking when this will happen. He explains that this destruction will be part of a larger period of distress, including war and famine, leading up to the end times. This verse specifically highlights the immense suffering that will fall upon those most vulnerable during this catastrophic period, emphasizing the severity of God's judgment against his people for their rejection of him.
Jesus has just described the imminent destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the disciples are asking when this will happen. He explains that this destruction will be part of a larger period of distress, including war and famine, leading up to the end times. This verse specifically highlights the immense suffering that will fall upon those most vulnerable during this catastrophic period, emphasizing the severity of God's judgment against his people for their rejection of him.
"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 verse highlights a specific, agonizing kind of suffering – for those pregnant or nursing – revealing that the "great distress" isn't just a general catastrophe but one with deeply personal and de…
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