For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "beginning of the birth pains" is a powerful metaphor, not just for escalating troubles, but for the intense, rhythmic, and ultimately life-giving process that leads to a new reality, just as birth pangs lead to a new life. This wasn't just a prediction of doom, but a sign that something new was on the horizon, even amidst the chaos.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is responding to his disciples' questions about when the temple will be destroyed and what signs will precede his coming and the end of the age. He has just warned them about deception and wars, clarifying that these tumultuous events are not the immediate end, but rather the initial stages of a more profound period of suffering.
Jesus paints a picture of global unrest – wars, earthquakes, famines. But are these just random disasters, or something more profound?
Jesus describes these events not as isolated incidents, but as the 'beginning of birth pains.' This powerful metaphor suggests a world groaning under the weight of sin, moving towards a dramatic, divinely orchestrated event.
A World in Labor
Just as birth pangs signal the imminent arrival of new life, these calamities signal major shifts in God's redemptive plan. They are signs of the old order groaning and giving way to the new.
Beyond Human Control
These aren't just political squabbles or natural disasters; they are 'troubles' that shake both the 'great world' (nations) and the 'lesser world' (individual lives). They point to a deeper cosmic tension.
Amidst such turmoil, Jesus doesn't leave his followers in despair. What's the antidote to the fear these 'birth pains' might inspire?
Jesus gives a crucial warning alongside his description of these events: 'Take heed that no one deceive you.' He knows that in times of chaos, people will look for easy answers or false saviors.
The Danger of Deception
Many would arise claiming to be 'Christ,' offering false hope and leading people astray. The disciples, and we today, must be discerning and grounded in truth.
Steadfastness Amidst Upheaval
Ask a follow-up
He also warns against being 'troubled' by wars and rumors of wars. These signs are necessary, but they are not the immediate end. The focus is on endurance and faithfulness through the trials, not on predicting exact timelines.
Understand the original words
ethnos · Greek Noun
Refers to ethnic groups or people groups (Greek: ethnos). In the Bible, it often denotes those outside the covenant community, and the gospel mandate is to bring the message of salvation to every one of these groups.
ōdin · Greek Noun
A metaphor used in biblical prophecy to describe signs of the approaching end of the age. Just as birth pains increase in frequency and intensity before the birth of a child, these signs signal that the kingdom of God is drawing near but has not yet arrived.
Jesus's words about 'birth pains' (or sorrows) pointed to intense periods of conflict, natural disasters, and societal upheaval that would precede significant judgments. These signs were not just a prediction of the fall of Jerusalem but also served as a broader metaphor for the increasing turmoil leading up to the ultimate end.
c. AD 41-54
Famines in the Roman Empire
Emperor Claudius's reign was marked by several widespread famines, particularly affecting the Roman Empire and its provinces, including Judea. This aligns with Jesus's prediction of famines occurring.
AD 62
Major Earthquake in Pompeii
A devastating earthquake struck the region of Campania, heavily damaging cities like Pompeii and Herculaneum. This event fits Jesus's mention of earthquakes in various places.
AD 66-70— this verse
First Jewish-Roman War
This devastating war saw intense conflict between the Jewish people and the Roman Empire, marked by widespread battles, political upheaval, and societal breakdown. It directly reflects Jesus's prophecy of nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman legions under Titus besieged and ultimately destroyed Jerusalem, culminating in the razing of the Second Temple. This catastrophic event was the most significant fulfillment of the disciples' immediate questions.
This passage is a parallel account in Matthew's Gospel, directly echoing Jesus' words about wars, famines, earthquakes, and pestilences as 'the beginning of birth pains' before the end.
Jeremiah 4:23-28This Old Testament prophecy describes a devastating judgment on Judah, using imagery of creation in turmoil – the earth shaking, mountains trembling, and emptiness – that foreshadows the 'birth pains' of destruction.
1 Thessalonians 5:3Paul directly connects these signs of 'wars and tumults' to the sudden destruction that will come 'like a thief in the night,' reinforcing the idea that these events are precursors to a final, decisive end.
Luke 21:9-11Luke's version of Jesus' discourse also includes the forewarning of wars and 'uprisings,' alongside signs and wonders, framing these disturbances as the initial stages leading to a greater judgment.
Revelation 6:4-8This apocalyptic vision depicts the opening of the seals, which brings forth war ('a red horse'), famine ('a black horse'), and death ('a pale horse'), reflecting the same kinds of devastating events Jesus predicted as birth pangs.
expositorsMark 13:8-16: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows."
CHAPTER 13:8-16 (Mark 13:8-16)THE IMPENDING JUDGMENT "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be earthquakes in divers places; there shall be famines: these things are the beginning of travail. But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver y…
calvinMark 13:1-8: "And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!"
- And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple, and his disciples came to him, to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2. And Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Verily I say to you, There shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. 3. And while he was sitting on the mountain of Olives, the…
The phrase "beginning of the birth pains" is a powerful metaphor, not just for escalating troubles, but for the intense, rhythmic, and ultimately life-giving process that leads to a new reality, just as birth pangs lead to a new life. This wasn't just a prediction of doom, but a sign that something new was on the horizon, even amidst the chaos.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' questions about when the temple will be destroyed and what signs will precede his coming and the end of the age. He has just warned them about deception and wars, clarifying that these tumultuous events are not the immediate end, but rather the initial stages of a more profound period of suffering.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' questions about when the temple will be destroyed and what signs will precede his coming and the end of the age. He has just warned them about deception and wars, clarifying that these tumultuous events are not the immediate end, but rather the initial stages of a more profound period of suffering.
"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains." — The phrase "beginning of the birth pains" is a powerful metaphor, not just for escalating troubles, but for the intense, rhythmic, and ultimately life-giving process that leads to a new reality, just…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026