Matthew 24:19
And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This isn't a curse on pregnant women or nursing mothers, but a lament for their extreme vulnerability. Jesus’s sorrow for them highlights how the impending catastrophe would severely hinder those least able to flee or endure hardship, emphasizing the depth of the coming suffering.
Jesus is telling his disciples about the signs that will precede a catastrophic event, specifically the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. He warns them to flee when they see the "abomination of desolation" and emphasizes that this coming tribulation will be unlike anything ever seen before, so severe that life itself will be threatened. This verse highlights the intense suffering specifically faced by vulnerable groups during this desperate time of flight and destruction.
When chaos erupts, who suffers most? Jesus highlights a group whose plight is particularly heartbreaking during times of intense tribulation.
Jesus' warning in Matthew 24:19 is a stark reminder of the profound vulnerability that can exist during periods of intense crisis. The phrase "woe to" doesn't necessarily imply a curse, but rather expresses deep pity and sorrow for those in exceptionally difficult circumstances.
The Plight of Mothers
These are not just abstract pronouncements of doom, but deeply empathetic observations about the human cost of the judgment being described. The original context, often linked to the destruction of Jerusalem, saw unimaginable suffering, including starvation so severe that mothers resorted to horrific acts to survive.
Does Jesus' 'woe' here mean God is angry with these women? Discover the compassionate heart behind His somber pronouncement.
It's crucial to understand that Jesus' utterance of "woe" in Matthew 24:19 is not a judgment against women for being pregnant or nursing. Instead, it's a powerful expression of empathy and sorrow.
Pity, Not Punishment
Understand the original words
ouai · Greek Interjection
An interjection expressing intense pity, grief, or impending judgment upon those experiencing distress.
Jesus' warning about the intense suffering for pregnant and nursing women during the tribulation highlights the extreme brutality and desperation of the siege of Jerusalem in AD 70, a time when the city's destruction led to unimaginable horrors.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar's forces conquer Jerusalem, deporting some of the royal family and elite, including the prophet Daniel. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a period of loss and displacement for Judea.
587/586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's army destroys Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, leading to a final, large-scale deportation of Judeans to Babylon. This event represents the fulfillment of prophecies about judgment and desolation.
c. 167-164 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes' Desecration
The Seleucid king Antiochus IV desecrates the Jerusalem Temple, sacrificing pigs and erecting an 'abomination of desolation.' This event foreshadows future desecrations and is seen by some as a fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Olivet Discourse
Jesus delivers his Olivet Discourse on the Mount of Olives, predicting the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and the signs of the end times. He warns his disciples about future tribulations, including the 'abomination of desolation.'
This Old Testament passage foreshadows the intense suffering and desperation of a besieged people, directly paralleling the 'woe' Jesus pronounces on those who will be most vulnerable during the coming destruction.
Jeremiah 50:40This prophetic lament over Babylon's destruction expresses a similar dread for the most vulnerable, highlighting the widespread devastation that accompanies God's judgment.
Luke 23:29Jesus repeats a similar sentiment of pity for women in distress in Jerusalem, showing that this compassionate concern for the vulnerable extends to different instances of judgment and suffering.
Lamentations 1:1-5The book of Lamentations vividly describes the grief and desolation of Jerusalem's fall, echoing the profound sorrow and hardship implied by Jesus' warning to pregnant and nursing mothers.
Revelation 18:17-19This passage from Revelation describes the judgment of a great city and the lament of those who profited from it, reflecting a similar theme of destruction and the suffering of those left behind.
calvinMatthew 24:15-28: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)"
- When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which is described by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, (let him that readeth understand,) 16. Then let them who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17. Let not him who is on the housetop go down to carry anything out of his house; 18. And let not…
ellicottMatthew 24:19: "And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!"
(19) Woe unto them. —Better, alas for them, or woe for them. The tone is that of pity rather than denunciation. The hardships of a hurried flight would press most heavily on those who were encumbered with infant children, or were expecting childbirth. The same tenderness of sympathy shows itself in the words spoken to the daughters of Jerusalem in Luke 23:28-29 . Perhaps the words point to the dark…
This isn't a curse on pregnant women or nursing mothers, but a lament for their extreme vulnerability. Jesus’s sorrow for them highlights how the impending catastrophe would severely hinder those least able to flee or endure hardship, emphasizing the depth of the coming suffering.
Jesus is telling his disciples about the signs that will precede a catastrophic event, specifically the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. He warns them to flee when they see the "abomination of desolation" and emphasizes that this coming tribulation will be unlike anything ever seen before, so severe that life itself will be threatened. This verse highlights the intense suffering specifically faced by vulnerable groups during this desperate time of flight and destruction.
Jesus is telling his disciples about the signs that will precede a catastrophic event, specifically the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. He warns them to flee when they see the "abomination of desolation" and emphasizes that this coming tribulation will be unlike anything ever seen before, so severe that life itself will be threatened. This verse highlights the intense suffering specifically faced by vulnerable groups during this desperate time of flight and destruction.
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This isn't about sin; it's about recognizing the devastating impact of judgment and conflict on the most defenseless among us. Jesus’ heart breaks for them, highlighting that even in times of divine reckoning, His concern is for every individual, especially the most fragile.
AD 66-70
The First Jewish-Roman War
The Jewish revolt against Roman rule erupts, leading to the brutal siege and eventual destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple by Roman legions under Titus. This event is seen as a direct fulfillment of Jesus' prophecies.
AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman army under Titus razes Jerusalem and destroys the Second Temple, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy of its complete demolition. This marks a catastrophic turning point for the Jewish people.
"And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!" — This isn't a curse on pregnant women or nursing mothers, but a lament for their extreme vulnerability. Jesus’s sorrow for them highlights how the impending catastrophe would severely hinder those lea…
