And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just describing difficult circumstances; it's highlighting the profound vulnerability of those whose lives are tied to nurturing others. Jesus' "woe" is an expression of deep pity, recognizing that the very instincts of care and life-giving make escape and survival infinitely harder during times of crisis.
And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is describing the signs and impending destruction of Jerusalem, a catastrophic event that would bring immense suffering. He has just warned his disciples to flee when they see the "abomination of desolation" and escape the city without looking back. This verse highlights the specific and intensified dangers faced by the most vulnerable during this chaotic time of judgment.
Jesus's words about those who are pregnant and nursing mothers aren't a condemnation, but a profound expression of empathy. Why does He highlight their plight?
In the midst of Jesus's stark warnings about the coming destruction of Jerusalem, He interjects a moment of deep compassion. The phrase 'alas for' or 'woe to' isn't a curse, but an exclamation of profound pity and shared sorrow.
A Heavier Burden
These women faced unique, overwhelming challenges during times of crisis:
Jesus’s foresight here shows His deep care not just for the grand sweep of history, but for the most vulnerable individuals caught in its devastating currents.
Jesus links this lament for vulnerable mothers to a specific sign: the 'abomination of desolation.' What does this mean, and why does it trigger such desperate flight?
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The 'abomination of desolation' (mentioned in Daniel and quoted by Jesus in Matthew 24:15) refers to a desecration of the holy place, signaling impending doom. For the Jewish people, this was a catastrophic sign pointing to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.
A Sign of Imminent Ruin
When Jesus says, 'When you see the abomination of desolation... flee to the mountains,' He's not just describing a future event but giving a concrete signal for immediate action.
Understand the original words
ouai · Greek Interjection
An interjection expressing intense pity, grief, or impending judgment upon those experiencing distress.
Jesus' words about woe to pregnant and nursing women directly address the extreme dangers and hardships faced by the most vulnerable during the brutal Roman siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple in AD 70.
c. 167 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrates the Temple
The Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes, seeking to Hellenize Judea, desecrates the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This event, involving the sacrifice of pigs on the altar, is seen by many scholars as the 'abomination of desolation' referred to by Daniel.
c. 164 BC
Temple Rededication (Hanukkah)
Following the Maccabean Revolt, the Temple is rededicated and Jewish worship is restored. This marks a temporary respite from the profanation but foreshadows future defilements.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus predicts the Temple's destruction
Jesus delivers the Olivet Discourse, foretelling the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem. He warns his disciples to flee when they see the 'abomination of desolation' standing in the holy place.
AD 66
First Jewish-Roman War begins
The First Jewish-Roman War erupts after years of tension and Roman oppression. This marks the beginning of the violent upheaval Jesus predicted.
AD 70
Siege and destruction of Jerusalem
Roman legions under Titus besiege Jerusalem, leading to its brutal conquest, the destruction of the Second Temple, and immense suffering for its inhabitants. This event fulfills Jesus' prophecy and the specific woes he described for pregnant and nursing mothers.
This passage echoes Jesus' compassion, directly referencing the 'daughters of Jerusalem' and expressing a similar sentiment of pity for mothers and their children during times of intense suffering.
Deuteronomy 28:53-56These verses describe the horrific consequences of disobedience, including the desperate measures mothers might resort to in times of siege and starvation, highlighting the extreme suffering alluded to in Matthew 24:19.
Isaiah 1:9This prophetic passage speaks of a remnant being saved when judgment falls, similar to how Jesus mentions the 'elect' for whose sake the days of tribulation would be shortened, indicating God's preservation even amidst devastation.
Jeremiah 52:4-7This historical account vividly details the siege of Jerusalem, illustrating the extreme hardships, famine, and suffering that would befall its inhabitants, including those in vulnerable states like pregnant and nursing mothers.
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 verse isn't just describing difficult circumstances; it's highlighting the profound vulnerability of those whose lives are tied to nurturing others. Jesus' "woe" is an expression of deep pity, recognizing that the very instincts of care and life-giving make escape and survival infinitely harder during times of crisis.
Jesus is describing the signs and impending destruction of Jerusalem, a catastrophic event that would bring immense suffering. He has just warned his disciples to flee when they see the "abomination of desolation" and escape the city without looking back. This verse highlights the specific and intensified dangers faced by the most vulnerable during this chaotic time of judgment.
Jesus is describing the signs and impending destruction of Jerusalem, a catastrophic event that would bring immense suffering. He has just warned his disciples to flee when they see the "abomination of desolation" and escape the city without looking back. This verse highlights the specific and intensified dangers faced by the most vulnerable during this chaotic time of judgment.
"And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!" — This verse isn't just describing difficult circumstances; it's highlighting the profound vulnerability of those whose lives are tied to nurturing others. Jesus' "woe" is an expression of deep pity, r…
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Last reviewed October 2026