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Isaiah 21:3

Isaiah 21:3 in Multiple Translations

Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see.

Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.

Therefore are my loins filled with anguish; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.

For this cause I am full of bitter grief; pains like the pains of a woman in childbirth have come on me: I am bent down with sorrow at what comes to my ears; I am shocked by what I see.

As a result my body is filled with agony. I'm overwhelmed with pain, like the pain of a woman giving birth. I am confused by what I hear; I am distressed by what I see.

Therefore are my loynes filled with sorow: sorowes haue taken me as the sorowes of a woman that trauayleth: I was bowed downe when I heard it, and I was amased when I sawe it.

Therefore filled have been my loins [with] great pain, Pangs have seized me as pangs of a travailing woman, I have been bent down by hearing, I have been troubled by seeing.

Therefore my thighs are filled with anguish. Pains have seized me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am in so much pain that I can’t hear. I am so dismayed that I can’t see.

Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it ; I was dismayed at the seeing of it .

Therefore are my loins filled with pain, anguish hath taken hold of me, as the anguish of a woman in labour: I fell down at the hearing of it, I was troubled at the seeing of it.

Because of that, my body is full of pain; my pain is like the pain that women who are giving birth experience. When I hear about and see what God is planning to do, I am shocked.

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 21:3

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Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Isaiah 21:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
HEB עַל כֵּ֗ן מָלְא֤וּ מָתְנַ/י֙ חַלְחָלָ֔ה צִירִ֣ים אֲחָז֔וּ/נִי כְּ/צִירֵ֖י יֽוֹלֵדָ֑ה נַעֲוֵ֣יתִי מִ/שְּׁמֹ֔עַ נִבְהַ֖לְתִּי מֵ/רְאֽוֹת
עַל ʻal H5921 upon Prep
כֵּ֗ן kên H3651 right Part
מָלְא֤וּ mâlêʼ H4390 to fill V-Qal-Perf-3cp
מָתְנַ/י֙ môthen H4975 loin N-md | Suff
חַלְחָלָ֔ה chalchâlâh H2479 anguish N-fs
צִירִ֣ים tsîyr H6735 envoy N-mp
אֲחָז֔וּ/נִי ʼâchaz H270 to grasp V-Qal-Perf-3cp | Suff
כְּ/צִירֵ֖י tsîyr H6735 envoy Prep | N-mp
יֽוֹלֵדָ֑ה yâlad H3205 to beget V-Qal
נַעֲוֵ֣יתִי ʻâvâh H5753 to twist V-Niphal-Perf-1cs
מִ/שְּׁמֹ֔עַ shâmaʻ H8085 to hear Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
נִבְהַ֖לְתִּי bâhal H926 to dismay V-Niphal-Perf-1cs
מֵ/רְאֽוֹת râʼâh H7200 Provider Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
Hebrew Word Study

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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 21:3

עַל ʻal H5921 "upon" Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
כֵּ֗ן kên H3651 "right" Part
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means 'so' or 'thus', often used to show agreement or confirmation, like in the book of Genesis. It can also mean 'rightly' or 'justly', as in doing something the correct way. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: adv adj 1) right, just, honest, true, veritable 1a) right, just, honest 1b) correct 1c) true, veritable
Usage: Occurs in 737 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, [phrase] (for-) asmuch as yet, [phrase] be (for which) cause, [phrase] following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), [idiom] the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (thing), surely, [phrase] there (where) -fore, this, thus, true, well, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:7; Exodus 37:19; Judges 7:17.
מָלְא֤וּ mâlêʼ H4390 "to fill" V-Qal-Perf-3cp
To fill means to make something full or complete, like filling a container or fulfilling a promise. This word is used in many contexts, including being full of joy or having a job completed.
Definition: 1) to fill, be full 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be full 1a1a) fulness, abundance (participle) 1a1b) to be full, be accomplished, be ended 1a2) to consecrate, fill the hand 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be filled, be armed, be satisfied 1b2) to be accomplished, be ended 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to fill 1c2) to satisfy 1c3) to fulfil, accomplish, complete 1c4) to confirm 1d) (Pual) to be filled 1e) (Hithpael) to mass themselves against Aramaic equivalent: me.la (מְלָא "to fill" H4391)
Usage: Occurs in 242 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, confirm, [phrase] consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, [idiom] draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set, tale), (over-) flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a (hand-) full, [phrase] have wholly. See also: Genesis 1:22; 2 Chronicles 16:14; Psalms 10:7.
מָתְנַ/י֙ môthen H4975 "loin" N-md | Suff
Refers to the waist or small of the back, often translated as loins or hips, as seen in Proverbs 30:31. It can also describe the sides of an animal. The word is only used in plural form.
Definition: 1) loins, hips 1a) used with zar.zir (זַרְזִיר "greyhound" H2223) in Pr 30:31; perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning unknown
Usage: Occurs in 45 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] greyhound, loins, side. See also: Genesis 37:34; Isaiah 20:2; Psalms 66:11.
חַלְחָלָ֔ה chalchâlâh H2479 "anguish" N-fs
This Hebrew word describes intense pain or anguish, like the kind experienced in childbirth. It can also imply terror or writhing, and is used to convey strong emotions in the Bible.
Definition: pain, trembling, terror, writhing, anguish
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: (great, much) pain. See also: Isaiah 21:3; Ezekiel 30:9; Nahum 2:11.
צִירִ֣ים tsîyr H6735 "envoy" N-mp
A pang refers to a sharp feeling of pain or distress, like the sorrow felt by King David in Psalm 55:4. It can also mean a messenger or ambassador, like the ones sent by King Solomon in 1 Kings 5:8.
Definition: envoy, messenger
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: ambassador, hinge, messenger, pain, pang, sorrow. Compare H6736 (צִיר). See also: 1 Samuel 4:19; Isaiah 18:2; Proverbs 13:17.
אֲחָז֔וּ/נִי ʼâchaz H270 "to grasp" V-Qal-Perf-3cp | Suff
The Hebrew word means to grasp or take hold of something, often holding it in possession. It can also mean to be caught or settled. This verb is used in various forms throughout the Bible, including in the books of Exodus and Psalms.
Definition: 1) grasp, take hold, seize, take possession 1a) (Qal) to grasp, take hold of 1b) (Niphal) to be caught, grasped, be settled 1c) (Piel) to enclose, overlay 1d) (Hophal) fastened
Usage: Occurs in 63 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] be affrighted, bar, (catch, lay, take) hold (back), come upon, fasten, handle, portion, (get, have or take) possess(-ion). See also: Genesis 22:13; Nehemiah 7:3; Psalms 48:7.
כְּ/צִירֵ֖י tsîyr H6735 "envoy" Prep | N-mp
A pang refers to a sharp feeling of pain or distress, like the sorrow felt by King David in Psalm 55:4. It can also mean a messenger or ambassador, like the ones sent by King Solomon in 1 Kings 5:8.
Definition: envoy, messenger
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: ambassador, hinge, messenger, pain, pang, sorrow. Compare H6736 (צִיר). See also: 1 Samuel 4:19; Isaiah 18:2; Proverbs 13:17.
יֽוֹלֵדָ֑ה yâlad H3205 "to beget" V-Qal
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to give birth or beget a child, like when Eve gave birth to Cain in Genesis 4:1. It can also mean to help someone give birth, like a midwife. This word is used in many KJV translations, including Genesis and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to bear, bring forth 1a1a) of child birth 1a1b) of distress (simile) 1a1c) of wicked (behaviour) 1a2) to beget 1b) (Niphal) to be born 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cause or help to bring forth 1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife 1c3) midwife (participle) 1d) (Pual) to be born 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to beget (a child) 1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity) 1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive) 1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
Usage: Occurs in 403 OT verses. KJV: bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman). See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 30:19; 2 Samuel 21:22.
נַעֲוֵ֣יתִי ʻâvâh H5753 "to twist" V-Niphal-Perf-1cs
This Hebrew word means to do wrong or commit iniquity, like when people turn away from God's laws. It appears in various forms, such as doing wickedly or perverting what is right. In the Bible, it is often used to describe those who stray from God's path.
Definition: 1) to bend, twist, distort 1a) (Niphal) to be bent, be bowed down, be twisted, be perverted 1b) (Piel) to twist, distort 1c) (Hiphil) to do perversely
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: do amiss, bow down, make crooked, commit iniquity, pervert, (do) perverse(-ly), trouble, [idiom] turn, do wickedly, do wrong. See also: 1 Samuel 20:30; Psalms 38:7; Psalms 106:6.
מִ/שְּׁמֹ֔עַ shâmaʻ H8085 "to hear" Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Definition: : hear v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound 1d2) to sound aloud (musical term) 1d3) to make proclamation, summon 1d4) to cause to be heard n m 2) sound
Usage: Occurs in 1072 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. See also: Genesis 3:8; Exodus 32:18; Deuteronomy 27:9.
נִבְהַ֖לְתִּי bâhal H926 "to dismay" V-Niphal-Perf-1cs
This verb means to be alarmed or agitated, often suddenly. It's used in the Bible to describe people's reactions to frightening events, like battles or natural disasters. It can also mean to hurry or act hastily.
Definition: 1) to disturb, alarm, terrify, hurry, be disturbed, be anxious, be afraid, be hurried, be nervous 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be disturbed, dismayed, terrified, anxious 1a2) to be in haste, be hasty 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make haste, act hastily, be hurried, be hastened 1b2) to dismay, terrify 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to hasten 1c2) hastened, hastily gained (part.) 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to hasten, hurry, make haste 1d2) to dismay, terrify
Usage: Occurs in 39 OT verses. KJV: be (make) affrighted (afraid, amazed, dismayed, rash), (be, get, make) haste(-n, -y, -ily), (give) speedy(-ily), thrust out, trouble, vex. See also: Genesis 45:3; Psalms 6:4; Psalms 2:5.
מֵ/רְאֽוֹת râʼâh H7200 "Provider" Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Definition: (Lord will) Provide, cause to be seen. This name means to see, look at, inspect, look after
Usage: Occurs in 1206 OT verses. KJV: advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 41:41; Exodus 33:13.

Study Notes — Isaiah 21:3

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Isaiah 13:8 Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear.
2 Psalms 48:6 Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.
3 Isaiah 26:17 As a woman with child about to give birth writhes and cries out in pain, so were we in Your presence, O LORD.
4 1 Thessalonians 5:3 While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
5 Micah 4:9–10 Why do you now cry aloud? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor? Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!
6 Jeremiah 48:41 Kirioth has been taken, and the strongholds seized. In that day the heart of Moab’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
7 Isaiah 16:11 Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir-heres.
8 Jeremiah 50:43 The king of Babylon has heard the report, and his hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped him, pain like that of a woman in labor.
9 Daniel 5:5–6 At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. As the king watched the hand that was writing, his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together.
10 Isaiah 15:5 My heart cries out over Moab; her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath-shelishiyah. With weeping they ascend the slope of Luhith; they lament their destruction on the road to Horonaim.

Isaiah 21:3 Summary

[Isaiah 21:3 describes the prophet's deep emotional pain and distress as he receives a vision of coming judgment and destruction. This pain is compared to the pains of a woman in labor, which is a powerful metaphor for the intensity of his emotions. As we read this verse, we can reflect on times when we have felt overwhelmed by bad news or difficult circumstances, and remember that even in the midst of pain and distress, God is still sovereign and in control, as seen in Psalm 46:1-3 and Romans 8:28. We can also consider how the prophet's example can inform our own response to difficult situations, and how we can trust in God's goodness and love, even when things seem bleak.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cause of the anguish and pain in Isaiah 21:3?

The anguish and pain in Isaiah 21:3 are caused by the prophet's vision of the coming judgment and destruction, as declared in Isaiah 21:1-2, which is similar to the distress felt by Jeremiah in Lamentations 1:20 when he saw the destruction of Jerusalem.

Is the pain described in Isaiah 21:3 physical or spiritual?

The pain described in Isaiah 21:3 is likely spiritual, as the prophet is comparing it to the pains of a woman in labor, which is a common biblical metaphor for spiritual distress, as seen in Isaiah 26:17-18 and John 16:21.

How does the prophet's reaction in Isaiah 21:3 relate to his calling as a prophet?

The prophet's reaction in Isaiah 21:3 shows that he is deeply invested in the message he is proclaiming, and is willing to suffer alongside the people he is warning, much like Moses in Exodus 32:32 and Paul in Romans 9:3.

What does the prophet's bewilderment and dismay in Isaiah 21:3 reveal about his character?

The prophet's bewilderment and dismay in Isaiah 21:3 reveal that he is a compassionate and empathetic person, who is deeply troubled by the visions of destruction he is seeing, similar to the emotions expressed by Jesus in Matthew 23:37 when he lamented over Jerusalem.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are some ways that I can identify with the prophet's anguish and pain in Isaiah 21:3, and how can I apply this to my own life?
  2. How can I balance the need to proclaim truth with the need to be compassionate and empathetic towards those who are suffering, as seen in Isaiah 21:3?
  3. What are some ways that I can prepare myself for the spiritual battles that lie ahead, and how can I find comfort in the midst of distress, as the prophet does in Isaiah 21:3?
  4. How can I use the prophet's example in Isaiah 21:3 to inform my own response to difficult or disturbing news, and how can I trust in God's sovereignty in the midst of uncertainty?

Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 21:3

Therefore are my loins filled with pain,.... As a woman at the time of childbirth, as the following words show: these words are spoken by the prophet, not with respect to himself, as if he was pained

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 21:3

Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it. Therefore are my loins filled with pain.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 21:3

My loins; which he mentions with respect to the following similitude of child-bearing, in which the loins are sorely pained. And this the prophet speaks, either, 1. In the name and person of the Babylonian. Or rather, 2. In his own name; which is most natural, and agrees best with the last clause of the verse, which plainly speaks of the torment which he had in the mere hearing of the word, and seeing the vision, and not of that which they had in the feeling of it; although the latter is implied in the former; and the prophet expresseth his horror in hearing and seeing, to intimate the dreadful horror which should seize upon them when it came upon them. As the pangs of a woman that travaileth; sharp and grievous pains.

Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 21:3

Isaiah 21:3 Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing [of it]; I was dismayed at the seeing [of it].Ver. 3. Therefore are my loins filled with pains.] I, Babylon, or I, Belshazzar, am in a woe case. This is here set forth by a notable hypotyposis, ac si res ipsa iam tum gereretur, persona regis in se per mimesin assumpta, acting Belshazzar’ s part. (as Daniel 5:5-6, where we may read this prophecy punctually fulfilled) I was bowed down at the hearing of it.] Belshazzar’ s senses were sorely afflicted: how much more shall it be so in hell? The prophet here elegantly imitateth his groans and outcries, O dolorem lumborum! O torsiones! O cordis amissionem! O tremorem et terrorem! Oh the doleful woe and "alas" of the damned spirits! Zeged. Oecolamp.

Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 21:3

(3) Therefore are my loins filled with pain . . .—Comp. Nahum 2:10; Ezekiel 21:6; and for the image of the “woman in travail,” Isaiah 13:8; Jeremiah 30:6. The vision of destruction is so terrible that it over-powers all feeling of exultation, and oppresses the prophet like a horrible nightmare.

Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 21:3

3, 4. The agitation and terror of the prophet.

Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 21:3

Therefore - In this verse, and the following, the prophet represents himself as “in” Babylon, and as a witness of the calamities which would come upon the city.

Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 21:3

3, 4. Loins filled with pain — In these verses is described the experiences of a mind frenzied by a prospective view of Babylonian wrongs.

Sermons on Isaiah 21:3

SermonDescription
Art Katz Eternal Hell (1 of 2) by Art Katz In this sermon transcript, the speaker expresses his frustration with the lack of preaching on the judgment of God and the impending return of Jesus as a judge. He longs for the re
Ralph Sexton Time to Travail by Ralph Sexton In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the urgency for believers to recognize the gravity of their mission. He compares the experience of a woman in labor, facing fear and pain, t
Jane Lead November 10. 1678. the Wilderness. by Jane Lead Jane Lead preaches about the imminent return of the Redeemer, likening it to a woman in labor about to give birth to something glorious. Despite the chaos and noise of the world, b
Leonard Ravenhill Judgement Seat 1-31-91 - Part 1 by Leonard Ravenhill In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the corruption and violence present in the world today. He criticizes the politicians in Washington for their involvement in financial scand
Rolfe Barnard Death, and After This, the Judgment by Rolfe Barnard In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the certainty of death and the judgment that follows. He mentions significant events in recent history, such as the televised funeral servi
Reggie Kelly Daniel as a Type of Godly Remnant by Reggie Kelly Reggie Kelly delves into the critical and timely revelations found in the book of Daniel, emphasizing the importance of understanding prophetic interpretations and the significance
Andrew Murray Twelfth Lesson. ‘Have Faith in God;’ Or, the Secret of Believing Prayer by Andrew Murray Greek Word Studies delves into the meaning of 'asphales,' which signifies security, safety, and certainty, describing something unshakeable and immovable. This term is used in vari

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