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.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 21:3
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Isaiah 21:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 21:3
Study Notes — Isaiah 21:3
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 21:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 21:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 21:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 21:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 21:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 21:3
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 21:3
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 21:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 21:3
- Sermons on Isaiah 21:3
Context — Babylon Is Fallen
3Therefore 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.
4My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight I desired has turned to horror. 5They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields!Cross References
| Reference | Text (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
- 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?
- 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?
- 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?
- 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
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 21:3
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 21:3
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 21:3
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 21:3
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 21:3
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 21:3
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 21:3
Sermons on Isaiah 21:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |







