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Home › Berean Standard Bible  › Jeremiah 22  › Jeremiah 22:23

Jeremiah 22:23

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Jeremiah 22:23 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

O inhabitant of Lebanon, nestled in the cedars, how you will groan when pangs of anguish come upon you, agony like a woman in labor.”

King James Version KJV

O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!

American Standard Version ASV

O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how greatly to be pitied shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!

Bible in Basic English BBE

O you who are living in Lebanon, making your living-place in the cedars, how greatly to be pitied will you be when pains come on you, as on a woman in childbirth!

Free Bible Version FBV

You who live in “Lebanon” in your cedar nest, how much you're going to groan when agonizing pains hit you like a woman in labor.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

Thou that dwellest in Lebanon, and makest thy nest in the cedars, howe beautiful shalt thou be when sorowes come vpon thee, as the sorowe of a woman in trauaile?

Young's Literal Translation YLT

O dweller in Lebanon, making a nest among cedars, How gracious hast thou been when pangs come to thee, Pain — as of a travailing woman.

World English Bible WEB

Inhabitant of Lebanon, who makes your nest in the cedars, how greatly to be pitied you will be when pangs come on you, the pain as of a woman in travail!

Noah Webster Bible WBS

O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

Thou that sittest in Libanus, and makest thy nest in the cedars, how hast thou mourned when sorrows came upon thee, as the pains of a woman in labour?

Translation for Translators T4T

Now, your king enjoys living in the cedar rooms in his palace, but soon he will be punished, and then he will groan like [SIM] a woman who is giving birth to a baby.”

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 22:23

BAB
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.

Jeremiah 22:23 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
HEB ישבתי יֹשַׁבְתְּ֙ בַּ/לְּבָנ֔וֹן מקננתי מְקֻנַּ֖נְתְּ בָּֽ/אֲרָזִ֑ים מַה נֵּחַנְתְּ֙ בְּ/בֹא לָ֣/ךְ חֲבָלִ֔ים חִ֖יל כַּ/יֹּלֵדָֽה
ישבתי yâshab H3427 to dwell V-Qal
יֹשַׁבְתְּ֙ yâshab H3427 to dwell V-Qal
בַּ/לְּבָנ֔וֹן Lᵉbânôwn H3844 Lebanon Prep | N-proper
מקננתי qânan H7077 to make a nest V-Pual-Inf-c
מְקֻנַּ֖נְתְּ qânan H7077 to make a nest V-Pual-Inf-c
בָּֽ/אֲרָזִ֑ים ʼerez H730 cedar Prep | N-mp
מַה mâh H4100 what? Part
נֵּחַנְתְּ֙ chânan H2603 be gracious V-Niphal-Perf-2fs
בְּ/בֹא bôwʼ H935 Lebo Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
לָ֣/ךְ Prep | Suff
חֲבָלִ֔ים chebel H2256 cord N-mp
חִ֖יל chîyl H2427 agony N-ms
כַּ/יֹּלֵדָֽה yâlad H3205 to beget Prep | V-Qal
Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 22:23

ישבתי yâshab H3427 "to dwell" V-Qal
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sit, sit down 1a2) to be set 1a3) to remain, stay 1a4) to dwell, have one's abode 1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited 1c) (Piel) to set, place 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to sit 1d2) to cause to abide, set 1d3) to cause to dwell 1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited 1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to) 1e) (Hophal) 1e1) to be inhabited 1e2) to make to dwell Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)
Usage: Occurs in 977 OT verses. KJV: (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. See also: Genesis 4:16; Leviticus 25:18; Joshua 13:6.
יֹשַׁבְתְּ֙ yâshab H3427 "to dwell" V-Qal
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sit, sit down 1a2) to be set 1a3) to remain, stay 1a4) to dwell, have one's abode 1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited 1c) (Piel) to set, place 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to sit 1d2) to cause to abide, set 1d3) to cause to dwell 1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited 1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to) 1e) (Hophal) 1e1) to be inhabited 1e2) to make to dwell Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)
Usage: Occurs in 977 OT verses. KJV: (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. See also: Genesis 4:16; Leviticus 25:18; Joshua 13:6.
בַּ/לְּבָנ֔וֹן Lᵉbânôwn H3844 "Lebanon" Prep | N-proper
Lebanon is a mountain range in Israel, named for its white snow or limestone peaks, often mentioned in Psalms and other books.
Definition: Combined with biq.ah (בִּקְעָה " Valley" H1237I) § Lebanon = "whiteness" a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 64 OT verses. KJV: Lebanon. See also: Deuteronomy 1:7; Psalms 104:16; Psalms 29:5.
מקננתי qânan H7077 "to make a nest" V-Pual-Inf-c
This verb means to build or occupy a nest, like a bird making its home. It appears in the Bible as a description of God's care for his people. The KJV translates it as make a nest.
Definition: 1) to make a nest 1a) (Piel) to make a nest 1b) (Pual) to be nested
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: make...nest. See also: Psalms 104:17; Jeremiah 22:23; Isaiah 34:15.
מְקֻנַּ֖נְתְּ qânan H7077 "to make a nest" V-Pual-Inf-c
This verb means to build or occupy a nest, like a bird making its home. It appears in the Bible as a description of God's care for his people. The KJV translates it as make a nest.
Definition: 1) to make a nest 1a) (Piel) to make a nest 1b) (Pual) to be nested
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: make...nest. See also: Psalms 104:17; Jeremiah 22:23; Isaiah 34:15.
בָּֽ/אֲרָזִ֑ים ʼerez H730 "cedar" Prep | N-mp
A cedar tree, known for its strength and durability, like the cedar wood used to build Solomon's temple in 1 Kings 5-6. The cedar tree was highly valued in ancient times for its timber and wood.
Definition: 1) cedar 1a) cedar tree 1b) cedar timber, cedar wood (in building) 1c) cedar wood (in purifications)
Usage: Occurs in 69 OT verses. KJV: cedar (tree). See also: Leviticus 14:4; 1 Chronicles 22:4; Psalms 29:5.
מַה mâh H4100 "what?" Part
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Definition: interr pron 1) what, how, of what kind 1a) (interrogative) 1a1) what? 1a2) of what kind 1a3) what? (rhetorical) 1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what 1b) (adverb) 1b1) how, how now 1b2) why 1b3) how! (exclamation) 1c) (with prep) 1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means? 1c2) because of what? 1c3) the like of what? 1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often? 1c3b) for how long? 1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose? 1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron 2) anything, aught, what may
Usage: Occurs in 655 OT verses. KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why. See also: Genesis 2:19; Numbers 21:5; 1 Samuel 19:5.
נֵּחַנְתְּ֙ chânan H2603 "be gracious" V-Niphal-Perf-2fs
This Hebrew word means to show kindness or favor, often by bending or stooping to help someone in need, as seen in the actions of God towards his people.
Definition: 1) to be gracious, show favour, pity 1a) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious 1b) (Niphal) to be pitied 1c) (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious 1d) (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on 1e) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration 1f) (Hithpael) to seek favour, implore favour
Usage: Occurs in 73 OT verses. KJV: beseech, [idiom] fair, (be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, [idiom] very. See also: Genesis 33:5; Psalms 37:21; Psalms 4:2.
בְּ/בֹא bôwʼ H935 "Lebo" Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Definition: A shortened name of Lebo Hamath complined withcha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574) This name means to go in, enter
Usage: Occurs in 2307 OT verses. KJV: abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. See also: Genesis 2:19; Genesis 32:7; Exodus 1:19.
לָ֣/ךְ "" Prep | Suff
חֲבָלִ֔ים chebel H2256 "cord" N-mp
A cord or rope, also a measured area of land or a group of people tied together. In the Bible, it appears in books like Joshua and Psalms. It can also mean a company or region.
Definition: 1) a cord, rope, territory, band, company 1a) a rope, cord 1b) a measuring-cord or line 1c) a measured portion, lot, part, region 1d) a band or company § destruction
Usage: Occurs in 60 OT verses. KJV: band, coast, company, cord, country, destruction, line, lot, pain, pang, portion, region, rope, snare, sorrow, tackling. See also: Deuteronomy 3:4; Psalms 119:61; Psalms 16:6.
חִ֖יל chîyl H2427 "agony" N-ms
This Hebrew word means agony or intense pain, like the kind experienced in childbirth. It's used to describe strong emotions, such as sorrow or anguish. In the Bible, it appears in Isaiah 66:7-9.
Definition: 1) pain, agony, sorrow, a writhing, anguish 1a) writhing (of fear) 1b) anguish Also means: chi.lah (חִילָה "agony" H2427B)
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: pain, pang, sorrow. See also: Exodus 15:14; Jeremiah 6:24; Psalms 48:7.
כַּ/יֹּלֵדָֽה yâlad H3205 "to beget" Prep | 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.

Study Notes — Jeremiah 22:23

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Jeremiah 6:24 We have heard the report; our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.
2 Jeremiah 4:30–31 And you, O devastated one, what will you do, though you dress yourself in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, though you enlarge your eyes with paint? You adorn yourself in vain; your lovers despise you; they want to take your life. For I hear a cry like a woman in labor, a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child— the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands to say, “Woe is me, for my soul faints before the murderers!”
3 Jeremiah 22:6 For this is what the LORD says concerning the house of the king of Judah: “You are like Gilead to Me, like the summit of Lebanon; but I will surely turn you into a desert, like cities that are uninhabited.
4 Zechariah 11:1–2 Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may consume your cedars! Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen; the majestic trees are ruined! Wail, O oaks of Bashan, for the dense forest has been cut down!
5 Habakkuk 2:9 Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high and escape the hand of disaster!
6 Jeremiah 48:28 Abandon the towns and settle among the rocks, O dwellers of Moab! Be like a dove that nests at the mouth of a cave.
7 Hosea 7:14 They do not cry out to Me from their hearts when they wail upon their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me.
8 Jeremiah 21:13 Behold, I am against you who dwell above the valley, atop the rocky plateau— declares the LORD— you who say, “Who can come against us? Who can enter our dwellings?”
9 Hosea 5:15–1 —
10 Numbers 24:21 Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.

Jeremiah 22:23 Summary

Jeremiah 22:23 is a warning to those who feel secure and comfortable, but are actually headed for judgment and pain. The verse compares this pain to a woman in labor, emphasizing its intensity and inevitability. Just as a woman in labor cannot escape the pain of childbirth, those who reject God's warnings cannot escape the consequences of their sin (as seen in Galatians 6:7-8). This verse encourages us to examine our own lives and trust in God's sovereignty, rather than relying on our own strength or comforts (as seen in Psalm 37:3-7).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of Lebanon and the cedars in Jeremiah 22:23?

Lebanon and the cedars symbolize a place of comfort, strength, and beauty, much like the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2:8-10, but here they are used to contrast with the coming judgment and anguish, as seen in Jeremiah 22:23.

Why does God compare the pangs of anguish to a woman in labor?

This comparison, also seen in Isaiah 13:8 and John 16:21, emphasizes the intense and unbearable nature of the pain and distress that will come upon the inhabitant of Lebanon, much like the pain of childbirth.

Is Jeremiah 22:23 a warning to a specific group or nation?

While the verse does not specify a particular group, in the context of Jeremiah 22, it appears to be a warning to the kingdom of Judah, which had allied itself with other nations and was living in a state of false security, as seen in Jeremiah 22:21-22.

How does this verse relate to God's judgment and mercy?

Jeremiah 22:23 shows that God's judgment is not just a distant threat, but a real and present consequence of sin, as seen in Romans 6:23, and it serves as a call to repentance and faith, as emphasized in Jeremiah 22:21 and Ezekiel 18:30-32.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are some ways that I may be 'nestled in the cedars' of my own life, feeling secure but actually being vulnerable to God's judgment?
  2. How can I apply the warning in Jeremiah 22:23 to my own life, recognizing the dangers of complacency and the importance of humility and obedience to God?
  3. What are some 'pangs of anguish' that I may be experiencing in my own life, and how can I trust in God's sovereignty and goodness even in the midst of suffering, as seen in Psalm 23:4 and Romans 8:28?
  4. In what ways can I use this verse as a reminder to pray for those who are suffering or facing judgment, and to share the message of God's mercy and redemption with them, as seen in Matthew 25:31-46?

Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 22:23

O inhabitant of Lebanon,.... Jerusalem is meant, and the inhabitants of it, so called, because they lived near Lebanon, or in that land in which Lebanon was; or rather because they dwelt in houses

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 22:23

O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 22:23

Jerusalem, which is called an inhabitant of Lebanon, either because their houses were built of wood cut down out of the forest of Lebanon, or because they lived in as great plenty and delight as if they lived in Lebanon, or because they thought the mountain of Lebanon was a certain refuge to them. They are said to make their nest in the cedars, either because their houses were built of the cedars of Lebanon, or because of the security they promised themselves from that forest and mountain, so full of and famous for cedars. What favour wilt thou find when my judgments shall come upon thee, as suddenly and as smartly as the pains of a woman in travail come upon her! a similitude often made use of by this prophet, to express the suddenness, unavoidableness, and greatness of judgments, 6:24 13:21 30:6 49:24 50:43; and so in other scriptures, .

Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 22:23

Jeremiah 22:23 O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!Ver. 23. O inhabitant of Lebanon.] Heb., O inhabitress - that is, O Jerusalem, who hast perched thyseff aloft, and pridest thyself in thy strength and stateliness. How gracious shalt thou be!] i.e., How ridiculous, when thy lofty and stately rooms wherein thou art roosted shall be to thee but as groaning rooms to women in travail.

Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 22:23

(23) O, inhabitant of Lebanon.—The phrase develops the thought of Jer 22:6. The king, in his cedar-palace, is as one who has made Lebanon his home, literally and figuratively (see Note on Jeremiah 22:7), and is as an eagle nestling in the cedar. How gracious shalt thou be . . .!—Better, how wilt thou sigh! or, how wilt thou groan! as connected with the pangs of travail. No pomp or majesty could save the royal house from the inevitable doom.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 22:23

Verse 23. How gracious shalt thou be] A strong irony.

Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 22:23

23. “Judah has been as confident of safety as a bird that had fixed its nest far away from men in the cedars on the heights of Lebanon.” Pe. inhabitant] For mg. inhabitress see on Jeremiah 21:13. how greatly to be pitied] The mg. how wilt thou groan is probably the right reading (so LXX, Syr. and Targ. The MT. is a not unnatural corruption arising from a transposition of two consonants).

Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 22:23

Lebanon is the usual metaphor for anything splendid. and is here put for Jerusalem, but with special reference to the kings whose pride it was to dwell in palaces roofed with cedar Jeremiah 22:14.

Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 22:23

23. Inhabitant of Lebanon — That is, Jerusalem, so called in double allusion to her buildings of cedar and her sense of loftiness and security. How gracious — Rather, how wilt thou groan!

Sermons on Jeremiah 22:23

SermonDescription
Chuck Smith (Through the Bible) Zechariah 11-12 by Chuck Smith In this sermon, the speaker discusses the protection and victory that God provided to Israel during the 1973 war. Despite being outnumbered and facing opposition from the entire wo
John W. Bramhall Studies in Zechariah 10 Zechariah 11: by John W. Bramhall In this sermon, the speaker discusses the judgment of God upon Israel due to their disobedience. The speaker emphasizes that God protected his people and directed his favor towards
George Fox Epistle 231 by George Fox George Fox emphasizes the importance of faithfulness to God, urging believers to live in His truth and righteousness, which will serve as a blessing in their generation. He highlig
Alan Redpath God's Problem With a Soul by Alan Redpath In this sermon, the preacher discusses the struggle of God for the soul of a nation, using the book of Hosea as a reference. He emphasizes the importance of turning to the Lord and
Nancy Leigh DeMoss Call for the Wailing Women - Part 3 by Nancy Leigh DeMoss This sermon emphasizes the connection between sinful choices and the inevitable consequences we face, urging listeners to recognize the judgment of God that is both present in the
Favell Lee Mortimer Matthew 7:7-11. Christ Promises That Prayer Shall Be Answered. by Favell Lee Mortimer Favell Lee Mortimer preaches on the comforting invitation to approach the throne of grace, assuring a welcome and the granting of petitions to those who ask. Drawing parallels to e
Lew Clarkson Mid South Conference 1981-12 Ezekiel 34: by Lew Clarkson In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of giving while still alive. He shares a personal story of a trip to Las Vegas and witnessing
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