Jeremiah 4:31

“For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, etc.] So the distress of the Jews, at the time of their destruction, is compared to the sorrows of a woman in travail; and a word, that signifies that is used to express it, (<402408>Matthew 24:8): and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child; whose time is more difficult, her pains sharper, her anguish greater, and, having less experience, the more impatient: the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself; her unhappy condition, and miserable circumstances: that spreadeth her hands; as persons in distress do, and particularly women in travail: saying, woe is me now, for my soul is wearied because of murderers:…”

“anguish--namely, occasioned by the attack of the enemy. daughter of Zion--There is peculiar beauty in suppressing the name of the person in trouble, until that trouble had been fully described [HENDERSON]. bewaileth herself--rather, "draweth her breath short" [HORSLEY]; "panteth." spreadeth . . . hands-- (Lam 1:17). Next: Jeremiah Chapter 5”

“For a cry have I heard as of one writhing in vain: Anguish as of one that bringeth forth her first-born: The cry of the daughter of Zion. She gasps for breath: she stretches out her palms: Woe is me! for my soul faints before the murderers. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Jeremiah 4". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/jeremiah-4.html. 1870. StudyLight.org &copy;&#160;2001-2026 Powered by Lightspeed Technology”

“In travail - When the scripture would express any exquisite sorrow, it doth it by a woman in travail. First child - Which is usually the most painful. Spreadeth her hands - According to the use of persons in great anguish, clapping or wringing their hands together. Next: Jeremiah Chapter 5”

“4:31 The people in Jerusalem felt such intense anguish that Jeremiah likened their pain to the agony of a woman giving birth to her first child. Like such women, beautiful Jerusalem was desperate (13:21; 23:23; 30:6; Isa 1:15; 42:14; Lam 1:17).”

“I have heard: Jer 6:24, Jer 13:21, Jer 22:23, Jer 30:6, Jer 48:41, Jer 49:22, Jer 49:24, Jer 50:43; Isa 13:8, Isa 21:3; Hos 13:13; Th1 5:3 the voice: Jer 6:2, Jer 6:23; Mat 21:5 spreadeth: Isa 1:15; Lam 1:17 Woe: Jer 10:19, Jer 15:18, Jer 45:2; Psa 120:5; Isa 6:5; Mic 7:1; Co1 9:16 for my: Gen 27:46; Job 10:1 because: Jer 14:18, Jer 18:21; Lam 1:20, Lam 2:21; Eze 9:5, Eze 9:6, Eze 23:46, Eze 23:47 Next: Jeremiah Chapter 5”

“Jer 4:31, as giving a reason, is introduced by כּי. Zion's attempts to secure the goodwill of the enemy are in vain, for already the prophet hears in spirit the agonized cry of the daughter of Zion, who beseechingly stretches out her hands for help, and falls exhausted under the assassin's strokes. חולה, partic. Kal faem. from חוּל; see Ew. 151, b, and Gesen. 72, Rem. 1. צרה, in parallelism with קול and dependent on "I hear," means cry of anguish. התיפּח, breathe heavily, pant, sign. תּפרשׂ is joined asynd. with the preceding word, but is in sense subordinate to it: she sighs with hands spread out; a pleading gesture expressing a prayer for protection. עיף, be exhausted, here = sink down…”