"For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, {and} the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the …" — Jeremiah 4:31

Jeremiah 4:31 · KJV

“For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, {and} the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, {that} bewaileth herself, {that} spreadeth her hands, {saying}, Woe {is} me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.”

— Jeremiah 4:31

Verse 30

And {when} thou {art} spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; {thy} lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life. {face: Heb. eyes}

Jeremiah 4 — Context

The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city {shall be} forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.

For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, {and} the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, {that} bewaileth herself, {that} spreadeth her hands, {saying}, Woe {is} me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.

Cross References

Lamentations 1:17

Zion spreadeth forth her hands, {and there is} none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, {that} his adversaries {should be} round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.

Isaiah 1:15

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. {make...: Heb. multiply prayer} {blood: Heb. bloods}

Jeremiah 13:21

What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them {to be} captains, {and} as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail? {punish: Heb visit upon}

Genesis 27:46

And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these {which are} of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

Jeremiah 30:6

Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? {a man: Heb. a male}

Jeremiah 18:21

Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their {blood} by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and {be} widows; and let their men be put to death; {let} their young men {be} slain by the sword in battle. {pour...: Heb. pour them out}

Lamentations 2:21

The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain {them} in the day of thine anger; thou hast killed, {and} not pitied.

Isaiah 42:14

I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, {and} refrained myself: {now} will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once. {devour: Heb. swallow, or, sup up}