Jeremiah 6:24

Jeremiah 6:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
• New International Version (NIV)We have heard reports about them, and our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.
• English Standard Version (ESV)We have heard the report of it; our hands fall helpless; anguish has taken hold of us, pain as of a woman in labor.
• New King James Version (NKJV)We have heard the report of it; Our hands grow feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, Pain as of a woman in labor.

Context of Jeremiah 6:24

22Thus says the Lord, “Behold, a people is coming from the north country, And a great nation shall be stirred up and put into action from the remote parts of the earth. 23They seize bow and spear; They are cruel and inhuman and have no mercy. Their voice sounds like the roaring sea; They ride [in formation] on horses, Arrayed as a man for battle Against you, O Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem)!” We have heard the report of it; Our hands become limp and helpless. Anguish has gripped us, Pain like that of a woman in childbirth. 25Do not go out into the field Nor walk on the road, For the enemy is armed with the sword; Terror is on every side. 26O daughter of my people [says Jeremiah], Clothe yourself in sackcloth and wallow in ashes; Mourn [aloud] as for an only son, A most bitter cry [of sorrow and regret], For suddenly the destroyer will come upon us [on both prophet and people].

Jeremiah 6:24 word by word

שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ אֶת־שָׁמְע֖וֹ רָפ֣וּ יָדֵ֑ינוּ צָרָה֙ הֶחֱזִיקַ֔תְנוּ חִ֖יל כַּיּוֹלֵדָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• We have heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• the fameשֹׁ֫מַעshôma‛ · reportH8089
• thereof: our handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• wax feebleרָפָהrâphâh · to slackenH7503
• anguishצָרָהtsârâh · distressH6869
• hath taken holdחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
• painחִילchîyl chîylâh · agonyH2427
• as of a woman in travailיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205

Cross-references for Jeremiah 6:24

• Jeremiah 4:6Raise a banner toward Zion [to mark the way for those seeking safety inside Jerusalem’s walls]! Seek refuge, do not stand [immobile], For I am bringing evil from the north (the army of Babylon), And great destruction.
• Isaiah 28:19As often as it passes through, it will seize you; For morning after morning it will pass through, by day and by night, And it will be sheer terror to understand what it means.”
• Ezekiel 21:6As for you, son of man, groan with breaking heart and bitter grief, groan in their sight.
• Habakkuk 3:16I heard and my whole inner self trembled; My lips quivered at the sound. Decay and rottenness enter my bones, And I tremble in my place. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade and attack us.
• Jeremiah 4:31For I heard a cry like a woman in labor, The anguish as of one giving birth to her first child, The cry of the Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem), who gasps for breath, Who stretches out her hands, saying, “Woe is me [my judgment comes]! I faint [in fear] before the murderers.”
• Jeremiah 13:21What will you say [O Jerusalem] when the Lord appoints [foreign nations to rule] over you— Those former friends and allies whom you have encouraged [to be your companions]— Will not pain seize you Like [that of] a woman in childbirth?
• Jeremiah 22:23O inhabitant of [Jerusalem, whose palaces are made from the cedars of] Lebanon, You who nest in the cedars, How you will groan and how miserable you will be when pains come on you, Pain like a woman in childbirth!
• Jeremiah 30:6Ask now, and see Whether a man can give birth [to a child]. Why then do I see every man With his hands on his loins, as a woman in labor? Why have all faces turned pale?
• Jeremiah 49:24Damascus has become helpless; She has turned away to flee, Terror (panic) has seized her; Anguish and distress have gripped her Like a woman in childbirth.
• Jeremiah 50:43The king of Babylon has heard the report about them, And his hands fall limp and helpless; Anguish has seized him, And agony like that of a woman in childbirth.
• Psalms 48:6Panic seized them there, And pain, as that of a woman in childbirth.
• Proverbs 1:27When your dread and panic come like a storm, And your disaster comes like a whirlwind, When anxiety and distress come upon you [as retribution].
• Isaiah 21:3Therefore [continues Isaiah] my loins are filled with anguish; Pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in childbirth; I am so bent and bewildered that I cannot hear, I am so terrified that I cannot see.
• Micah 4:9“Now, why do you cry out loudly? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished? For agony has gripped you like a woman in childbirth.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:3While they are saying, “Peace and safety [all is well and secure!]” then [in a moment unforeseen] destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains on a woman with child, and they will absolutely not escape [for there will be no way to escape the judgment of the Lord].

Commentaries on Jeremiah 6:24

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-30Verses 18-30 God rejects their outward services, as worthless to atone for their sins. Sacrifice and incense were to direct them to a Mediator; but when offered to purchase a license to go on in sin, they provoke God. The sins of God's professing people make them an easy prey to their enemies. They dare not show themselves. Saints may rejoice in hope of God's mercies, though they see them only in the promise: sinners must mourn for fear of God's…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-30This conversation between Jeremiah and the Lord likely occurred at the start of the Babylonian invasion in 605 BC. In these three poems, Jeremiah shares the Lord’s message (Jeremiah 6:22–23), connects with his people's fear, and urges them to repent quickly (6:24–26). He then receives a heartfelt message from the Lord (Jeremiah 6:27–30).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. fame thereof--the report of them.Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 6:24

• Birth
• War

In the dictionaries

• Cruel
• Mount
• Reprobate
• Wallow
• Anguish
• Fame
• Jeremiah (2)
• Pain
• Sheshach

Commentaries on Jeremiah 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings