Luke 21:23

Luke 21:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.
• New Living Translation (NLT)How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. For there will be disaster in the land and great anger against this people.

Context of Luke 21:23

21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.

Luke 21:23 word by word

Οὐαὶ ταῖς ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσαις καὶ ταῖς θηλαζούσαις ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις· ἔσται γὰρ ἀνάγκη μεγάλη ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ὀργὴ τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• woeοὐαίouai · woe!G3759
• unto themὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• that areἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• withἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• childγαστήρgastēr · bellyG1064
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• give suckθηλάζωthēlazō · to suckleG2337
• thoseἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• daysἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• there shall beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• greatμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• distressἀνάγκηanagkē · necessityG318
• inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the landγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• wrathὀργήorgē · wrathG3709
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• peopleλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992

Cross-references for Luke 21:23

• Luke 23:29For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’
• Deuteronomy 28:56The most gentle and sensitive woman among you—so sensitive and gentle that she would not venture to touch the ground with the sole of her foot—will begrudge the husband she loves and her own son or daughter
• Lamentations 4:10With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed.
• Hebrews 9:12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
• Hebrews 13:16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
• Matthew 24:19How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!
• Mark 13:17How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!
• Luke 19:27But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’ ”
• Matthew 21:41“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
• 1 Thessalonians 2:16in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.
• Hebrews 10:26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,
• James 5:1Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
• 1 Peter 4:17For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Commentaries on Luke 21:23

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7-36Verses 7-36 The account of the destruction of Jerusalem contained in this chapter has been fully considered in the notes at Luke 21:9 Commotions - Insurrections. Subjects rising against their rulers. Luke 21:11 Fearful sights - See Matthew 24:7. Luke 21:12, Luke 21:13 Synagogues, and into prisons - See the notes at Mark 13:9-10. Luke 21:14 Settle it, therefore, in your hearts - Fix it firmly in your minds - so firmly as to become a settled principle…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-28Verses 5-28 With much curiosity those about Christ ask as to the time when the great desolation should be. He answers with clearness and fulness, as far as was necessary to teach them their duty; for all knowledge is desirable as far as it is in order to practice. Though spiritual judgements are the most common in gospel times, yet God makes use of temporal judgments also. Christ tells them what hard things they should suffer for his name's sake, and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-24Jesus was describing the siege and destruction of Jerusalem that would take place in AD 70.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. woe unto--"alas for." with child, &c.--from the greater suffering it would involve; as also "flight in winter, and on the sabbath," which they were to "pray" against (Mt 24:20), the one as more trying to the body, the other to the soul. "For then shall be tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world, nor ever shall be"--language not unusual in the Old Testament for tremendous calamities, though of this it may perhaps be literally said…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 21:23

• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Jerusalem
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• War
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• Abundance
• Commotion
• Distress
• Gainsay
• Gospels
• Lift
• Look
• Mouth
• Surfeiting
• Terrify

Commentaries on Luke 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings