Isaiah 66:7

Isaiah 66:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
• New International Version (NIV)“Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“Before the birth pains even begin, Jerusalem gives birth to a son.

Context of Isaiah 66:7

5Hear the word of the Lord, You who tremble at His word: “Your brethren who hated you, Who cast you out for My name’s sake, said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, That we may see your joy.’ But they shall be ashamed.” 6The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the Lord, Who fully repays His enemies! “Before she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came, She delivered a male child. 8Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children. 9Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the Lord. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.

Isaiah 66:7 word by word

בְּטֶ֥רֶם תָּחִ֖יל יָלָ֑דָה בְּטֶ֨רֶם יָב֥וֹא חֵ֛בֶל לָ֖הּ וְהִמְלִ֥יטָה זָכָֽר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Before she travailedחוּלchûl chîyl · to twist: writh in painH2342
• she brought forthיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
• before her painחֵ֫בֶלchebel chêbel · painH2256
• cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• she was deliveredמָלַטmâlaţ · to escapeH4422
• of a man childזָכָרzâkâr · maleH2145

Cross-references for Isaiah 66:7

• Isaiah 54:1“Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.
• Galatians 4:26but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
• Revelation 12:1Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.

Commentaries on Isaiah 66:7

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Before she travailed, she brought forth - That is, Zion. The idea here is, that there would be a great and sudden increase of her numbers. Zion is here represented, as it often is, as a female (see Isaiah 1:8), and as the mother of spiritual children (compare Isaiah 54:1; Isaiah 49:20-21). The particular idea here is, that the increase would be sudden - as if a child were born without the usual delay and pain of parturition. If the interpretation given of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-14Verses 5-14 The prophet turns to those that trembled at God's word, to comfort and encourage them. The Lord will appear, to the joy of the humble believer, and to the confusion of hypocrites and persecutors. When the Spirit was poured out, and the gospel went forth from Zion, multitudes were converted in a little time. The word of God, especially his promises, and ordinances, are the consolations of the church. The true happiness of all Christians is…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7in labor … delivered a boy: See Isaiah 9:6–7; 54:1–3.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. she--Zion. Before ... travailed ... brought forth--The accession of numbers, and of prosperity to her, shall be sudden beyond all expectation and unattended with painful effort (Is 54:1, 4, 5). Contrast with this case of the future Jewish Church the travail-pains of the Christian Church in bringing forth "a man child" (Re 12:2, 5). A man child's birth is in the East a matter of special joy, while that of a female is not so; therefore, it here means the…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 66:7

• Church
• Gentiles
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning

In the dictionaries

• Man-Child
• Draw
• Extend
• Throne
• Hezekiah (2)
• Isaiah
• Pain

Commentaries on Isaiah 66

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings