Isaiah 13:8
And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
Original Language Analysis
וְֽנִבְהָ֓לוּ׀
And they shall be afraid
H926
וְֽנִבְהָ֓לוּ׀
And they shall be afraid
Strong's:
H926
Word #:
1 of 13
to tremble inwardly (or palpitate), i.e., (figuratively) be (causative, make) (suddenly) alarmed or agitated; by implication to hasten anxiously
יֹֽאחֵז֔וּן
shall take hold
H270
יֹֽאחֵז֔וּן
shall take hold
Strong's:
H270
Word #:
4 of 13
to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)
כַּיּוֹלֵדָ֖ה
as a woman that travaileth
H3205
כַּיּוֹלֵדָ֖ה
as a woman that travaileth
Strong's:
H3205
Word #:
5 of 13
to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
יְחִיל֑וּן
of them they shall be in pain
H2342
יְחִיל֑וּן
of them they shall be in pain
Strong's:
H2342
Word #:
6 of 13
properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e., (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; fi
אִ֤ישׁ
one
H376
אִ֤ישׁ
one
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
7 of 13
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃
their faces
H6440
פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃
their faces
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
11 of 13
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
Cross References
Isaiah 26:17Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.Nahum 2:10She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.1 Thessalonians 5:3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Historical Context
Fulfilled when Babylon fell to Persia (539 BC). Belshazzar's feast (Daniel 5) shows this terror—the king's face changed, joints loosened, knees knocked. The sudden conquest produced panic as prophesied. The imagery also applies to all sudden divine judgments throughout history and ultimately final judgment when terror seizes the wicked. The labor metaphor indicates unavoidable suffering with sudden onset.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the childbirth metaphor illustrate the sudden, intense nature of divine judgment?
- What does mutual amazement and helplessness teach about judgment's comprehensive nature?
- How should certainty of coming judgment produce urgency in our evangelism and holy living?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Terror seizes Babylon's inhabitants: pangs and sorrows like a woman in labor, amazement at each other, faces aflame with shock and fear. The childbirth metaphor describes sudden, intense, unavoidable agony. 'They shall be amazed one at another' suggests mutual shock and helplessness—no one can help anyone else. 'Faces shall be as flames' indicates either shame, terror, or the glow of burning city. This depicts comprehensive panic when God's judgment strikes.