John 16:21
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
Original Language Analysis
ἡ
G3588
ἡ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὅταν
as soon as
G3752
ὅταν
as soon as
Strong's:
G3752
Word #:
3 of 30
whenever (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertainty); also causatively (conjunctionally) inasmuch as
τίκτῃ
she is in travail
G5088
τίκτῃ
she is in travail
Strong's:
G5088
Word #:
4 of 30
to produce (from seed, as a mother, a plant, the earth, etc.), literally or figuratively
ἔχει
hath
G2192
ἔχει
hath
Strong's:
G2192
Word #:
6 of 30
to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio
ὅτι
because
G3754
ὅτι
because
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
7 of 30
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
ἦλθεν
is come
G2064
ἦλθεν
is come
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
8 of 30
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
ἡ
G3588
ἡ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτῆς·
her
G846
αὐτῆς·
her
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
11 of 30
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὅταν
as soon as
G3752
ὅταν
as soon as
Strong's:
G3752
Word #:
12 of 30
whenever (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertainty); also causatively (conjunctionally) inasmuch as
ἐγεννήθη
is born
G1080
ἐγεννήθη
is born
Strong's:
G1080
Word #:
14 of 30
to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
παιδίον
of the child
G3813
παιδίον
of the child
Strong's:
G3813
Word #:
16 of 30
a childling (of either sex), i.e., (properly), an infant, or (by extension) a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature christian
οὐκ
G3756
μνημονεύει
she remembereth
G3421
μνημονεύει
she remembereth
Strong's:
G3421
Word #:
19 of 30
to exercise memory, i.e., recollect; by implication, to punish; also to rehearse
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
διὰ
for
G1223
διὰ
for
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
22 of 30
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
23 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὅτι
because
G3754
ὅτι
because
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
25 of 30
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
ἐγεννήθη
is born
G1080
ἐγεννήθη
is born
Strong's:
G1080
Word #:
26 of 30
to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
28 of 30
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
Cross References
Psalms 113:9He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.Isaiah 13:8And 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.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.Micah 4:10Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
Historical Context
Childbirth was perilous in the ancient world, with high maternal mortality rates. Every woman in labor faced real danger—yet the joy of new life overshadowed the trauma. Jesus's original audience (particularly women) understood this viscerally. Old Testament prophets used birth pangs to describe Israel's tribulations (Isaiah 26:17-19, Micah 4:9-10). Jesus applies it personally: His suffering births spiritual offspring (Isaiah 53:10-11). The early church experienced this pattern repeatedly—persecution's pain yielding evangelistic harvest, martyrs' blood birthing church growth. Paul used labor imagery for his apostolic ministry and the creation's groaning (Galatians 4:19, Romans 8:22).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the childbirth metaphor help you understand that suffering can be productive, purposeful, and ultimately joyful rather than meaningless?
- What 'new birth' resulted from Christ's crucifixion-suffering, and how does this transform how you view the cross?
- When have you experienced a 'labor pains to new life' pattern where God used suffering to birth something beautiful?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Jesus employs childbirth as metaphor for the crucifixion-resurrection pattern: A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come (ἡ γυνὴ ὅταν τίκτῃ λύπην ἔχει, ὅτι ἦλθεν ἡ ὥρα αὐτῆς/hē gynē hotan tiktē lypēn echei, hoti ēlthen hē hōra autēs). The present tense τίκτω (tiktō, "to give birth") describes active labor; λύπη (lypē) is pain, anguish, distress. The phrase ἡ ὥρα (hē hōra, "the hour") connects to Jesus's own "hour"—His appointed time of suffering (John 12:23, 27; 13:1; 17:1).
But as soon as she is delivered of the child (ὅταν δὲ γεννήσῃ τὸ παιδίον/hotan de gennēsē to paidion)—the subjunctive mood indicates certainty of outcome. Pain will definitely yield to birth.
She remembereth no more the anguish (οὐκέτι μνημονεύει τῆς θλίψεως/ouketi mnēmoneuei tēs thlipseōs)—not that she forgets, but the memory loses its power to cause grief. Θλῖψις (thlipsis) means pressure, tribulation, affliction—but joy eclipses pain.
For joy that a man is born into the world (διὰ τὴν χαρὰν ὅτι ἐγεννήθη ἄνθρωπος εἰς τὸν κόσμον/dia tēn charan hoti egennēthē anthrōpos eis ton kosmon)—new life justifies the suffering. The metaphor illuminates resurrection: Christ's death-pangs birth new creation, eternal life for believers (2 Corinthians 5:17).