Matthew 24:19
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Original Language Analysis
ταῖς
G3588
ταῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γαστρὶ
child
G1064
γαστρὶ
child
Strong's:
G1064
Word #:
5 of 13
the stomach; by analogy, the matrix; figuratively, a gourmand
ἐχούσαις
unto them that are
G2192
ἐχούσαις
unto them that are
Strong's:
G2192
Word #:
6 of 13
to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
7 of 13
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ταῖς
G3588
ταῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θηλαζούσαις
to them that give suck
G2337
θηλαζούσαις
to them that give suck
Strong's:
G2337
Word #:
9 of 13
to suckle, (by implication) to suck
ἐκείναις
those
G1565
ἐκείναις
those
Strong's:
G1565
Word #:
11 of 13
that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed
Cross References
Luke 21:23But 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.Lamentations 4:10The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.Hosea 13:16Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.
Historical Context
Ancient warfare was especially brutal for women and children. Josephus describes mothers hiding their children's food rations, the desperate eating grass, and infanticide during Jerusalem's siege. Pregnant women and nursing mothers, unable to flee quickly or endure harsh conditions, suffered disproportionately. Approximately 1.1 million died and 97,000 were enslaved—many women and children among them. Early Christian women who heeded Jesus's warning and fled to Pella avoided this horror.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus's compassion in this verse reveal his character even in contexts of divine judgment?
- What does this teach about God's concern for the vulnerable and physically disadvantaged?
- How should churches today care for those whose circumstances make spiritual disciplines or service more difficult?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days (οὐαὶ δὲ ταῖς ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσαις καὶ ταῖς θηλαζούσαις ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις)—The interjection οὐαί (ouai, "woe") expresses grief and lament, not condemnation. Jesus sympathizes with the unique vulnerability of pregnant women (ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσαις, literally "having in the womb") and nursing mothers (θηλαζούσαις, "giving suck"). Their physical condition makes rapid flight over mountainous terrain nearly impossible.
This isn't theoretical—Josephus records horrific accounts from Jerusalem's siege, including a woman who ate her own child during the famine. The prophesied tribulation would be so severe that normal life circumstances become unbearable liabilities. Jesus's compassion here reveals his pastoral heart even while warning of judgment. The phrase ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις ("in those days") points to the specific historical catastrophe of AD 70, though it may have typological application to future tribulation.