Mark 13:17
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Mark 13:17
17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Chapter Context
Mark 13 is a action-oriented gospel chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of worship, righteousness, truth. Written during the mid first century CE (c. 65-70 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Composed during or just after Nero's persecution when eyewitnesses were disappearing.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-37: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides essential context for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Mark and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Mark 13:17
17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Analysis
Woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! The Greek ouai (οὐαί, 'woe') expresses grief, not curse. Jesus mourns the hardship pregnant women and nursing mothers will face during Jerusalem's destruction. Fleeing urgently (vv. 15-16) proves especially difficult for those physically hindered—late pregnancy limits mobility; nursing infants require care. The practical difficulty intensifies suffering.
This reveals Jesus' compassion—He doesn't merely prophesy judgment but feels sorrow for those suffering it. He wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44). God takes no pleasure in wicked's death (Ezekiel 33:11) yet justice demands judgment. The 'woe' acknowledges human tragedy within divine judgment. It also warns hearers: flee immediately while physically able; don't delay until circumstances hinder escape. Spiritually, it teaches urgency—respond to gospel now, not later when conditions worsen. 'Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation' (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Historical Context
Josephus' account of Jerusalem's siege (AD 70) records horrific suffering, particularly for women and children. Starvation drove cannibalism—mothers ate children. Josephus describes Mary of Bethezuba, who killed and ate her infant. Pregnant women miscarried from stress, starvation. Nursing mothers had no milk. Attempting escape with infants proved nearly impossible—Roman blockade, Zealot violence within city, terrain difficulty. Those who heeded Jesus' warning fled before siege tightened. Those who delayed faced unimaginable horror. Church history records similar patterns—Christians who delayed fleeing persecution (Roman, medieval, modern) suffered terribly. The lesson: immediate obedience spares suffering; delay invites tragedy. God's warnings are mercy—heed them promptly.
Reflection
- How does Jesus' 'woe' (grief) over pregnant women and nursing mothers reveal His compassion even while prophesying judgment?
- What does this warning teach about timing—why is immediate response to God's warnings crucial?
- How might this apply spiritually to responding to gospel—why shouldn't people delay accepting Christ until circumstances seem better?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Lamentations 4:10, Luke 23:29