Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
JEREMIAH 30:6KJVWhat does Jeremiah 30:6 mean?
Jeremiah 30:6 uses the image of men acting like women in labor to show how extreme fear and distress will come upon them—so much so that their faces turn pale and they clutch their stomachs in pain. The verse is describing a time of great trouble when even the strongest people are overwhelmed by terror.
The prophet Jeremiah is speaking God’s message to the people of Judah, warning them about coming disaster and judgment. He asks a rhetorical question: do men give birth? Of course not, but he sees every man doubled over as if in childbirth, a striking picture of total helplessness and fear. This vivid language sets the stage for describing the “time of Jacob’s trouble” in the verses that follow.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 30:6
- אִישׁ (ish, H2145) and גֶּבֶר (gever, H1397): Both words for “man” appear in this verse. “Ish” often means a male in general, while “gever” can emphasize strength or manliness. The use of both highlights that even the strongest men are affected.
- יָלַד (yalad, H3205): This word means “to give birth” or “to be in labor.” The verse asks if a man can “travail with child,” which is impossible, making the image of men in labor all the more shocking.
- חֲלוּצִים (chalutzim, H2504): Translated as “loins,” this refers to the area of the body associated with strength and, in this context, pain. Men holding their loins like women in labor shows their utter distress.
- פָּנִים (panim, H6440) and לְחָרוּץ (lecharutz, H3420): “Faces” and “paleness” together create the image of fear so intense that it drains the color from people’s faces.
Why Jeremiah 30:6 matters
- Jeremiah 30:6 clears up that the coming trouble will be so severe that it will break down normal expectations of strength and gender roles—no one will be able to stand firm.
- The verse emphasizes the totality of the distress, not just physical pain but deep fear and helplessness, preparing the reader for the seriousness of the warning in the following verses.
- This vivid description connects to the larger context of Jeremiah 30, where God promises both judgment and eventual restoration, highlighting the depth of trouble before hope is restored.