Jeremiah 4:31 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 4:31 mean?

Jeremiah 4:31 describes Jerusalem, pictured as the "daughter of Zion," crying out in deep pain and fear, like a woman suffering the agony of childbirth, because of the violence and destruction caused by invading enemies. The verse captures the city's sense of helplessness and exhaustion as it faces deadly threats.

The prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah, warning them about the coming disaster due to their unfaithfulness. The verse uses the image of a woman in labor to show how intense the city's suffering will be. The "daughter of Zion" spreads out her hands in despair, mourning the violence ("murderers") that has left her soul worn out.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 4:31

• "Travail" (חָלָה, ḥālāh) means to be in pain or to suffer, often used for the pain of childbirth. This word highlights the depth and intensity of Jerusalem's distress, not just physical but emotional and spiritual.
• "Bewaileth" (יָשַׁב, yāshav) here carries the sense of sitting in mourning or lamenting oneself, showing that the city is not just crying out but is overwhelmed by grief.
• "Woe" (אוֹי, ’oy) is an exclamation of deep sorrow or despair, underlining how desperate the situation feels to those experiencing it.
• "Soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, nefesh) refers to the inner life or very self of a person, so when the verse says the soul is "wearied," it means the suffering goes to the very core of the city's being.

Why Jeremiah 4:31 matters

• This verse helps clear up that the suffering described is not just physical destruction but a deep, personal anguish felt by the whole community, pictured as a woman in labor.
• The verse emphasizes how helpless Jerusalem feels, showing that the coming judgment is overwhelming and inescapable, not something that can be easily resisted or avoided.
• By using the image of childbirth, Jeremiah connects the city's pain to something universally understood, making the warning more vivid and relatable to his listeners.