The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.
JEREMIAH 50:43KJVWhat does Jeremiah 50:43 mean?
Jeremiah 50:43 describes the king of Babylon hearing troubling news about an approaching threat, which leaves him so frightened and weak that he is compared to a woman experiencing the intense pain of childbirth. The verse uses vivid language to show the king’s fear and helplessness in the face of this danger.
In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking about the coming judgment against Babylon. The “report” the king hears is about invading armies, likely the Medes and Persians. The verse paints a picture of the mighty king losing all strength (“his hands waxed feeble”) and being seized by overwhelming fear (“anguish took hold of him”), showing that even powerful rulers are not immune to terror when faced with God’s judgment.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 50:43
- “Anguish” (צָרָה, tsarah) means distress or trouble, often used for extreme anxiety or pain. Here, it highlights just how deeply the king is affected—this is not ordinary worry, but a paralyzing fear.
- “Pangs” (חִיל, chil) refers to sharp pains, especially those of childbirth. The comparison to a woman in labor emphasizes both the intensity and the inevitability of the king’s suffering.
- “Feeble” (רָפָה, raphah) means to become weak or lose strength. The image is of the king’s hands literally dropping in fear, a sign of total helplessness.
Why Jeremiah 50:43 matters
- This verse clears up any idea that Babylon’s king was confident or secure; instead, it shows him utterly undone by fear.
- The language connects to a wider biblical theme: even the most powerful nations and rulers can be brought low when God acts in judgment.
- The vivid comparison to childbirth pain underlines that this fear is not only intense but also something the king cannot escape or control, making the prophecy’s warning even more serious.