Jeremiah 49:22

22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down, spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

Jeremiah 49:22 in Other Translations

KJV
22 Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
ESV
22 Behold, one shall mount up and fly swiftly like an eagle and spread his wings against Bozrah, and the heart of the warriors of Edom shall be in that day like the heart of a woman in her birth pains."
NLT
22 Look! The enemy swoops down like an eagle, spreading his wings over Bozrah. Even the mightiest warriors will be in anguish like a woman in labor.
MSG
22 Look! An eagle soars, swoops down, spreads its wings over Bozrah. Brave warriors will double up in pain, helpless to fight, like a woman giving birth to a baby." The Blood Will Drain from the Face of Damascus
CSB
22 Look! It will be like an eagle soaring upward, then swooping down and spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom's warriors will be like the heart of a woman with contractions.

Jeremiah 49:22 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 49:22

Behold, he shall come up, and fly as the eagle
The Targum is,

``behold, as an eagle comes up and flies, so shall a king come up with his army;''
the king of Babylon with his army, compared to an eagle for his swiftness and voraciousness, as before to a lion for his strength and fierceness: and spread his wings over Bozrah;
besiege that city, invest it, and seize upon it; very fitly are the wings of an army expressed by the wings of this bird, denoting both their extent and force; the same is said concerning Moab, ( Jeremiah 48:40 ) ; and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Moab be as the
heart of a woman in her pangs;
when just ready to be delivered; not only weak and timorous, but full of anguish, and: quite dispirited; (See Gill on Jeremiah 48:41).

Jeremiah 49:22 In-Context

20 Therefore, hear what the LORD has planned against Edom, what he has purposed against those who live in Teman: The young of the flock will be dragged away; their pasture will be appalled at their fate.
21 At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble; their cry will resound to the Red Sea.
22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down, spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
23 Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are dismayed, for they have heard bad news. They are disheartened, troubled like the restless sea.
24 Damascus has become feeble, she has turned to flee and panic has gripped her; anguish and pain have seized her, pain like that of a woman in labor.

Cross References 4

  • 1. S Deuteronomy 28:49; Hosea 8:1; Habakkuk 1:8
  • 2. S Genesis 36:33
  • 3. Jeremiah 50:36; Nahum 3:13
  • 4. Isaiah 13:8; Jeremiah 48:40-41
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