Isaiah 26:17

17 As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, LORD.

Isaiah 26:17 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
17 Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
17 Like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pangs when she is near to giving birth, so were we because of you, O LORD;
New Living Translation (NLT)
17 Just as a pregnant woman writhes and cries out in pain as she gives birth, so were we in your presence, LORD .
The Message Bible (MSG)
17 Like a woman having a baby, writhing in distress, screaming her pain as the baby is being born, That's how we were because of you, O God.
American Standard Version (ASV)
17 Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain and crieth out in her pangs; so we have been before thee, O Jehovah.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
17 O LORD, when we are with you, we are like pregnant women ready to give birth. They writhe and cry out in their labor pains.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
17 As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pains, so we were before You, Lord.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
17 Lord, you made us like a woman who is having a baby. She groans and cries out in pain.

Isaiah 26:17 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 26:17

Like as a woman with child
By this simile are set forth the great distresses and afflictions the church of Christ will be in, before redemption and deliverance from the antichristian yoke comes: [that] draweth near the time of her delivery;
when her burden is great and very troublesome: [is] in pain, [and] crieth out in her pangs;
for her friends to come about her, and give her all the help and assistance they can: so have we been in thy sight, O Lord;
in great distress and trouble, and crying to him for salvation and deliverance, all which were well known unto him.

Isaiah 26:17 In-Context

15 You have enlarged the nation, LORD; you have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for yourself; you have extended all the borders of the land.
16 LORD, they came to you in their distress; when you disciplined them, they could barely whisper a prayer.
17 As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, LORD.
18 We were with child, we writhed in labor, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth, and the people of the world have not come to life.
19 But your dead will live, LORD; their bodies will rise— let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy— your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Isaiah 21:3; S John 16:21; Revelation 12:2
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