What does the Bible say about labor pains?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible presents labor pains as both a consequence of humanity’s fall and a vivid image of anguish that God can turn toward new life, judgment, and hope. Genesis 3:16 connects painful childbirth with sin’s entrance into the world, yet childbirth remains part of God’s good purpose of multiplying life. Jesus says in John 16:21 that a mother’s sorrow becomes joy when her child is born, illustrating the disciples’ coming resurrection joy. Prophets use labor imagery for Zion’s distress and promised deliverance, as in Micah 4:9-10 and Isaiah 66:7-8. Romans 8:22 teaches that all creation groans like a woman in labor, awaiting final redemption in Christ.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Genesis 3:16 10 votes
To the woman he said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. You will bear children in pain. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
- John 16:21 8 votes
A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world.
- Isaiah 26:17 7 votes
Just as a woman with child, who draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain and cries out in her pangs, so we have been before you, Yahweh.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:3 7 votes
For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman. Then they will in no way escape.
- Micah 4:9-10 6 votes
Now why do you cry out aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pains have taken hold of you as of a woman in travail? Be in pain, and labor to give birth, daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail; for now you will go out of the city, and will dwell in the field, and will come even to Babylon. There you will be rescued. There Yahweh will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.
- Romans 8:22 6 votes
For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
- Jeremiah 22:23 6 votes
Inhabitant of Lebanon, who makes your nest in the cedars, how greatly to be pitied you will be when pangs come on you, the pain as of a woman in travail!
- Isaiah 66:7-8 5 votes
“Before she travailed, she gave birth. Before her pain came, she delivered a son. Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she gave birth to her children.
- Revelation 12:2 4 votes
She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth.
- Galatians 4:19 4 votes
My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—
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