Jeremiah 30:6
Aske yee now and see whether a man doeth trauaile with child? wherefore doe I see euery man with his handes on his loynes, as a woman in trauaile, and all faces are turned into palenesse? Jeremiah 30:6 (KJV)
The passage “Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?” is not found in the Book of Jeremiah in any standard translation of the Bible. No verse in Jeremiah contains those exact words or this specific imagery; the quotation appears to be a misattribution or a later paraphrase rather than a biblical text.
The book of Jeremiah is a prophetic book in the Old Testament, written by the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah prophesied during a time of great turmoil and impending judgment upon the people of Judah, particularly warning of the Babylonian captivity and the destruction of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah often employed vivid and symbolic language to convey the severity of Israel’s situation. While the specific image of men with their hands on their loins “as a woman in travail” is not part of his recorded sayings, other passages use strong metaphors to illustrate the nation’s suffering and impending disaster.
The spiritual significance of such imagery emphasizes the gravity of the people’s sin and the resulting divine judgment. Jeremiah’s prophecies highlight that the coming calamities would bring profound distress and hardship for the nation.
His primary concern was to warn Judah about the imminent Babylonian invasion and the consequent exile. He stressed that continued rebellion against God would lead to unavoidable judgment.
Throughout the book Jeremiah urges the people to recognize the seriousness of their wrongdoing and to repent. He calls them to turn back to God before disaster fully unfolds, emphasizing the urgency of returning to faithful obedience.
Although Jeremiah addressed a specific historical crisis, the broader principle remains relevant: sin carries consequences, divine judgment is a real possibility, and repentance is necessary for restoration. The passage encourages contemporary readers to acknowledge the need for repentance and to seek God’s forgiveness and restoration, especially in times of trouble.
