Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! New Living Translation How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. English Standard Version And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Berean Standard Bible How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! Berean Literal Bible And woe to those having in womb and to the ones nursing infants in those days! King James Bible But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! New King James Version But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! New American Standard Bible But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! NASB 1995 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! NASB 1977 “But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days! Legacy Standard Bible But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! Amplified Bible And woe to those women who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! Christian Standard Bible Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! Holman Christian Standard Bible Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! American Standard Version But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! Contemporary English Version It will be an awful time for women who are expecting babies or nursing young children. English Revised Version But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! GOD'S WORD® Translation "How horrible it will be for the women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days. Good News Translation How terrible it will be in those days for women who are pregnant and for mothers with little babies! International Standard Version "How terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days! NET Bible Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! New Heart English Bible But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days. Webster's Bible Translation But woe to them that are with child, and to them that nurse infants in those days. Weymouth New Testament And alas for the women who at that time are with child or have infants! Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHow miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! World English Bible But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days! Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd woe to those with child, and to those giving suck, in those days; Berean Literal Bible And woe to those having in womb and to the ones nursing infants in those days! Young's Literal Translation 'And woe to those with child, and to those giving suck, in those days; Smith's Literal Translation And woe to them having in the womb, and to them giving suck in those days! Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd woe to them that are with child, and that give suck in those days. Catholic Public Domain Version But woe to those who are pregnant or nursing in those days. New American Bible Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days. New Revised Standard Version Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut woe to those who are with child, and to those who give suck in those days! Aramaic Bible in Plain English “But woe to the pregnant and to those who are nursing in those days.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentBut alas for those who are with child, and for those who give suck in those days. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament But wo to those who are big with child, and who have infants at their breasts in those days! Mace New Testament unhappy the women who are pregnant, and those who nurse children at such a time. Weymouth New Testament And alas for the women who at that time are with child or have infants! Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Abomination of Desolation…16And let no one in the field return for his cloak. 17How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! 18Pray that this will not occur in the winter.… Cross References Matthew 24:19 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! Luke 21:23 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. Luke 23:29 Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’ 1 Thessalonians 5:3 While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.” Hosea 13:16 Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open. Deuteronomy 28:56-57 The most gentle and refined woman among you, so gentle and refined she would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, will begrudge the husband she embraces and her son and daughter / the afterbirth that comes from between her legs and the children she bears, because she will secretly eat them for lack of anything else in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within your gates. Lamentations 4:10 The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people. 2 Kings 6:28-29 Then the king asked her, “What is the matter?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him, and tomorrow we will eat my son.’ / So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.” Isaiah 13:16 Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished. Jeremiah 4:31 For I hear a cry like a woman in labor, a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child—the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands to say, “Woe is me, for my soul faints before the murderers!” Jeremiah 6:24 We have heard the report; our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor. Jeremiah 30:6 Ask now, and see: Can a male give birth? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor and every face turned pale? Ezekiel 5:10 As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’ Amos 8:10 I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation. I will cause everyone to wear sackcloth and every head to be shaved. I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son, and its outcome like a bitter day. Treasury of Scripture But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! Deuteronomy 28:56,57 The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, … Lamentations 2:19,20 Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street… Lamentations 4:3,4,10 Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness… Jump to Previous Alas Babies Baby Breast Child Dreadful Hard Infants Mothers Nurse Nursing Pregnant Suck Time Wo Woe WomenJump to Next Alas Babies Baby Breast Child Dreadful Hard Infants Mothers Nurse Nursing Pregnant Suck Time Wo Woe WomenMark 13 1. Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple;9. the persecutions for the gospel; 10. that the gospel must be preached to all nations; 14. that great calamities shall happen to the Jews; 24. and the manner of his coming to judgment; 32. the hour whereof being known to none, every man is to watch and pray How miserable those days will be This phrase refers to the period of great tribulation and distress that Jesus is describing in Mark 13. The context is the Olivet Discourse, where Jesus speaks about the end times and the destruction of the temple. The term "miserable" indicates severe hardship and suffering, which aligns with the prophetic literature in the Old Testament, such as Daniel 12:1, which speaks of a time of unprecedented trouble. This period is often associated with the Great Tribulation mentioned in Revelation 7:14, a time of intense persecution and calamity. for pregnant and nursing mothers! Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe speaker of this verse, providing prophetic teaching to His disciples about the end times. 2. Pregnant and Nursing Mothers Represents vulnerable groups who will face particular hardships during the prophesied tribulations. 3. Mount of Olives The location where Jesus delivers the Olivet Discourse, which includes this prophecy. 4. The Disciples The audience of Jesus' teaching, who are being prepared for future events. 5. The Tribulation A future period of great distress and suffering, as described in the broader context of Mark 13. Teaching Points Awareness of VulnerabilityRecognize that certain groups, like pregnant and nursing mothers, may face greater challenges during times of crisis. This calls for compassion and support from the Christian community. Preparation for Tribulation Jesus' warning serves as a reminder to be spiritually prepared for difficult times. Believers should strengthen their faith and reliance on God. Urgency of the Gospel The distress of the end times underscores the urgency of sharing the Gospel. Christians are called to spread the message of hope and salvation before these events unfold. Trust in God's Sovereignty Despite the predicted hardships, believers are encouraged to trust in God's ultimate plan and sovereignty over all events. Community Support The church should be a place of refuge and support, especially for those who are most vulnerable during times of crisis. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Mark 13:17?2. How can we support expectant mothers during challenging times, as in Mark 13:17? 3. What does Mark 13:17 reveal about God's care for vulnerable individuals? 4. How does Mark 13:17 connect with God's protection in Psalm 91? 5. How should believers prepare for difficult times, considering Mark 13:17's warning? 6. What practical steps can churches take to assist families in crisis situations? 7. Why does Mark 13:17 emphasize the plight of pregnant women during end times? 8. How does Mark 13:17 reflect the urgency of Jesus' warnings about the future? 9. What historical context influenced the message in Mark 13:17? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Mark 13? 11. What are the biblical birth pains? 12. Did Jesus know everything? (John 21:17 vs. Mark 13:32) 13. In Luke 21:20-24, was Jesus prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem before it happened, or was this written after the fact? 14. If Isaiah 27:13 predicts a grand return of exiles, why are there no extra-biblical accounts confirming a major regathering at that specific time? What Does Mark 13:17 Mean How miserable• The phrase “How miserable” signals the deep anguish Jesus foresees. He is not exaggerating; He is describing literal hardship that will provoke heartfelt lament (Mark 13:19; Daniel 12:1). • Similar prophetic warnings—“Woe to those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 12:12)—underscore that this misery is both real and unparalleled. • The Lord’s tone reveals compassion: He grieves over the suffering even while affirming its certainty (Luke 19:41–44). those days • “Those days” point to a defined season of tribulation. In immediate view is the AD 70 fall of Jerusalem, yet Jesus’ wording also stretches forward to the climactic troubles preceding His return (Matthew 24:21; Luke 21:22). • Scripture consistently treats prophetic “days” as actual historical periods—never vague impressions (Genesis 7:11; Acts 2:17). • The convergence of war, deception, and cosmic signs in Mark 13 ties “those days” to the Great Tribulation (Revelation 6:12–17). will be • The verb “will be” affirms inevitability. What Jesus foretells must happen, just as “not one word of the LORD shall fall to the ground” (1 Samuel 3:19). • God’s sovereignty stands behind the timeline: He “declares the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). • Because the prophecy is certain, believers prepare, watch, and trust rather than speculate or dismiss (Mark 13:33; 2 Peter 3:11–13). for pregnant • Expectant mothers carry extra weight, move slower, and face sudden labor. In a flight-for-your-life scenario (Mark 13:14–16), that physical reality turns danger into severe peril. • Scripture often notes pregnancy’s vulnerability in crisis (1 Samuel 4:19–20; Hosea 13:16). • Jesus’ words affirm unborn life’s value; He cares for mother and child alike (Psalm 139:13–16). and nursing mothers! • Nursing mothers must protect and feed infants who cannot travel rapidly or remain silent. The demand to flee “without turning back” (Luke 17:31) intensifies their anxiety. • Shepherd imagery shows God’s tenderness toward this group: “He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads the nursing ewes” (Isaiah 40:11). • The verse is not a curse on motherhood but a compassionate acknowledgment of heightened hardship, urging the rest of God’s people to intercede and assist (Galatians 6:2). summary Mark 13:17 is Jesus’ heartfelt warning that the coming tribulation will be especially harsh on those carrying or caring for little ones. He speaks literally, foretelling an inescapable season of unparalleled distress, yet His compassion shines through. The verse calls believers to take prophecy seriously, to prepare practically, and to extend tangible care to the most vulnerable while anchoring their hope in the Savior who foresees every trial and promises ultimate deliverance. Verse 17. - But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! Women in this condition would be specially objects of pity, for they would be more exposed to danger. The words, "Woe to them (οὐαι)!" are an exclamation of pity, as, though it was said, "Alas! for them." Josephus (7:8) mentions that some mothers, constrained by hunger during the siege, devoured their own infants!Parallel Commentaries ... Greek [How]δὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. miserable Οὐαὶ (Ouai) Interjection Strong's 3759: Woe!, alas!, uttered in grief or denunciation. A primary exclamation of grief; 'woe'. those ἐκείναις (ekeinais) Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 1565: That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed. days [will be] ἡμέραις (hēmerais) Noun - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. for ταῖς (tais) Article - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. pregnant ἐχούσαις (echousais) Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. nursing [mothers]! θηλαζούσαις (thēlazousais) Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 2337: (a) I give suck, (b) I suck. From thele; to suckle, to suck. 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