Topical Bible: Travail

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Usage:
Travail, in biblical terms, refers to laborious effort, toil, or the pain associated with childbirth. It is often used metaphorically to describe intense struggle, suffering, or the process of bringing forth something new. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, illustrating both physical and spiritual dimensions of hardship and perseverance.

Old Testament References:
In the Old Testament, travail is frequently associated with childbirth. Genesis 3:16 records God's pronouncement to Eve: "I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children." This verse establishes the concept of travail as a consequence of the Fall, linking it to the broader theme of human suffering and redemption.

Travail is also used to describe the labor and toil of human life. Ecclesiastes 1:13 states, "And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a burdensome task God has given the sons of men to keep them occupied!" Here, the term reflects the burdensome nature of human endeavors and the quest for meaning.

New Testament References:
In the New Testament, travail takes on a more spiritual connotation. The Apostle Paul uses the imagery of childbirth to describe his ministry and the formation of Christ within believers. Galatians 4:19 reads, "My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you." This metaphor highlights the apostolic struggle and dedication required to nurture spiritual growth in others.

Romans 8:22 expands the concept of travail to creation itself: "We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time." This passage suggests that all of creation is in a state of anticipation and longing for the ultimate redemption and renewal promised by God.

Theological Significance:
Travail, as depicted in the Bible, underscores the reality of suffering in a fallen world while pointing to the hope of new life and transformation. It serves as a reminder of the cost of sin and the labor involved in spiritual growth and redemption. The metaphor of childbirth, in particular, emphasizes the idea that pain and struggle can lead to the birth of something new and glorious.

Practical Application:
For believers, the concept of travail can be an encouragement to persevere through trials and hardships, trusting that God is at work even in the midst of suffering. It calls Christians to labor in prayer, ministry, and personal sanctification, with the assurance that such efforts are not in vain. As Romans 8:18 affirms, "I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us."

Conclusion:
The biblical theme of travail invites reflection on the nature of suffering, the process of spiritual growth, and the hope of redemption. It challenges believers to embrace the struggles of life with faith, knowing that God is bringing forth His purposes through their labor and pain.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Labor with pain; severe toil or exertion.

2. (n.) Parturition; labor; as, an easy travail.

3. (n.) To labor with pain; to toil.

4. (n.) To suffer the pangs of childbirth; to be in labor.

5. (v. t.) To harass; to tire.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

TRAVAIL

trav'-al (yaladh (Genesis 35:16, etc.), chul, chil (properly "writhe," Job 15:20, etc.); odin (classical odis) (Matthew 24:8, etc.), odino (Sirach 19:11, etc.; Galatians 4:19, etc.)): "Travail" and its derivatives are used in the primary sense of the labor of childbirth, descriptive of the actual cases of Rachel (Genesis 35:16), Tamar (Genesis 38:27), Ichabod's mother (1 Samuel 4:19), and the apocalyptic woman clothed with the sun (Revelation 12:2). In the majority of passages, however, "travail" is used figuratively, to express extreme and painful sorrow (9 times in Jeremiah), "as of a woman in travail." It is also employed in the sense of irksome and vexatious business (6 times in Ecclesiastes, where it is the rendering of the word `inyan). In the same book "travail" is used to express the toil of one's daily occupation (Ecclesiastes 4:4, 6), where it is the translation of `amal. In three places (Exodus 18:8 Numbers 20:14 Lamentations 3:5) where the King James Version has "travel" the Revised Version (British and American) has changed it to "travail," as in these passages the word tela'ah refers to the sense of weariness and toil, rather than to the idea of journeying (in the King James Version the spellings "travel" and "travail" were used indiscriminately; compare Sirach 19:11; 31:5). The sorrows which are the fruits of wickedness are compared to the pain of travail in Job 15:20 (chul) and Psalm 7:14 (chabhal), the word used here meaning the torture or twisting pains of labor; see also the fanciful employment of "travail" in Sirach 19:11.

In the New Testament the travail of childbirth is used as the figure of the painful and anxious struggle against the evils of the world in the soul's efforts to attain the higher ideals of the Christian life (John 16:21 (tikto); Romans 8:22 Galatians 4:27); twice, however, it is the rendering of mochthos, the ordinary word for "toil," "hardship" or "distress" (1 Thessalonians 2:9 2 Thessalonians 3:8).

See BIRTH; LABOR.

Alex. Macalister

Greek

5605. odino -- to have birth pangs, to travail
... to have birth pangs, to travail. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: odino Phonetic
Spelling: (o-dee'-no) Short Definition: I am in travail, suffer birth ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5605.htm - 7k

4944. sunodino -- to be in travail together
... to be in travail together. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sunodino Phonetic
Spelling: (soon-o-dee'-no) Short Definition: I am in travail together ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4944.htm - 6k

5604. odin -- a birth pang
... 5604 -- properly, the pain of childbirth (travail); (figuratively) the pain to
(introduce) something new, ie to bring in . ... pain, sorrow, travail. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5604.htm - 7k

3449. mochthos -- toil, hardship
... painfulness, travail. From the base of mogis; toil, ie (by implication) sadness --
painfulness, travail. see GREEK mogis. (mochthon) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3449.htm - 6k

5088. tikto -- to beget, bring forth
... tenses); to produce (from seed, as a mother, a plant, the earth, etc.), literally
or figuratively -- bear, be born, bring forth, be delivered, be in travail. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5088.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

6045. inyan -- occupation, task
... business, travail. From anah; ado, ie (generally) employment or (specifically) an
affair -- business, travail. see HEBREW anah. 6044, 6045. inyan. 6046 . ...
/hebrew/6045.htm - 6k

8513. telaah -- weariness, hardship
... travail, travel, trouble. From la'ah; distress -- travail, travel, trouble. see
HEBREW la'ah. 8512, 8513. telaah. 8514 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8513.htm - 6k

3205. yalad -- to bear, bring forth, beget
... of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife,
declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing ...
/hebrew/3205.htm - 7k

2342. chuwl -- to whirl, dance, writhe
... form, great, grieve, (be) grievous, hope, look, make, be in pain, be much (sore)
pained, rest, shake, shapen, (be) sorrow(-ful), stay, tarry, travail (with pain ...
/hebrew/2342.htm - 6k

5999. amal -- trouble, labor, toil
... Of body or mind -- grievance(-vousness), iniquity, labour, mischief, miserable(-
sery), pain(-ful), perverseness, sorrow, toil, travail, trouble, wearisome ...
/hebrew/5999.htm - 6k

2254. chabal -- to bind, pledge
... in pain (especially of parturition) -- X at all, band, bring forth, (deal)
corrupt(-ly), destroy, offend, lay &? To (take a) pledge, spoil, travail, X very ...
/hebrew/2254.htm - 5k

2470. chalah -- to be weak or sick
... infirmity, intreat, lay to, put to pain, X pray, make prayer, be (fall, make) sick,
sore, be sorry, make suit (X supplication), woman in travail, be (become ...
/hebrew/2470.htm - 6k

Library

May 7. "I Travail in Birth Again Until Christ be Formed in You" ...
... MAY 7. "I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Gal. iv. 19).
"I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Galatians 4:19). ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /may 7 i travail in.htm

When Travail Hours are Spent and O'er,
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CCCXIII When travail hours are spent and
o'er,. And genial hours of joy In cradle songs and nursery lore. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cccxiii when travail hours are.htm

Lust and Travail Come from Sin. Whence Our Members Became a Cause ...
... Book II. On Original Sin. Chapter 41 [XXXVI.]"Lust and Travail Come from
Sin. Whence Our Members Became a Cause of Shame. Granted ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 41 xxxvi lust and travail.htm

That a Man Should Bidingly Travail in this Work, and Suffer the ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE NINE AND TWENTIETH CHAPTER That a man should bidingly travail
in this work, and suffer the pain thereof, and judge no man. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the nine and.htm

Of the Meditations of them that Continually Travail in the Work of ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE SIX AND THIRTIETH CHAPTER Of the meditations of them
that continually travail in the work of this book. Of the ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the six and 2.htm

Objective Treasures are Always Delightful: and Though we Travail ...
... THE SECOND CENTURY 79 Objective treasures are always delightful: and though
we travail endlessly. Objective treasures are always ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/79 objective treasures are always.htm

That Without Full Special Grace, or Long Use in Common Grace, the ...
... AND therefore travail fast awhile, and beat upon this high cloud of unknowing, and
rest afterward. ... But I pray thee, wherein shall that travail be? ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the six and.htm

That Some May not Come to Feel the Perfection of this Work but in ...
... SOME think this matter so hard and so fearful, that they say it may not be come
to without much strong travail coming before, nor conceived but seldom, and ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the one and 6.htm

That a Worker in this Work Should not Deem nor Think of Another ...
... hereby mayest thou see that he that may not come for to see and feel the perfection
of this work but by long travail, and yet is it but seldom, may lightly be ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the two and 6.htm

Two views of Life
... ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER TWO VIEWS OF LIFE. 'This sore travail hath God given
to the sons of man, to be exercised therewith."Ecclesiastes 1:13. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/two views of life.htm

Thesaurus

Travail (54 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Labor with pain; severe toil or exertion. 2. (n.) Parturition; labor;
as, an easy travail. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TRAVAIL. ...
/t/travail.htm - 26k

Pangs (26 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Psalms 48:6 Trembling took hold of them there, Pain, as of a woman in
travail. ... shall not sorrows take hold of thee, as of a woman in travail? ...
/p/pangs.htm - 13k

Childbirth (24 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The act of bringing forth a child; travail;
labor. Multi-Version Concordance Childbirth (24 Occurrences). ...
/c/childbirth.htm - 13k

Apple-tree (3 Occurrences)
... I sat down under his shadow with great delight"; Songs 8:5: "Under the apple-tree
I awakened thee: there thy mother was in travail with thee, there was she in ...
/a/apple-tree.htm - 11k

Pain (172 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Specifically, the throes or travail of childbirth. 4. (n.) Uneasiness of
mind; mental distress; disquietude; anxiety; grief; solicitude; anguish. ...
/p/pain.htm - 43k

Travailed (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Travail. Multi-Version Concordance Travailed
(7 Occurrences). Genesis 35:16 They traveled from Bethel. ...
/t/travailed.htm - 8k

Vexation (36 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Ecclesiastes 2:23 For all his days are but'sorrows, and his travail is
grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity. ...
/v/vexation.htm - 18k

Anguish (75 Occurrences)
... My sorrow was stirred. (See NIV). Psalms 48:6 Trembling took hold upon them
there; anguish, as of a woman in travail. (DBY NAS RSV). ...
/a/anguish.htm - 29k

Sorrows (37 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Ecclesiastes 2:23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief;
yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity. ...
/s/sorrows.htm - 17k

Task (37 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 1:13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning
all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given ...
/t/task.htm - 17k

Resources

What does it mean that all creation groans (Romans 8:22)? | GotQuestions.org

Why does God allow us to go through trials and tribulations? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to count it all joy (James 1:2)? | GotQuestions.org

Travail: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Travail (54 Occurrences)

Matthew 24:8
But all these things are the beginning of travail.
(ASV)

Mark 13:8
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be earthquakes in divers places; there shall be famines: these things are the beginning of travail.
(ASV)

John 16:21
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
(KJV ASV WBS RSV)

Romans 8:22
For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

2 Corinthians 11:27
in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.
(WEB ASV)

Galatians 4:19
My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you-
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Galatians 4:27
For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren who don't bear. Break forth and shout, you that don't travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

1 Thessalonians 2:9
For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.
(WEB KJV ASV YLT)

1 Thessalonians 5:3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

2 Thessalonians 3:8
neither did we eat bread from anyone's hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you;
(WEB KJV ASV YLT)

Revelation 12:2
And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
(Root in KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Genesis 3:16
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy conception; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
(See JPS DBY)

Genesis 38:27
It happened in the time of her travail, that behold, twins were in her womb.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Exodus 18:8
And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Numbers 20:14
Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: "Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the travail that has happened to us:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Nehemiah 9:32
Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keep covenant and loving kindness, don't let all the travail seem little before you, that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.
(WEB JPS ASV YLT)

Psalms 25:18
Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY)

Psalms 48:6
Trembling took hold of them there, pain, as of a woman in travail.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Psalms 90:10
The days of our years are threescore years and ten, Or even by reason of strength fourscore years; Yet is their pride but labor and sorrow; For it is soon gone, and we fly away.
(See JPS)

Psalms 107:12
Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help.
(See JPS)

Ecclesiastes 1:13
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
(KJV ASV YLT)

Ecclesiastes 2:23
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Ecclesiastes 2:26
For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Ecclesiastes 3:10
I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
(KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Ecclesiastes 4:4
Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
(KJV)

Ecclesiastes 4:6
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
(KJV)

Ecclesiastes 4:8
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
(KJV ASV YLT)

Ecclesiastes 5:14
But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
(KJV)

Song of Songs 8:5
Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple-tree I awakened thee: There thy mother was in travail with thee, There was she in travail that brought thee forth.
(See JPS ASV RSV)

Isaiah 13:8
And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Isaiah 14:3
And it shall come to pass in the day that Jehovah shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy trouble, and from the hard service wherein thou wast made to serve,
(See JPS)

Isaiah 21:3
Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Isaiah 23:4
Be ashamed, Sidon; for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying, "I have not travailed, nor brought forth, neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Isaiah 26:17
As a woman with child, that draweth near her delivery, is in travail, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been before thee, Jehovah.
(DBY)

Isaiah 26:18
We have been with child, we have been in travail, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought the deliverance of the land, neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
(DBY)

Isaiah 42:14
"I have been silent a long time. I have been quiet and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a travailing woman. I will both gasp and pant.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Isaiah 45:10
Woe unto him that saith unto his father. 'Wherefore begettest thou?' Or to a woman: 'Wherefore travailest thou?'
(Root in JPS ASV RSV)

Isaiah 53:11
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Isaiah 54:1
"Sing, barren, you who didn't bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife," says Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 4:19
My bowels! my bowels! I am in travail! Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace: for thou hearest, my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the clamour of war.
(DBY)

Jeremiah 4:31
For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her who brings forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, who gasps for breath, who spreads her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul faints before the murderers.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Jeremiah 6:24
We have heard its report; our hands wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, and pangs as of a woman in travail.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Jeremiah 13:21
What will you say, when he shall set over you as head those whom you have yourself taught to be friends to you? shall not sorrows take hold of you, as of a woman in travail?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Jeremiah 22:23
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!
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Jeremiah 30:6
Ask now, and see whether a man does travail with child: why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 31:8
Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her who travails with child together: a great company shall they return here.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Jeremiah 49:24
Damascus has grown feeble, she turns herself to flee, and trembling has seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her, as of a woman in travail.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Jeremiah 50:43
The king of Babylon has heard the news of them, and his hands wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Lamentations 3:5
He has built against me, and surrounded me with gall and travail.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV)

Hosea 13:13
The sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him. He is an unwise son; for when it is time, he doesn't come to the opening of the womb.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Micah 4:9
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?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Micah 4:10
Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail; for now you will go forth 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.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Micah 5:3
Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Habakkuk 3:10
The mountains saw thee, they were in travail: Torrents of waters passed by; The deep uttered its voice, Lifted up its hands on high.
(DBY)

Subtopics

Trauma

Travail

Related Terms

Travail (54 Occurrences)

Labor (181 Occurrences)

Nourish (16 Occurrences)

Journeyed (111 Occurrences)

Wrist (3 Occurrences)

Ichabod (2 Occurrences)

Tied (33 Occurrences)

Travailest (2 Occurrences)