Jeremiah 6:24
 Jeremiah 6:24 
New International Version (©2011)
We have heard reports about them, and our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.

New Living Translation (©2007)
We have heard reports about the enemy, and we wring our hands in fright. Pangs of anguish have gripped us, like those of a woman in labor.

English Standard Version (©2001)
We have heard the report of it; our hands fall helpless; anguish has taken hold of us, pain as of a woman in labor.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
We have heard the report of it; Our hands are limp. Anguish has seized us, Pain as of a woman in childbirth.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
We have heard about it, and we are discouraged. Distress has seized us-- pain like a woman in labor.

International Standard Version (©2012)
We have heard the news about it, and our hands are limp. Distress has seized us like a woman in labor.

NET Bible (©2006)
The people cry out, "We have heard reports about them! We have become helpless with fear! Anguish grips us, agony like that of a woman giving birth to a baby!

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
We have heard the news about them. Our hands hang limp. We are gripped by anguish and pain like a woman giving birth to a child.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
We have heard the report of it: our hands grow feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

American King James Version
We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

American Standard Version
We have heard the report thereof; our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pangs as of a woman in travail.

Douay-Rheims Bible
We have heard the fame thereof, our hands grow feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, as a woman in labor.

Darby Bible Translation
We have heard the report thereof: our hands are grown feeble; anguish hath taken hold of us, pain as of a woman that travaileth.

English Revised Version
We have heard the fame thereof; our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pangs as of a woman in travail.

Webster's Bible Translation
We have heard the fame of it: our hands become feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

World English Bible
We have heard its report; our hands wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, [and] pangs as of a woman in travail.

Young's Literal Translation
'We have heard its sound, feeble have been our hands, Distress hath seized us, pain as of a travailing woman.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:18-30 God rejects their outward services, as worthless to atone for their sins. Sacrifice and incense were to direct them to a Mediator; but when offered to purchase a license to go on in sin, they provoke God. The sins of God's professing people make them an easy prey to their enemies. They dare not show themselves. Saints may rejoice in hope of God's mercies, though they see them only in the promise: sinners must mourn for fear of God's judgments, though they see them only in the threatenings. They are the worst of revolters, and are all corrupters. Sinners soon become tempters. They are compared to ore supposed to have good metal in it, but which proves all dross. Nothing will prevail to part between them and their sins. Reprobate silver shall they be called, useless and worthless. When warnings, corrections, rebukes, and all means of grace, leave men unrenewed, they will be left, as rejected of God, to everlasting misery. Let us pray, then, that we may be refined by the Lord, as silver is refined.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 24. - We have heard the fame thereof. The prophet identifies himself (comp., for the same phenomenon, Jeremiah 4:19-21; Jeremiah 10:19, 20) with his people, and expresses the general feeling of anxiety and pain. The phraseology of the closing lines reminds us of Isaiah 13:7, 8.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

We have heard the fame thereof,.... Meaning not the prophet's report then, but the rumour of the enemy's coming from another quarter, at the time he was actually coming. These are the words of the people, upon such a rumour spread; or the words of the prophet, joining himself with them, describing their case, when it would be strongly reported, and they had reason to believe it, that the enemy was just coming, and very near:

our hands wax feeble; have no strength in them, shake and tremble like men that have a palsy, through fear and dread:

anguish hath taken hold of us; tribulation or affliction; or rather anguish of spirit, on hearing the news of the near approach of the enemy:

and pain, as of a woman in travail; which comes suddenly, and is very sharp; and this denotes that their destruction would come suddenly upon them, before they were aware, and be very severe.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

24. fame thereof—the report of them.


Jeremiah 6:24 Parallel Commentaries

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An Invasion from the North
22Thus said the LORD, Behold, a people comes from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. 23They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roars like the sea; and they ride on horses, set in array as men for war against you, O daughter of Zion. 24We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

Isaiah 21:3 At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see.
Isaiah 28:19 As often as it comes it will carry you away; morning after morning, by day and by night, it will sweep through." The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror.
Jeremiah 4:19 Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent. For I have heard the sound of the trumpet; I have heard the battle cry.
Jeremiah 4:31 I hear a cry as of a woman in labor, a groan as of one bearing her first child-- the cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands and saying, "Alas! I am fainting; my life is given over to murderers."
Jeremiah 13:21 What will you say when the LORD sets over you those you cultivated as your special allies? Will not pain grip you like that of a woman in labor?
Jeremiah 22:23 You who live in 'Lebanon,' who are nestled in cedar buildings, how you will groan when pangs come upon you, pain like that of a woman in labor!
Jeremiah 30:6 Ask and see: Can a man bear children? Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor, every face turned deathly pale?
Jeremiah 49:24 Damascus has become feeble, she has turned to flee and panic has gripped her; anguish and pain have seized her, pain like that of a woman in labor.
Jeremiah 50:43 The king of Babylon has heard reports about them, and his hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped him, pain like that of a woman in labor.
Daniel 5:9 So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.