Isaiah 26:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pangs when she is near to giving birth, so were we because of you, O Lord;

NIV: As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, Lord.

NASB: As the pregnant woman approaches the time to give birth, She writhes and cries out in her labor pains; This is how we were before You, Lord.

CSB: As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pains, so we were before you, Lord.

NLT: Just as a pregnant woman writhes and cries out in pain as she gives birth, so were we in your presence, Lord.

KJV: Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O Lord.

NKJV: As a woman with child Is in pain and cries out in her pangs, When she draws near the time of her delivery, So have we been in Your sight, O Lord.

The narrative of the chapter has shifted to describing the Lord's discipline on His people Israel and Judah. The discipline was both painful and productive. The prophet has stated that their distress under the Lord's discipline is so intense that the people could only whisper a prayer to Him (Isaiah 26:16).

Now he compares that discipline to the pain suffered by a woman in childbirth. She cries out as each new contraction comes. Each breath brings more intense pain as the birth gets closer. Isaiah tells the Lord that the pain He has caused them is similar in that it became greater and greater with each new season of God's discipline.

Although Isaiah redirects the analogy in the following verse, he does describe something that still surprises many believers in Jesus: The Lord disciplines His children (Hebrews 12:9). God increases the painfulness of the discipline over time if His children don't respond by repenting and turning back to Him. Israel's distress grew with each passing day as they continued in their unfaithfulness to the Lord.

This does not mean that all pain in this life is discipline from God for specific sins or rebellion (John 9:1–3; 16:33). Life on earth is full of all kinds of distress, and that is experienced by everyone, including those who are living in faithfulness to the Father. A believer's response to trials and pain should be the same no matter what God may be doing in their life: Draw closer to the Lord. Turn from sin and seek comfort in Him alone.

Isaiah 26:16–21 recalls the distress of the Lord's discipline. When Israel sinned, God sent them consequences to inspire repentance. Despite the struggles and trials of life on earth, human effort eventually comes to nothing. And yet, for those who trust in God, there will be a resurrection of the dead. Isaiah calls for the people of the Lord to take shelter while the fury of God's judgment passes over the earth.

Chapter 26 is a song to be sung in the land of Judah during the time of the Lord's reign as king over the earth. The towering city of wickedness has been replaced by the strong city of salvation. Isaiah waits, longing for the Lord to come and judge the sinfulness of the world. The Lord will bring peace to Israel for good. Their other rulers are dead and not worthy of remembering. The Lord's discipline has caused His people to turn back to Him. The dead among them will be resurrected after the fury of His judgment.

Chapter 26 is part of a larger section that includes chapters 24–27. The section of the book follows the descriptions of the Lord's judgment on the earth and the beginning of His kingdom through a song to be sung in Judah during that time. The wicked city of the world has been replaced with the city of salvation. Isaiah longs for the Lord to come and judge the earth. The prophet wants all to see the Lord's zeal for His own people by destroying His enemies. Isaiah remembers God's discipline and looks forward to the resurrection of the dead among His people.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).