Luke 21:23
What does Luke 21:23 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 21:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 21:23 means
Jesus pronounces a woe upon pregnant women and nursing mothers during those days, indicating the extreme hardship and suffering that will accompany Jerusalem's desolation. He states there will be "great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people." This highlights the unimaginable intensity of the affliction, where even those most vulnerable will face immense hardship. It underscores the severity of God's judgment and the widespread devastation that will engulf the region and its inhabitants.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949It will be hard for women who are with child, and for her with a baby at the breast, in those days. For great trouble will come on the land, and wrath on this people.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And woe to those with child, and to those giving suck, in those days; for there shall be great distress on the land, and wrath on this people;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But woe to them that are with child and give suck in those days: for there shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But woe to them that are with child and to them who give suck in those days, for there shall be great distress upon the land and wrath upon this people.
Context
This verse continues to elaborate on the severe nature of the "days of vengeance" mentioned in verse 22. It focuses on the intense suffering that will affect specific vulnerable groups, escalating the tragic picture of Jerusalem's fall. This specific depiction of distress provides further context for the broader calamities of falling by the sword and captivity, and the trampling of Jerusalem by Gentiles, which are described in the verse that follows, completing this section on the city's judgment.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 19:43
For the days shall come upon thee, when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
- Deuteronomy 28:56
The tender and delicate woman among you, who 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,
- 1 Thessalonians 2:16
forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
- Luke 19:27
But these mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
- Luke 23:29
For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck.
- Hebrews 10:26
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Luke 21
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Luke 21.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Drunkenness
Drunkenness in the Bible is consistently depicted as a vice that leads to spiritual and practical harm, urging believers toward self-control.
Topic
Bible Verses About Gluttony
The Bible addresses gluttony as a vice linked to self-indulgence and a lack of self-control, warning against its destructive spiritual and physical consequences.
Topic
Bible Verses About Children
God’s Word provides profound insights into the rearing, value, and blessing of children, as well as the responsibilities of both parents and children.
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for Anxiety Before a Job Interview
Quiet your nerves and walk in with steady steps — six verses to pray on the way.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When Prayer Feels Empty
When the words won't come — scripture for the dry prayer life.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You Feel Forgotten by God
When the prayers feel one-sided — verses for the quiet seasons.