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Isaiah 26:18

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

We have been like a woman in labor, suffering through the pain of childbirth, but we have given birth to nothing but wind. We have not brought any salvation to the earth, and we have not defeated our enemies.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The writer is expressing deep frustration that despite all their suffering and effort, they have accomplished nothing meaningful and brought no real deliverance to their people.

📚 Historical Context

In the book of Isaiah, written during the 8th century BC, the prophet addresses the people of Judah amid threats from Assyrian invasions and their own spiritual unfaithfulness. The verse uses the metaphor of childbirth to depict the nation's exhausting efforts to achieve security and deliverance through human alliances and military strategies, which ultimately failed to produce any real results. This reflects the broader biblical narrative of God's judgment on Judah for relying on worldly powers rather than trusting in Him.

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