What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?
What will you say when God punishes you? You taught your enemies to rule over you as leaders and chiefs. Won't intense pain grip you like a woman giving birth?
God is warning that the consequences of poor choices will bring unavoidable pain, like the intense but necessary pain of childbirth.
📚 Historical Context
During the time of the prophet Jeremiah in ancient Judah, the nation was facing God's judgment for their idolatry, moral corruption, and unwise alliances with foreign powers like Babylon. Jeremiah was delivering a message of warning to the leaders, pointing out that their actions had empowered enemies to become their rulers, leading to inevitable suffering and exile. This verse uses vivid imagery to emphasize the painful consequences of their choices amid the broader historical context of impending Babylonian conquest.
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