We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
We have heard the news about them, and our hands have become weak with fear. Anguish has gripped us, and we're in pain like a woman giving birth.
The writer is describing how terrifying news has left people paralyzed with fear and overwhelmed with pain.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context, Jeremiah was a prophet speaking to the people of Judah during a period of spiritual rebellion and the looming threat of invasion by the Babylonian empire, as God's judgment for their idolatry and injustice. This verse captures the widespread fear and paralysis among the Judeans upon hearing reports of the enemy's approach, using the vivid image of a woman in labor to describe overwhelming pain and inevitability. Such metaphors were common in ancient Near Eastern literature to convey the intensity of emotional and physical distress during times of crisis.
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