Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 26:17
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.
17. The agony of the crisis is compared to the pangs of a woman in travail, a common figure, Hos 13:13; Mic 4:10, &c.
in thy sight ] Or, because of thee Thy chastening hand.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Like as a woman with child … – This verse is designed to state their griefs and sorrows during the time of their oppression in Babylon. The comparison used here is one that is very frequent in the sacred writings to represent any great suffering (see Psa 48:6; Jer 6:24; Jer 13:21; Jer 22:23; Jer 49:24; Jer 50:43; Mic 4:9-10).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
So have we been, such was our anguish and danger, in thy sight; whilst thou didst only look upon us like a mere spectator, without affording us the least degree of pity or help. Or this phrase notes only the reality of the thing; God was witness of this our misery, and knoweth the truth of what I say.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. An image of anguishaccompanied with expectation, to be followed by joy that will causethe anguish utterly to be forgotten. Zion, looking for deliverance,seemingly in vain, but really about to be gloriously saved (Mic 4:9;Mic 4:10-13; Mic 5:1-3;Joh 16:21; Joh 16:22).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Like as a woman with child,…. By this simile are set forth the great distresses and afflictions the church of Christ will be in, before redemption and deliverance from the antichristian yoke comes:
[that] draweth near the time of her delivery; when her burden is great and very troublesome:
[is] in pain, [and] crieth out in her pangs; for her friends to come about her, and give her all the help and assistance they can:
so have we been in thy sight, O Lord; in great distress and trouble, and crying to him for salvation and deliverance, all which were well known unto him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
17. As a woman with child. Here two things ought chiefly to be remarked. First, he compares believers to women in labor, who, we know, endure exquisite pain; and, accordingly, he says that their anguish breaks out into loud and violent cries. Hence we infer that the Prophet does not only speak of that sorrow which arises from outward distresses and annoyances, but rather describes that dreadful anguish by which the hearts of the godly are sorely and dreadfully tormented, when they perceive that God is angry with them, and when their consciences reprove them. There is no bodily pain so acute that it can be compared to that anguish, and this is plainly expressed by the phrase in thy sight
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(17) Like as a woman with child.This, as in Mat. 24:8, Joh. 16:21, comes as the most natural image of longing, painful expectation, followed by great joy.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 26:17 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.
Ver. 17. So have we been in thy sight. ] Heb, From thy face – i.e., by reason of thy wrath. So 2Th 1:9 , “Who shall be punished from the presence of God,” that is, of God himself present to their terror.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Like as a woman. &c. These refer to the birth-pangs of the Great Tribulation, which issue in the new nation.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Isa 13:8, Isa 21:3, Psa 48:6, Jer 4:31, Jer 6:24, Jer 30:6, Joh 16:21, 1Th 5:3
Reciprocal: Gen 3:16 – in sorrow Exo 5:23 – neither hast thou delivered 2Ki 19:3 – for the children Isa 37:3 – for the Jer 48:41 – as the heart Jer 49:22 – the heart of the Lam 2:18 – heart Hos 13:13 – for he Mic 4:9 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
26:17 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 {q} sight, O LORD.
(q) That is, in extreme sorrow.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
During Isaiah’s own times, Israel went through many pains, as a woman in labor. But rather than giving birth to something significant, the salvation of the world or many individuals, these experiences only proved painful for the Israelites. They had not learned from God’s dealings with them any more than the nations had (Isa 26:10).