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frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/matthew/24-7.htm" title="Matthew 24:7">◄</a> Matthew 24:8 <a href="/matthew/24-9.htm" title="Matthew 24:9">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/matthew/24.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/matthew/24.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />All these are the beginning of birth pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/24.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/24.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/24.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />All these are the beginning of birth pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/24.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And all these <i>are</i> <i>the</i> beginning of birth pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/24.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />All these <i>are</i> the beginning of sorrows.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/24.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />All these <i>are</i> the beginning of sorrows.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/24.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But all these things are <i>merely</i> the beginning of birth pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/24.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/24.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“But all these things are <i>merely</i> the beginning of birth pangs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/24.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But all these things are <i>merely</i> the beginning of birth pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/24.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But all these things are <i>merely</i> the beginning of birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish and the time of unprecedented trouble].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/24.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />All these events are the beginning of labor pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/24.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />All these events are the beginning of birth pains. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/24.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />But all these things are the beginning of travail.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/24.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But this is just the beginning of troubles. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/24.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />But all these things are the beginning of travail.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/24.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />All of these are only the beginning pains [of the end].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/24.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />All these things are like the first pains of childbirth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/24.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/24.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />All these are the beginning of birth pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/24.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />All these things are the beginning of birth pains. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/24.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/24.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />All these are the beginning of sorrows.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/24.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />but all these miseries are but like the early pains of childbirth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/24.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/24.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and all these [are the] beginning of travails;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/24.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And all these <i>are</i> <i>the</i> beginning of birth pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/24.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and all these are the beginning of sorrows;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/24.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And all these the beginning of anguish.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/24.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Now all these are the beginnings of sorrows. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/24.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />But all these things are just the beginning of the sorrows.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/24.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />All these are the beginning of the labor pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/24.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/24.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But all these things are just the beginning of travail.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/24.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />But all these things are the beginning of sorrows.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/24.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />But all these are the beginning of sorrows.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/24.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>And all these things are the beginning of travails.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/24.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />Now all these things are the beginning of the travailing pangs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/24.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />yet all this is but the beginning of sorrow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/24.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />but all these miseries are but like the early pains of childbirth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/24.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>But all these are a beginning of travail.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/24.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>all which are but the beginning of sorrows.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/24-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=7116" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/24.htm">Signs of the End of the Age</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/3956.htm" title="3956: panta (Adj-NNP) -- All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.">All</a> <a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: tauta (DPro-NNP) -- This; he, she, it. ">these are</a> <a href="/greek/746.htm" title="746: archē (N-NFS) -- From archomai; a commencement, or chief.">the beginning</a> <a href="/greek/5604.htm" title="5604: ōdinōn (N-GFP) -- The pain of childbirth, acute pain, severe agony, a snare. Akin to odune; a pang or throe, especially of childbirth.">of birth pains. </a> </span> <span class="reftext">9</span>Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Mark 13:8</a></span><br />Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/21-10.htm">Luke 21:10-11</a></span><br />Then He told them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. / There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/8-22.htm">Romans 8:22</a></span><br />We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/6-3.htm">Revelation 6:3-8</a></span><br />And when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” / Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword. / And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/13-6.htm">Isaiah 13:6-8</a></span><br />Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty. / Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt. / Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/30-6.htm">Jeremiah 30:6-7</a></span><br />Ask now, and see: Can a male give birth? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor and every face turned pale? / How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/12-1.htm">Daniel 12:1</a></span><br />“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/5-3.htm">1 Thessalonians 5:3</a></span><br />While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/3-1.htm">2 Timothy 3:1</a></span><br />But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/7-5.htm">Ezekiel 7:5-7</a></span><br />This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Disaster! An unprecedented disaster—behold, it is coming! / The end has come! The end has come! It has roused itself against you. Behold, it has come! / Doom has come to you, O inhabitants of the land. The time has come; the day is near; there is panic on the mountains instead of shouts of joy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joel/2-1.htm">Joel 2:1-2</a></span><br />Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near— / a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zephaniah/1-14.htm">Zephaniah 1:14-15</a></span><br />The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. / That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-13.htm">Hosea 13:13</a></span><br />Labor pains come upon him, but he is an unwise son. When the time arrives, he fails to present himself at the opening of the womb.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/4-9.htm">Micah 4:9-10</a></span><br />Why do you now cry aloud? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor? / Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/26-17.htm">Isaiah 26:17-18</a></span><br />As a woman with child about to give birth writhes and cries out in pain, so were we in Your presence, O LORD. / We were with child; we writhed in pain; but we gave birth to wind. We have given no salvation to the earth, nor brought any life into the world.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">All these are the beginning of sorrows.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/26-18.htm">Leviticus 26:18-29</a></b></br> And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/28-59.htm">Deuteronomy 28:59</a></b></br> Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, <i>even</i> great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/9-12.htm">Isaiah 9:12,17,21</a></b></br> The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand <i>is</i> stretched out still… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/20-8.htm">Beginning</a> <a href="/matthew/19-12.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Birth-Pangs</a> <a href="/micah/4-9.htm">Childbirth</a> <a href="/matthew/21-18.htm">Early</a> <a href="/matthew/23-26.htm">First</a> <a href="/matthew/8-8.htm">Merely</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-7.htm">Miseries</a> <a href="/matthew/8-17.htm">Pains</a> <a href="/micah/4-9.htm">Pangs</a> <a href="/zephaniah/3-18.htm">Sorrows</a> <a href="/hosea/13-13.htm">Throes</a> <a href="/habakkuk/3-10.htm">Travail</a> <a href="/matthew/6-34.htm">Troubles</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/24-21.htm">Beginning</a> <a href="/mark/7-26.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Birth-Pangs</a> <a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Childbirth</a> <a href="/matthew/27-1.htm">Early</a> <a href="/matthew/24-34.htm">First</a> <a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Merely</a> <a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Miseries</a> <a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Pains</a> <a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Pangs</a> <a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Sorrows</a> <a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Throes</a> <a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Travail</a> <a href="/mark/10-30.htm">Troubles</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 24</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/24-1.htm">Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/24-3.htm">what and how great calamities shall be before it;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/24-29.htm">the signs of his coming to judgment.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/24-36.htm">And because that day and hour are unknown,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">42. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/24-42.htm">we ought to watch like good servants, expecting our Master's coming.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/24.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/24.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>All these</b><br>This phrase refers to the preceding signs and events described by Jesus in <a href="/matthew/24.htm">Matthew 24</a>, such as wars, famines, earthquakes, and false prophets. These events are not isolated incidents but part of a larger pattern that Jesus outlines as indicators of the end times. In the biblical context, these signs are often seen as judgments or warnings from God, similar to the plagues in Egypt (Exodus 7-11) or the signs given to the prophets (e.g., <a href="/isaiah/13.htm">Isaiah 13</a>, <a href="/ezekiel/14.htm">Ezekiel 14</a>).<p><b>are the beginning</b><br>The use of "beginning" suggests that these events are not the culmination but the onset of a series of occurrences leading to a significant climax. This aligns with the prophetic literature in the Old Testament, where initial signs often precede greater fulfillment (e.g., <a href="/daniel/9-24.htm">Daniel 9:24-27</a>). Theologically, this indicates that while these events are significant, they are not the end themselves but precursors to the final events of the eschatological timeline.<p><b>of birth pains.</b><br>The metaphor of "birth pains" is significant in both Jewish and Christian eschatology. In the Old Testament, birth pains are used to describe the suffering that precedes a new era or deliverance (<a href="/isaiah/26-17.htm">Isaiah 26:17-18</a>, <a href="/jeremiah/30-6.htm">Jeremiah 30:6-7</a>). In the New Testament, Paul uses a similar metaphor in <a href="/romans/8-22.htm">Romans 8:22</a> to describe creation's anticipation of redemption. The imagery suggests that just as birth pains increase in intensity and frequency before the birth of a child, so too will these events intensify before the coming of the Kingdom of God. This metaphor also implies hope and new beginnings, as birth ultimately results in new life, pointing to the eventual return of Christ and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>The speaker of this passage, providing prophetic teaching to His disciples about the end times.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_of_olives.htm">Mount of Olives</a></b><br>The location where Jesus delivers the Olivet Discourse, which includes this passage.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/d/disciples.htm">Disciples</a></b><br>The immediate audience of Jesus' teaching, representing all believers who seek understanding of end-time events.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/e/end_times.htm">End Times</a></b><br>The period leading up to the return of Christ, characterized by various signs and tribulations.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/b/birth_pains.htm">Birth Pains</a></b><br>A metaphor used by Jesus to describe the initial signs of the end times, indicating that more significant events are to follow.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_the_metaphor.htm">Understanding the Metaphor</a></b><br>The term "birth pains" (Greek: "odinon") suggests that the initial signs of the end times are just the beginning, much like labor pains precede the birth of a child. This indicates that believers should be prepared for increasing intensity in world events.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/signs_of_the_times.htm">Signs of the Times</a></b><br>Jesus' use of "birth pains" implies that these events are not the end themselves but precursors. Believers should be discerning and not be alarmed, understanding that these are part of God's sovereign plan.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_amidst_tribulation.htm">Hope Amidst Tribulation</a></b><br>Just as labor pains lead to the joy of new life, the trials of the end times will culminate in the return of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom. This should encourage believers to remain steadfast and hopeful.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/call_to_readiness.htm">Call to Readiness</a></b><br>The metaphor calls Christians to be spiritually vigilant and prepared, living in a manner that reflects the imminent return of Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/encouragement_in_suffering.htm">Encouragement in Suffering</a></b><br>Recognizing that current sufferings are temporary and purposeful can provide comfort and strength to endure, knowing that they lead to a glorious future.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_24.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 24</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_bible's_'beginning_of_sorrows'.htm">What are the Bible's "beginning of sorrows"?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_psalm_37_23_mean.htm">What are the Bible's 'beginning of sorrows'?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_the_biblical_birth_pains.htm">What are the biblical birth pains?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_predict_the_end_times_repeatedly.htm">Why do people repeatedly predict the end times?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/24.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">The beginning of sorrows.</span>--The words mean strictly, <span class= "ital">the beginning of travail pangs.</span> The troubles through which the world passes are thought of as issuing in a "new birth"--the "regeneration" of <a href="/matthew/19-28.htm" title="And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, That you which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.">Matthew 19:28</a>. So St. Paul speaks of the whole creation as "travailing in pain together" (<a href="/romans/8-22.htm" title="For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.">Romans 8:22</a>). So a time of national suffering and perplexity is one in which "the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth" (<a href="/isaiah/37-3.htm" title="And they said to him, Thus said Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.">Isaiah 37:3</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/24.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Beginning of sorrows;</span> <span class="greek">ὠδίνων</span>: <span class="accented">labour pangs, travailings.</span> The metaphor often occurs (see <a href="/isaiah/26-17.htm">Isaiah 26:17</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/13-21.htm">Jeremiah 13:21</a>; <a href="/hosea/13-13.htm">Hosea 13:13</a>, etc). These great events are called "labour pangs" because they usher in the new creation, "the regeneration" spoken of in <a href="/matthew/19-28.htm">Matthew 19:28</a> (see note there). St. Paul writes (<a href="/romans/8-22.htm">Romans 8:22</a>), "The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." The tribulations and calamities which preceded and accompanied the overthrow of the Jewish polity are a sign and warning of the great and universal woes Which shall herald the day of judgment. Jewish writings speak of "the sorrows of Messiah," distresses, wars, famine, dissension, etc., which should herald his advent, and Christ may have used the popular opinion, true as far as it went, as a vehicle for conveying the further truth, that the coming age would be produced amid terrible agonies of men, peoples, and nature. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/24-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">All</span><br /><span class="grk">πάντα</span> <span class="translit">(panta)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> </span><span class="str2">All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">these [are]</span><br /><span class="grk">ταῦτα</span> <span class="translit">(tauta)</span><br /><span class="parse">Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> </span><span class="str2">This; he, she, it. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">[the] beginning</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀρχὴ</span> <span class="translit">(archē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_746.htm">Strong's 746: </a> </span><span class="str2">From archomai; a commencement, or chief.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of birth pains.</span><br /><span class="grk">ὠδίνων</span> <span class="translit">(ōdinōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5604.htm">Strong's 5604: </a> </span><span class="str2">The pain of childbirth, acute pain, severe agony, a snare. Akin to odune; a pang or throe, especially of childbirth.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/24-8.htm">Matthew 24:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/24-8.htm">Matthew 24:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/24-8.htm">Matthew 24:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/24-8.htm">Matthew 24:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/24-8.htm">Matthew 24:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/24-8.htm">Matthew 24:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/24-8.htm">Matthew 24:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/24-8.htm">Matthew 24:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/24-8.htm">Matthew 24:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/24-8.htm">Matthew 24:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/24-8.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 24:8 But all these things are the beginning (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/24-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 24:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 24:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/24-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 24:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 24:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>