The Meaning of Jeremiah 22:23 Explained

Jeremiah 22:23

KJV: O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!

YLT: O dweller in Lebanon, making a nest among cedars, How gracious hast thou been when pangs come to thee, Pain -- as of a travailing woman.

Darby: Thou inhabitress of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how pitiful shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, pain as of a woman in travail!

ASV: O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how greatly to be pitied shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!

KJV Reverse Interlinear

O inhabitant  of Lebanon,  that makest thy nest  in the cedars,  how gracious  shalt thou be when pangs  come  upon thee, the pain  as of a woman in travail! 

What does Jeremiah 22:23 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The cedar paneling of the people"s houses demonstrated their trust in Lebanon, since it came from there. Their homes were like little nests made of cedar (cf. Ezekiel 13:10-15). In this sense they dwelt in Lebanon, even though their homes were in Jerusalem. Sometimes Lebanon is a metonym for Israel. Yet these comfortable surroundings would not be able to protect Jerusalem from the pain that was going to come on her, pain as excruciating and inevitable as the agony of childbirth. Jerusalem was a city in the mountain heights, figuratively enthroned in Lebanon and nested in her cedars, but God would bring her down.

Context Summary

Jeremiah 22:1-30 - The Folly Of Idolatry
Jeremiah 10:1-10
We are here introduced into an idol-factory. Contrasted with the manufactured idols is the majesty of our God. There is none like Him. His name is great in might; He is the King of the nations, the true and living God, and the everlasting King! Christian, fear not or be dismayed when enemies plot against you. It is a vain device that they frame. To hide in God is a sure defence from all that man can do for our hurt. O thou true and living Savior, in thy wounds harried and faithful souls become strong and brave again.
Jeremiah 10:19-25
The prophet now bids the people prepare for their captivity. Their city would be as when a shepherd removed his slight and insubstantial tent, leaving no trace. But Jeremiah's soul is lacerated and torn with the message he must needs announce. Are we called to be shepherds? Let us see to it that we seek the Lord; so only shall our flocks not be scattered, Jeremiah 10:21. Are we in perplexity as to our path in life? It is not for us to direct ourselves, but to look up for God's sure guidance, which will be given to the soul that waits for it, Jeremiah 10:23. Are we being corrected? Let us be patient; it is only when we endure without complaining that our trial works out the highest good, and God will not give us more than we can bear, Jeremiah 10:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 22

1  He exhorts to repentance, with promises and threats
10  The judgment of Shallum;
13  of Jehoiakim;
20  and of Coniah

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 22:23 mean?

Inhabitant inhabitant of Lebanon - Making your nest in the cedars how gracious will you be when come upon you pangs the pain Like of a woman in labor
[ישבתי] (יֹשַׁבְתְּ֙) בַּלְּבָנ֔וֹן [מקננתי] (מְקֻנַּ֖נְתְּ) בָּֽאֲרָזִ֑ים מַה־ נֵּחַנְתְּ֙ בְּבֹא־ לָ֣ךְ חֲבָלִ֔ים חִ֖יל ! כַּיֹּלֵדָֽה

[ישבתי]  Inhabitant 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular construct
Root: אֲבִיאָסָף  
Sense: son (descendant) of Korah.
(יֹשַׁבְתְּ֙)  inhabitant 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בַּלְּבָנ֔וֹן  of  Lebanon 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: לְבָנׄון  
Sense: a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel.
[מקננתי]  - 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, feminine singular
(מְקֻנַּ֖נְתְּ)  Making  your  nest 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, feminine singular
Root: קָנַן  
Sense: to make a nest.
בָּֽאֲרָזִ֑ים  in  the  cedars 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֶרֶז  
Sense: cedar.
מַה־  how 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
נֵּחַנְתְּ֙  gracious  will  you  be 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, second person feminine singular
Root: חָנַן 
Sense: to be gracious, show favour, pity.
בְּבֹא־  when  come 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לָ֣ךְ  upon  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
חֲבָלִ֔ים  pangs 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֶבֶל 
Sense: a cord, rope, territory, band, company.
חִ֖יל  the  pain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חִיל 
Sense: pain, agony, sorrow, a writhing, anguish.
! כַּיֹּלֵדָֽה  Like  of  a  woman  in  labor 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.