John Gill Commentary Jeremiah 4:31

"For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that gaspeth for breath, that spreadeth her hands, [saying], Woe is me now! for my soul fainteth before the murderers." — Jeremiah 4:31 (ASV)

For I has heard a voice as of a woman in travail So the distress of the Jews, at the time of their destruction, is compared to the sorrows of a woman in travail; and a word, that signifies that is used to express it, (Matthew 24:8) :

and the anguish as of her that brings forth her first child ; whose time is more difficult, her pains sharper, her anguish greater, and, having less experience, the more impatient:

the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewails herself ; her unhappy condition, and miserable circumstances:

that spreads her hands ; as persons in distress do, and particularly women in travail:

saying, woe is me now, for my soul is wearied because of murderers : these abounded: under the second temple, and was the reason, the Jews say: {m}, of the sanhedrim removing from their usual place in the temple; and why they ceased from the beheading of the red heifer ^F14.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F14: Misn. Sota, c. 9. sect. 9.