John 16:21

John 16:21, in plain English

Jesus uses the picture of a mother in labor—when the baby arrives, the pain fades and joy takes over. That's exactly what's about to happen for you.

Why it's here

This beautiful analogy shows that the suffering ahead isn't pointless. Just as birth pangs produce new life, the cross will produce resurrection joy.

Who's speaking

Jesus speaks with gentle reassurance to His anxious disciples.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus reaches for an image everyone understands: a mother forgets her labor pain the moment she holds her child. He's saying the coming grief will give birth to something wonderful.

The scholarly reading

Jesus employs the metaphor of childbirth to illustrate how intense suffering can give way to surpassing joy, a motif rooted in Old Testament prophetic literature.

Language and setting

The childbirth analogy parallels Isaiah 26:17-19 and Micah 4:9-10, where birth pangs symbolize messianic tribulation preceding deliverance. The Greek 'thlipsis' (anguish) is the same word used for eschatological suffering.

Voice

Jesus continues His teaching to the disciples using prophetic imagery.

Significance

Jesus uses the universal experience of a mother's labor to help His disciples understand the pattern: the pain of the cross is not meaningless but productive, leading to new life.

19Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’?

20Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

21A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.

22So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

23In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

Read all of John 16 — Jesus warns of persecution and promises the Spirit of truth. A woman in labor forgets her anguish when the child arrives — and so will they.