Jeremiah 22:23Inhabitant of Lebanon, who makes your nest in the cedars, how greatly to be pitied you will be when pangs come on you, the pain as of a woman in travail!
The setting
Jerusalem, ~608 BC. Jeremiah looks at the cedar-paneled palace and sees a bird's nest about to be shaken from the tree...
The emotion here: prophetic grief over inevitable destruction
The original word
chevlei yoledah (חֶבְלֵי יוֹלֵדָה) — labor pains, sudden unavoidable agony
Why it matters
Cedar wood from Lebanon was the ultimate luxury - it took months to transport and cost fortunes
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 22:23
The 'nest in cedars' imagery - even the strongest, most beautiful tree can't protect you when the storm comes
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about being poor versus rich, but it's about building security on things that can be shaken versus the unshakeable.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 22:23
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 22:23 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 22:23 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Yahweh. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include judgment, suffering. Notable phrases: pain as of a woman in travail; greatly to be pitied. This verse contains a promise of God. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 22:23 mean to you, today?
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