Isaiah 26:18 “We were with child; we writhed in pain; but we gave birth to wind. We…”

Isaiah 26:18

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.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

World English Bible

We have been with child. We have been in pain. We gave birth, it seems, only to wind. We have not worked any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

American Standard Version

We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

Geneva Bible 1599

We haue coceiued, we haue borne in paine, as though we should haue brought forth winde: there was no helpe in the earth, neither did the inhabitants of the world fall.

Darby Translation

We have been with child, we have been in travail, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought the deliverance of the land, neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

Young's Literal Translation

We have conceived, we have been pained. We have brought forth as it were wind, Salvation we do not work in the earth, Nor do the inhabitants of the world fall.

Bible in Basic English

We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have given birth to wind; no salvation has come to the earth through us, and no children have come into the world.

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Cross references

“we have been in”

Hosea 13:13 Isaiah 37:3 2 Kings 19:3

Hosea 13:13 · BSB

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.

Isaiah 37:3 · BSB

to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.

2 Kings 19:3 · BSB

to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.

“we have not”

Joshua 7:7–9 1 Samuel 11:13 1 Samuel 14:45 Exodus 5:22 Exodus 5:23

Joshua 7:7–9 · BSB

“O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!

1 Samuel 11:13 · BSB

But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”

1 Samuel 14:45 · BSB

But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has acco…

Exodus 5:22 · BSB

So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?

Exodus 5:23 · BSB

Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.”

“the inhabitants”

Psalm 17:14 John 7:7 1 John 5:19

Psalm 17:14 · BSB

from such men, O LORD, by Your hand— from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

John 7:7 · BSB

The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil.

1 John 5:19 · BSB

We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.

Also

Isaiah 59:4 Isaiah 33:11

Isaiah 59:4 · BSB

No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.

Isaiah 33:11 · BSB

You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble. Your breath is a fire that will consume you.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

17As a woman with child about to give birth writhes and cries out in pain, so were we in Your presence, O LORD.

19Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her dead.

Read Isaiah 26