Scripture · New Testament
John 16:21
John 16:21 is verse 21 of John chapter 16, shown here in the Berean Standard Bible.
Berean Standard Bible
A 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.
King James Version
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
World English Bible
A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world.
Read in context
John 16:19–23 · Berean Standard Bible
19 Aware 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’?
20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
21 A 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.
22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
23 In 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 16Greek words
Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
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Cross-references
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.
Genesis 3:16To the woman He said: “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
Isaiah 26:16O LORD, they sought You in their distress; when You disciplined them, they poured out a quiet prayer.
Isaiah 26:17As a woman with child about to give birth writhes and cries out in pain, so were we in Your presence, O LORD.
Isaiah 26:18We 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.
Jeremiah 30:6Ask now, and see: Can a male give birth? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor and every face turned pale?
Jeremiah 30:7How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it.
Hosea 13:13Labor 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.
Hosea 13:14I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes.
Micah 4:10Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!
Revelation 12:2She was pregnant and crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth.
Revelation 12:3Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.
Revelation 12:4His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, tossing them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her child as soon as she gave birth.
Revelation 12:5And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
Genesis 21:6Then Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.”
Genesis 21:7She added, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
Genesis 30:23and she conceived and gave birth to a son. “God has taken away my shame,” she said.
Genesis 30:24She named him Joseph, and said, “May the LORD add to me another son.”
1 Samuel 1:26“Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.
1 Samuel 1:27I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him,
Psalms 113:9He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
Luke 1:57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
Luke 1:58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
Galatians 4:27For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”