Luke 21:23
“Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people.”
What does Luke 21:23 mean?
Jesus is speaking here about the coming destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, when Roman armies would surround and devastate the city. He's highlighting how terrible this upheaval would be for vulnerable people, especially mothers and nursing infants who would face hunger, displacement, and danger with no way to escape quickly. The word "woe" isn't a curse on these women, but rather deep compassion for their suffering, like saying "how awful it will be for them." Jesus is essentially saying that in times of crisis and judgment, those who are most dependent and least able to protect themselves suffer most intensely. This reminds us that disaster doesn't fall equally on everyone, and those caring for small children face particular heartbreak. If you're going through upheaval in your own life right now, this verse also speaks to how Jesus notices the hardest situations and doesn't turn away from the pain of those who are struggling most.