ὠδίνω (ōdinō)
ōdinō
be in labor
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb ōdinō describes the intense physical experience of labor pains or childbirth. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, carrying a literal sense in Revelation 12:2 where a woman is depicted suffering through the process of giving birth. This concrete image grounds the word’s deeper metaphorical use found in Galatians.
Paul employs ōdinō figuratively in Galatians 4:19 to express his spiritual anguish for the believers in Galatia. He describes himself as being "in labor pains" again until Christ is formed in them. This usage draws on the Old Testament tradition, where similar language often conveys deep distress or anticipation of a new era, linking personal suffering with the birth of something significant.
The word’s root relates to the pain and effort inherent in bringing forth new life. By using this term, Scripture connects physical exertion with spiritual transformation, suggesting that true change requires a period of intense, often uncomfortable, preparation before the result can emerge.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ōdinō captures the raw intensity of childbirth, a moment where pain and purpose intersect. In Revelation 12:2, we see this literal struggle, but Paul takes that same image to describe his heart for the Galatian believers. He speaks of being in labor pains until Christ is formed in them. This tells us that spiritual growth is not always gentle or quiet; it can involve a deep, personal ache as God works within us.
When you feel like your faith is struggling or changing slowly, remember that new life often requires pressure. The discomfort you experience is not a sign of failure but part of the process of becoming who God created you to be. Just as birth brings forth something precious, this season of tension can lead to a deeper reliance on Christ.
God uses these moments to shape your character. You are not alone in this work. The same power that brings life into the world is at work in your heart, preparing you for a future filled with hope and transformation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- travailing,1×
- being in travail1×
- I travail1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὠδίνω1×
- ὠδίνουσα,1×
- ὠδίνουσα1×
Key Verses
-
Galatians 4:19
My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—
Paul uses this word to express his intense spiritual anguish and desire for the Galatian believers to mature in their faith.
-
Revelation of John 12:2
She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth.
This verse provides the literal context of the word, describing a woman crying out in pain as she gives birth.
-
Galatians 4:27
For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you who don’t travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”
The term appears here in a quotation from Isaiah to contrast barrenness with the unexpected fruitfulness of God's promise.