Before she was in labour, she brought forth; before her time came to be delivered, she brought forth a man child.
Ibn Ezra
תחיל She travailed. Comp. חיל trembling (Ps. 45:7). Before she travailed she brought forth. This is a figurative expression, indicating, that the Israelites will return to Zion, without any difficulty, like a woman, that bears children without troubles. והמליטה זכר She was delivered of a man child. Comp. תְּמַלֵּט she will lay eggs (34:15), though of a different conjugation.—The Israelites will suddenly come together, without much exertion, from all quarters; it will be as though Zion had conceived and born her children in one day, and that is wonderful.
Hebrew and Aramaic words are the commentator’s citations of the sacred text; the English translation that follows each is the translator’s.
Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.