What is the meaning ofwoein the Bible?
Answered from the commentary of Morrish Bible Dictionary, The Bible Treasury, T. B. Baines and 1 other
In the Bible, “woe” is most often a denunciation of sorrow and judgment, especially against people who have received privileges but have not answered to them. It may also express deep distress or commiseration, while in prophetic passages it can announce terrible judgments.
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What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
A declaration of 'woe' on man is frequently found in scripture. It is especially pronounced on those who have had privileges and have not answered to them. In the Prophets there are many woes against Israel and Judah, and also against the nations which had to do with Israel. The Lord when on earth pronounced woes upon those who should have been the leaders of His people. The Revelation shows that God's 'woes' will fall with mighty power on those denounced. Rev. 18:13; etc.
"The word "woe," though frequently denunciatory, as in the last clause, is not always so, but is also commiserative, as in Matthew 24:19, Mark 13:17, Luke 21:23, Revelation 8:13; Revelation 12:12.
It is scarcely to be doubted that the first word ought to be a call to attention, as "Ho," rather than a denunciation of sorrow, as in the English version. Zech. 2:6, may be compared. "Woe" is its most frequent force.
With what deep and awful solemnity does the word "Woe!" fall upon the ear, as coming from the lips of the Son of God. It is the woe consequent upon rejected grace. It is no longer merely a question of law broken, ordinances dishonoured and abused, divine institutions shamefully corrupted, prophets and wise men rejected and stoned.
'Woe to them' Jude's imprecation of doom is full of solemn meaning. The Lord Jesus in the days of His earthly ministry could be heard uttering the same 'woe unto them!' (e.g. Lk. 6:24). How often we use this word in a casual manner, but Paul uses it without levity when he says 'woe if I preach not the gospel' (1 Cor. 9:16).
146 That is what the Lord was. If any pretended to be good, He unmasked them. If any pretended to be above the evil, He shewed what they were, as He said, "Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" They were "whited sepulchres," He says. But there is always perfect grace for the sinner, as we see in the case of the woman they brought to Him. No doubt her guilt was great, and her sin horrid, and stoning justly deserved; but who is going to stone her? He detects all hearts. Though "love," He is "light," and it is impossible that any sinful heart can stand before Him. If they try it is only to have the veil drawn off as only God can draw it, and they must confess their guilt; one word of His reaches the conscience, as the woman of Samaria says, "Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did."
"But woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for ye do not enter, nor do ye suffer those that are entering to go in" (verse 13). The Kingdom has been preached unto them, but they shut willfully their eyes and turned away from the light, which had burst upon them. They did not enter in and kept others away from it. And this is an awful "woe" which falls likewise upon the modern Pharisees, though in a different sense. How many of the man-made "priests" and "teachers," following the traditions of men, usurping the place of the Lord Jesus Christ, are themselves unsaved and keep others from knowing the truth.
Now notice here, dear friends, that the prophet's intense distress was concerning himself: "Woe is ME! for I am undone; because I am unclean," etc. He did not say, Woe are we! we are undone. No; true Christianity is a personal thing — "The heart knoweth its own bitterness." Many a sentimental professor in our day may be found ready to say, We are all sinners; we are not what we should be. Such talk about our Saviour, our religion, our society, etc., thus casting themselves in with others in a lump. But this will not do for God. This is not as the Spirit teaches. He convinces each one of his own sin. He so makes the conscience sensible of its guilt as to cause it to cry out, What must I do to be saved? "God be merciful to ME a sinner." "If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole." "Woe is ME! for I am undone."
Men little think what an admission they make when they say, "We are sinners." It really means, we have death working in us because we have sinned — we are dead in trespasses and sins, and on the way to eternal death. Such is really the meaning of the common expression, "I know that I'm a sinner." Oh that the Holy Spirit would tear away the veil of ignorance and unbelief from men's minds, and so convict multitudes everywhere, that, like the prophet of old, they may cry out, "Woe is me, for I am undone!"
Such were the lessons that the prophet was effectually taught in God's presence. And so, in measure, all learn now who are under Divine teaching; for though we may not be favoured with such a vision of glory as the prophet had, yet the Holy Spirit makes us feel that we have to do with God, and that every creature is manifest in His sight. Moreover, when we now think of the presence of God, we see by faith the risen, ascended, and glorified Man, Christ Jesus. We see there, besides the holy seraphims, one who was a Man of Sorrows in this world of sin, one who was exposed to Satan's temptations, man's deceivings, and the world's unholiness; but He always did the will of Hines that sent Him, and finished His work; yea, He delighted in it, however much suffering it entailed. He never uttered an unclean word, or cherished an unholy thought, but from first to last yielded an unblemished life of holy obedience, sealing it with His own blood. When our thoughts thus centre around Him, a Lamb as it had been slain, now in the midst of the throne of heaven, we are bound to exclaim, that "all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way!" and that all our best works are unclean before God. How is it that people are not sensible of their guilt? Because they do not fear God; they do not consider what they are in God's sight; they do not come into His holy presence, and weigh in the balance of truth. When men begin to fear God, they consider that it is to Him they are responsible, as His creatures; that to Him they must give account; that He is the Judge of all; and that the holiness of heaven is the only true standard. Then they feel that they are sinners, rebels, unworthy, and have justly merited banishment from His glorious presence. Then they are awakened to their real danger; they become deeply anxious about their eternal state; and feeling despair in self, they come to the throne of God, exclaiming, "Woe is me! for I am undone."
In this way only are we taught by the Spirit that we are lost and undone. Men may know that they are sinners by comparing themselves with others: thus 'the thief knows that he is a sinner, because he is surrounded by many who are honest; the unjust knows that he is a sinner, because he is acquainted with some who are upright, etc. In this way only can we account for so many persons who evince no soul-distress being so ready to say, "I know I am a sinner." But when we are brought to think of ourselves as in God's holy presence, then, whatever have been our previous conceptions of our fancied goodness, we are made to feel guilty before God, and exposed to His coming judgment and wrath. Then, I say, our cry is, "Woe is me! for I am undone."