Isaiah 26:16-18 uses the same childbirth-pain image for futile labor that produces no deliverance, contrasting with John's joyful outcome.

Micah 4:10 uses the same labor metaphor for exile leading to redemption—mirroring John's sorrow-to-joy pattern.

1 Samuel 4:20 depicts a mother dying in childbirth — a tragic reversal of the joy after birth that Jesus describes in John 16:21.

Isaiah 26:17 compares national distress to a woman's labor pains — the same metaphor Jesus uses in John 16:21 for disciples' grief.

In Romans 8:22, Paul uses the same childbirth pain imagery — creation groans awaiting redemption, just as here sorrow precedes joy.

Revelation 12:2-5 depicts the actual birth of the Messiah in labor pains—echoing Jesus' metaphor but in a literal cosmic context.

Genesis 3:16 introduces childbirth pain as a curse from the Fall, providing the background for John's metaphor of temporary suffering leading to joy.

Hosea 13:13 uses childbirth pain for Israel's failure to be born—contrasting with John's promise of joy after delivery.

Jeremiah 30:6 uses the metaphor of labor pains for distress, highlighting the common biblical image of anguish without the promise of joy.

In Luke 6:21, Jesus promises weeping turns to laughter — the same reversal of sorrow to joy pictured here by childbirth.

Galatians 4:27 quotes Isaiah about a barren woman rejoicing, using childbirth imagery similar to the pain-to-joy analogy in John 16:21.