We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
Brought forth wind. Michaelis explains this of the disease called empneumatosis. Rather, "wind" is a figure for that which proves an abortive effort. The "We" is in antithesis to "Thy," "my" (Isaiah 26:19): what we vainly attempt, God will accomplish.
We have not wrought any deliverance in the earth - rather, the land (Judea) is not made security; literally, salvations - i:e., is not yet become a place of security from our enemies. Hebrew, yªshuw`ot (H3444) bal (H1077) na`ªseh (H6213) (the Niphal participle) 'erets (H776); because it was not the province of the Jews, but of God, to work deliverance or salvations.
Neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. The "world" (the God-opposed people of the world), is in antithesis to "the earth" - i:e., Judea. The world at enmity with the city of God has not been subdued. But Maurer explains "fallen," according to the Arabic idiom, of the birth of a child, which is said to fall when being born: 'inhabitants of the Israelite world are not yet born' - i:e., the country as yet lies desolate, and is not yet populated. But "world" can hardly be used in this sense.