Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?
Woe unto him that saith unto (his) father, What begettest thou? If it be wrong for a child, born in less favourable circumstances, to upbraid his parents with having given him birth; a fortiori, it is, to upbraid God for His dealings with us. Horsley translates 'a father,' and explains, The Jews considered themselves exclusively God's children, and were angry that God should adopt the Gentiles besides. Woe to him who says to one already a father, Why dost thou beget other children? But while this ultimate reference to the Gentiles is true, the translation in the English version, "his father," is clearly right, answering to "his Maker" (Isaiah 45:9). Forerius' view is probably right, 'Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou?' 'Why dost thou beget other children?' This will apply to the Jews grieving at the accession of the Gentiles.