Those are some appropriate and interesting connections, but the most direct Bible reference of this line is to John ch 16:21-22, which compares the pain a woman feels before a birth to other kinds of pain we feel as we wait for the fulfillment of God's plan for the world (like "Still I'm waiting for the dawn..."):

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

That is exactly what I meant in post above , but Charity Dance said it so much better than I did!! 

I think its basically the pain and suffering that the world has gone through before jugdement day. Judgement day for an individual or the world. Where hopefully peace and happiness is realised. The small child being the baby Jesus.

beautiful song...beautiful responses ~ thank you!   

well to not start another Yaweh thread I have a problem too, this line:

"Take this heart
And make it break"

seems like a rough way to end the album, i know a few times live, he says "keep it safe", seemed much better.

well to not start another Yaweh thread I have a problem too, this line:

"Take this heart
And make it break"

seems like a rough way to end the album, i know a few times live, he says "keep it safe", seemed much better.

A few random, common phrases always go through my head when I hear that line:  "That breaks my heart" and "my heart breaks for you (them)."  Some things you can't fully understand - or empathize with - unless you've experienced them.  When my heart has been truly broken, I became aware of many things: who I could really count on, what I myself was capable of surviving, how hard it was just to get through the day, how there really can be laughter and love again after a tragedy.  I wouldn't know those things unless I'd gone through the experience.  I've always interpreted those lines as 1) acknowledging that humans learn a lot about their "friends" and themselves through pain and 2) asking for the ability to understand and empathize with people who are suffering.  Essentially, asking for true, humble compassion from the heart, not detatched charity from an intellectual standpoint.

well to not start another Yaweh thread I have a problem too, this line:

"Take this heart
And make it break"

seems like a rough way to end the album, i know a few times live, he says "keep it safe", seemed much better.

- a heart that hurts is a heart that beats.

also, not to start another thread either, but i really think this song should be switched in the order with OSC

well to not start another Yaweh thread I have a problem too, this line:

"Take this heart
And make it break"

seems like a rough way to end the album, i know a few times live, he says "keep it safe", seemed much better.

A heart that is broken is a heart that is open.  Open to the possibilities that God encompasses, open to love, and open empathy.  It reminds me of a quote that I may have wrong: "We're all broken.  The cracks are where the light gets in."

"The only pain is to feel nothing at all" BAMAAW

I am so glad they wrote Yahweh, its in my heart.

I've always thought of the last two lines of "Yahweh" in terms of a scripture I heard a lot in church growing up... To paraphrase: come before God with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (not feeling depressed, but being humble and aware of ones sin and weakness) and He will heal you and help you to grow in the way He wants you to be. In other words, I always took it as Bono saying "take this strong willed, prideful heart and make it humble so I can do your will."

To me, it connects with "City Of Blinding Lights": "Blessings not just for the ones who kneel, luckily." Maybe Bono's admitting to the wrestle he has (and who doesn't at various times?) with keeping his egocentricity or pride in check so that he can be a servant to the Higher Power he believes in?

I've always thought of the last two lines of "Yahweh" in terms of a scripture I heard a lot in church growing up... To paraphrase: come before God with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (not feeling depressed, but being humble and aware of ones sin and weakness) and He will heal you and help you to grow in the way He wants you to be. In other words, I always took it as Bono saying "take this strong willed, prideful heart and make it humble so I can do your will."

To me, it connects with "City Of Blinding Lights": "Blessings not just for the ones who kneel, luckily." Maybe Bono's admitting to the wrestle he has (and who doesn't at various times?) with keeping his egocentricity or pride in check so that he can be a servant to the Higher Power he believes in?

EXACTLY!  couldn't have said it better - it would be really easy to be prideful in Bono's position (I'm picturing him pointing to himself while singing, "some people got way too much confidence, baby)...
btw, Yahweh is a GREAT song to run to - pumps up the spirit and the legs!  I love it.

I've always thought of the last two lines of "Yahweh" in terms of a scripture I heard a lot in church growing up... To paraphrase: come before God with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (not feeling depressed, but being humble and aware of ones sin and weakness) and He will heal you and help you to grow in the way He wants you to be. In other words, I always took it as Bono saying "take this strong willed, prideful heart and make it humble so I can do your will."

To me, it connects with "City Of Blinding Lights": "Blessings not just for the ones who kneel, luckily." Maybe Bono's admitting to the wrestle he has (and who doesn't at various times?) with keeping his egocentricity or pride in check so that he can be a servant to the Higher Power he believes in?

EXACTLY!  couldn't have said it better - it would be really easy to be prideful in Bono's position (I'm picturing him pointing to himself while singing, "some people got way too much confidence, baby)...
btw, Yahweh is a GREAT song to run to - pumps up the spirit and the legs!  I love it.

Yeah it is!! I know a lot of people are negative about HTDAAB and/or NLOTH. I'm more of a '90s/NLOTH fan but WOOOW, HTDAAB has some seriously rockin' moments that help me when I'm working out.

Don't overlook "Yahweh's" similarities to "'40'" on an album that bears many similarities to War. IMHO, the references to pain are different takes on "How long to sing this song."

I've always thought of the last two lines of "Yahweh" in terms of a scripture I heard a lot in church growing up... To paraphrase: come before God with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (not feeling depressed, but being humble and aware of ones sin and weakness) and He will heal you and help you to grow in the way He wants you to be. In other words, I always took it as Bono saying "take this strong willed, prideful heart and make it humble so I can do your will."

To me, it connects with "City Of Blinding Lights": "Blessings not just for the ones who kneel, luckily." Maybe Bono's admitting to the wrestle he has (and who doesn't at various times?) with keeping his egocentricity or pride in check so that he can be a servant to the Higher Power he believes in?

I think you've hit the nail on the head...