Matthew 23:37

God's love Grief Israel and the nations Repentance

³⁵ And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

³⁶ Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

³⁸ Look, your house is left to you desolate.

³⁹ For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
KJV: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
WEB: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!
ASV: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
DARBY: Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [the city] that kills the prophets and stones those that are sent unto her, how often would I have gathered thy children as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
BLB: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those sent to her! How often I willed to gather together your children, the way that a hen gathers together her chicks under the wings, and you⁺ were not willing!

ÅB: «Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Du som slår ihjel profetene, og steiner dem som er sendt til deg! Hvor ofte jeg ville samle barna dine, slik en høne samler kyllingene sine under vingene! Men dere ville ikke.
OTB: «Jerusalem, Jerusalem, du som dreper profetene og steiner dem som er sendt til deg, hvor ofte har jeg ønsket å samle dine barn, som en høne samler kyllingene sine under vingene, men dere ville ikke.
B1930: Jerusalem! Jerusalem! du som slår ihjel profetene, og stener dem som er sendt til dig! hvor ofte jeg vilde samle dine barn, likesom en høne samler sine kyllinger under sine vinger! Og I vilde ikke.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Luke 13:34–35
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
Read in context
Psalms 91:4
He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.
Read in context
Ruth 2:12
May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”
Read in context
Deuteronomy 32:11–12
As an eagle stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, He spread His wings to catch them and carried them on His pinions.
Read in context
Psalms 17:8
Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings
Read in context
Nehemiah 9:26
But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.
Read in context
Proverbs 1:24–31
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
Read in context
Jeremiah 6:16–17
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’
Read in context