Matthew 23:37

God's love Grief Israel and the nations Repentance

³⁵ That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

³⁶ Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

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!

³⁸ Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

³⁹ For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh 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, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Read in context
Psalms 91:4
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Read in context
Ruth 2:12
The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 32:11–12
As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
Read in context
Psalms 17:8
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Read in context
Nehemiah 9:26
Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
Read in context
Proverbs 1:24–31
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Read in context
Jeremiah 6:16–17
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Read in context