New Living Translation
Matthew 23:37
37“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.
Matthew 23:37 in other versions
- King James Version (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!
- New International Version (NIV)“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
- New King James Version (NKJV)“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Context of Matthew 23:37
35As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar. 36I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 38And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. 39For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Read all of Matthew 23Matthew 23:37 word by word
Ἰερουσαλὴμ Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἡ ἀποκτείνουσα τοὺς προφήτας καὶ λιθοβολοῦσα τοὺς ἀπεσταλμένους πρὸς αὐτήν, ποσάκις ἠθέλησα ἐπισυναγαγεῖν τὰ τέκνα σου, ὃν τρόπον ὄρνις ἐπισυνάγει τὰ νοσσία αὐτῆς ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας, καὶ οὐκ ἠθελήσατε;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- O JerusalemἹερουσαλήμHierousalēm · JerusalemG2419
- that killestἀποκτείνωapokteinō · to killG615
- the prophetsπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- stonestλιθοβολέωlithoboleō · to stoneG3036
- them which are sentἀποστέλλωapostellō · to sendG649
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- theeαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- how oftenποσάκιςposakis · how often!G4212
- would I haveθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- gatheredἐπισυνάγωepisunagō · to gatherG1996
- thyσύsu · youG4771
- childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
- evenὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- asτρόποςtropos · wayG5158
- a henὄρνιςornis · henG3733
- herἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- chickensνοσσίονnossion · chickG3556
- underὑπόhupo · by/under: underG5259
- wingsπτέρυξpterux · wingG4420
- notοὐou · noG3756
Cross-references for Matthew 23:37
- Jeremiah 4:14O Jerusalem, cleanse your heart that you may be saved. How long will you harbor your evil thoughts?
- Jeremiah 6:8Listen to this warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn from you in disgust. Listen, or I will turn you into a heap of ruins, a land where no one lives.”
- Luke 13:34“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.
- Revelation 11:8And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem, the city that is figuratively called “Sodom” and “Egypt,” the city where their Lord was crucified.
- Matthew 23:30Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’
- Matthew 5:12Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
- Matthew 21:35But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.
- Matthew 22:6Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.
- 2 Chronicles 24:21Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and King Joash ordered that they stone him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple.
- Nehemiah 9:26“But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies.
- Jeremiah 2:30“I have punished your children, but they did not respond to my discipline. You yourselves have killed your prophets as a lion kills its prey.
- Jeremiah 26:23They took him prisoner and brought him back to King Jehoiakim. The king then killed Uriah with a sword and had him buried in an unmarked grave.
- Mark 12:3But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed.
- Luke 20:11So the owner sent another servant, but they also insulted him, beat him up, and sent him away empty-handed.
- Acts 7:51“You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you!
- 1 Thessalonians 2:15For some of the Jews killed the prophets, and some even killed the Lord Jesus. Now they have persecuted us, too. They fail to please God and work against all humanity
Commentaries on Matthew 23:37
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem - It is evident that our blessed Lord seriously and earnestly wished the salvation of the Jews. That he did every thing that could be done, consistently with his own perfections, and the liberty of his creatures, to effect this. That his tears over the city, Luke 19:41, sufficiently evince his sincerity. That these persons nevertheless perished. And That the reason was, they would not be gathered together under his protection…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 37O Jerusalem - See the notes at Luke 19:41-42. Would I have gathered - Would have protected and saved. Thy children - Thy people.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 34-39Verses 34-39 Our Lord declares the miseries the inhabitants of Jerusalem were about to bring upon themselves, but he does not notice the sufferings he was to undergo. A hen gathering her chickens under her wings, is an apt emblem of the Saviour's tender love to those who trust in him, and his faithful care of them. He calls sinners to take refuge under his tender protection, keeps them safe, and nourishes them to eternal life. The present dispersion and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37Even though Jesus had just given a severe judgment against Israel (Matthew 23:29–36), he truly wanted them to repent and accept God's grace. as a hen: This is an image of protective care (see also Deuteronomy 32:11; Ruth 2:12; Psalms 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 91:4).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3737. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, &c.--How ineffably grand and melting is this apostrophe! It is the very heart of God pouring itself forth through human flesh and speech. It is this incarnation of the innermost life and love of Deity, pleading with men, bleeding for them, and ascending only to open His arms to them and win them back by the power of this story of matchless love, that has…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 23:37
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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