Luke 13:34

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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!

Complete Jewish Bible:

“Yerushalayim! Yerushalayim! You kill the prophets! You stone those who are sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children, just as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you refused!

Berean Standard Bible:

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!

American Standard Version:

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 own brood under her wings, and ye would not!

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

O Jerusalem^{G2419}, Jerusalem^{G2419}, which^{G3588} killest^{G615} the prophets^{G4396}, and^{G2532} stonest^{G3036} them that are sent^{G649} unto^{G4314} thee^{G846}; how often^{G4212} would^{G2309} I have gathered^{G1996} thy^{G4675} children^{G5043} together^{G1996}, as^{{G3739}{G5158}} a hen^{G3733} doth gather her^{G1438} brood^{G3555} under^{G5259} her wings^{G4420}, and^{G2532} ye would^{G2309} not^{G3756}!

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Commentary for Luke 13:34

Luke 13:34 is a poignant verse where Jesus laments over Jerusalem, expressing deep sorrow and a parental kind of love for the city. The historical context is crucial to understanding this verse. Jerusalem, the spiritual center of Judaism, had a tumultuous history with prophets sent by God, often rejecting and even killing them for their messages of repentance and criticism of the status quo. Jesus, continuing in this prophetic tradition, is deeply troubled by the city's repeated rejection of divine guidance and the prophets who were meant to shepherd its people.

In this verse, Jesus employs the metaphor of a hen gathering her chicks under her wings, a powerful image of protection, care, and nurture. This metaphor underscores the themes of compassion and longing, as Jesus wishes to offer safety and comfort to the people of Jerusalem. However, their unwillingness to accept His guidance and the guidance of past prophets is a source of grief for Him. The verse reflects the tension between divine love and human rejection, a recurring motif in the Gospels. It also foreshadows the impending destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred in 70 AD when the Romans sacked the city and destroyed the Second Temple, an event that Jesus predicts elsewhere in the Gospels (e.g., Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21).

The themes of Luke 13:34 include divine compassion, the tragedy of human resistance to God's will, and the consequences of rejecting divine messengers. This verse is part of a broader narrative in the Gospels where Jesus expresses His desire to save and protect His people, despite their repeated rejections of Him and the prophets who came before. It serves as a call to repentance and an invitation to accept the loving care that God offers through His son, Jesus Christ.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G2419
   There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Ἱερουσαλήμ
   Transliteration: Hierousalḗm
   Pronunciation: hee-er-oo-sal-ame'
   Description: of Hebrew origin (יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם); Hierusalem (i.e. Jerushalem), the capitol of Palestine:--Jerusalem. Compare Ἱεροσόλυμα.
   
2. Strong's Number: G3588
   There are 498 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὁ
   Transliteration: ho
   Pronunciation: to
   Description: the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
   
3. Strong's Number: G615
   There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀποκτείνω
   Transliteration: apokteínō
   Pronunciation: ap-ok-ti'-no
   Description: from ἀπό and (to slay); to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy:--put to death, kill, slay.
   
4. Strong's Number: G4396
   There are 143 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: προφήτης
   Transliteration: prophḗtēs
   Pronunciation: prof-ay'-tace
   Description: from a compound of πρό and φημί; a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet:--prophet.
   
5. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
6. Strong's Number: G3036
   There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: λιθοβολέω
   Transliteration: lithoboléō
   Pronunciation: lith-ob-ol-eh'-o
   Description: from a compound of λίθος and βάλλω; to throw stones, i.e. lapidate:--stone, cast stones.
   
7. Strong's Number: G649
   There are 130 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀποστέλλω
   Transliteration: apostéllō
   Pronunciation: ap-os-tel'-lo
   Description: from ἀπό and στέλλω; set apart, i.e. (by implication) to send out (properly, on a mission) literally or figuratively:--put in, send (away, forth, out), set (at liberty).
   
8. Strong's Number: G4314
   There are 674 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: πρός
   Transliteration: prós
   Pronunciation: pros
   Description: a strengthened form of πρό; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.
   
9. Strong's Number: G846
   There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: αὐτός
   Transliteration: autós
   Pronunciation: ow-tos'
   Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
   
10. Strong's Number: G4212
    There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ποσάκις
    Transliteration: posákis
    Pronunciation: pos-ak'-is
    Description: multiplicative from πόσος; how many times:--how oft(-en).
    
11. Strong's Number: G2309
    There are 201 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: θέλω
    Transliteration: thélō
    Pronunciation: eth-el-eh'-o
    Description: apparently strengthened from the alternate form of αἱρέομαι; to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas βούλομαι properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e. choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication, to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebraism, to delight in:--desire, be disposed (forward), intend, list, love, mean, please, have rather, (be) will (have, -ling, - ling(-ly)).
    
12. Strong's Number: G1996
    There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐπισυνάγω
    Transliteration: episynágō
    Pronunciation: ep-ee-soon-ag'-o
    Description: from ἐπί and συνάγω; to collect upon the same place:--gather (together).
    
13. Strong's Number: G4675
    There are 360 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: σοῦ
    Transliteration: soû
    Pronunciation: soo
    Description: genitive case of σύ; of thee, thy:--X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.
    
14. Strong's Number: G5043
    There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: τέκνον
    Transliteration: téknon
    Pronunciation: tek'-non
    Description: from the base of τίκτω; a child (as produced):--child, daughter, son.
    
15. Strong's Number: G3739
    There are 1215 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὅς
    Transliteration: hós
    Pronunciation: ho
    Description: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article ὁ); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also οὗ.
    
16. Strong's Number: G5158
    There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: τρόπος
    Transliteration: trópos
    Pronunciation: trop'-os
    Description: from the same as τροπή; a turn, i.e. (by implication) mode or style (especially with preposition or relative prefix as adverb, like); figuratively, deportment or character:--(even) as, conversation, (+ like) manner, (+ by any) means, way.
    
17. Strong's Number: G3733
    There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὄρνις
    Transliteration: órnis
    Pronunciation: or'-nis
    Description: probably from a prolonged form of the base of ὄρος; a bird (as rising in the air), i.e. (specially), a hen (or female domestic fowl):--hen.
    
18. Strong's Number: G1438
    There are 312 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἑαυτοῦ
    Transliteration: heautoû
    Pronunciation: heh-ow-too'
    Description: from a reflexive pronoun otherwise obsolete and the genitive case (dative case or accusative case) of αὐτός; him- (her-, it-, them-, also (in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other persons) my-, thy-, our-, your-) self (selves), etc.:--alone, her (own, -self), (he) himself, his (own), itself, one (to) another, our (thine) own(-selves), + that she had, their (own, own selves), (of) them(-selves), they, thyself, you, your (own, own conceits, own selves, -selves).
    
19. Strong's Number: G3555
    There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: νοσσιά
    Transliteration: nossiá
    Pronunciation: nos-see-ah'
    Description: from νεοσσός; a brood (of chickens):--brood.
    
20. Strong's Number: G5259
    There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὑπό
    Transliteration: hypó
    Pronunciation: hoop-o'
    Description: a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)):--among, by, from, in, of, under, with. In the comparative, it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specially, covertly or moderately.
    
21. Strong's Number: G4420
    There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πτέρυξ
    Transliteration: ptéryx
    Pronunciation: pter'-oox
    Description: from a derivative of πέτομαι (meaning a feather); a wing:--wing.
    
22. Strong's Number: G3756
    There are 1328 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: οὐ
    Transliteration: ou
    Pronunciation: ookh
    Description: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare μή) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also οὐ μή, μῆκος.