Luke 23:29

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed [are] the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

Complete Jewish Bible:

For the time is coming when people will say, ‘The childless women are the lucky ones — those whose wombs have never borne a child, whose breasts have never nursed a baby!

Berean Standard Bible:

Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’

American Standard Version:

For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For^{G3754}, behold^{G2400}, the days^{G2250} are coming^{G2064}, in^{G1722} the which^{G3739} they shall say^{G2046}, Blessed^{G3107} are the barren^{G4723}, and^{G2532} the wombs^{G2836} that^{G3739} never^{G3756} bare^{G1080}, and^{G2532} the paps^{G3149} which^{G3739} never^{G3756} gave suck^{G2337}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Luke 23:29

Luke 23:29 is a verse that captures a prophetic utterance made by Jesus Christ as He was being led to His crucifixion. The historical context of this verse is the Roman occupation of Judea, where Jesus, a Jewish rabbi, had gained a significant following but also attracted the ire of both religious and political authorities. He was ultimately condemned to death by crucifixion, a common Roman punishment for criminals and insurrectionists.

In the verses leading up to Luke 23:29, women are mourning for Jesus as He carries His cross to Golgotha. Jesus addresses these women, and His statement is steeped in both immediate empathy and a broader eschatological vision. The theme of the verse is apocalyptic and reflects the idea that in the future, the traditional blessings and curses will be reversed. In a culture where fertility and numerous offspring were seen as signs of divine favor and blessing, Jesus speaks of a time when the opposite will be true—where those who have not borne children (the barren) and those who have not nursed (the wombs that never bare and the paps which never gave suck) will be considered blessed.

This reversal of fortunes is often interpreted as a reference to the coming tribulations associated with the destruction of Jerusalem and the end times. In these times of great distress, Jesus suggests that it will be better not to have the responsibilities and emotional attachments associated with having children, as the suffering and upheaval will be so severe that childlessness will be considered a state of relative peace and safety. The verse speaks to the profound impact of the coming events, foreshadowing a period when the usual markers of social and religious blessing will be turned upside down.

In summary, Luke 23:29 reflects Jesus' acknowledgment of the sorrow of the women who mourn for Him, while also prophesying about a future time of calamity where traditional values and societal norms will be reversed. It is a poignant moment that encapsulates the gravity of the events unfolding and the eschatological significance they hold within the narrative of the Gospel.

*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: G3754
   There are 1189 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὅτι
   Transliteration: hóti
   Pronunciation: hot'-ee
   Description: neuter of ὅστις as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
   
2. Strong's Number: G2400
   There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἰδού
   Transliteration: idoú
   Pronunciation: id-oo'
   Description: second person singular imperative middle voice of εἴδω; used as imperative lo!; --behold, lo, see.
   
3. Strong's Number: G2250
   There are 366 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἡμέρα
   Transliteration: hēméra
   Pronunciation: hay-mer'-ah
   Description: feminine (with ὥρα implied) of a derivative of (to sit; akin to the base of ἑδραῖος) meaning tame, i.e. gentle; day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context):--age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.
   
4. Strong's Number: G2064
   There are 604 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἔρχομαι
   Transliteration: érchomai
   Pronunciation: el'-tho
   Description: middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) , or (active) , which do not otherwise occur); to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.
   
5. Strong's Number: G1722
   There are 2129 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐν
   Transliteration: en
   Pronunciation: en
   Description: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between εἰς and ἐκ); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
   
6. 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.
   
7. Strong's Number: G2046
   There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐρέω
   Transliteration: eréō
   Pronunciation: er-eh'-o
   Description: probably a fuller form of ῥέω; an alternate for ἔπω in certain tenses; to utter, i.e. speak or say:--call, say, speak (of), tell.
   
8. Strong's Number: G3107
   There are 49 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: μακάριος
   Transliteration: makários
   Pronunciation: mak-ar'-ee-os
   Description: a prolonged form of the poetical (meaning the same); supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off:-- blessed, happy(X -ier).
   
9. Strong's Number: G4723
   There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: στείρος
   Transliteration: steíros
   Pronunciation: sti'-ros
   Description: a contraction from στερεός (as stiff and unnatural); "sterile":--barren.
   
10. 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.
    
11. Strong's Number: G2836
    There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: κοιλία
    Transliteration: koilía
    Pronunciation: koy-lee'-ah
    Description: from ("hollow"); a cavity, i.e. (especially) the abdomen; by implication, the matrix; figuratively, the heart:--belly, womb.
    
12. 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.
    
13. Strong's Number: G1080
    There are 65 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: γεννάω
    Transliteration: gennáō
    Pronunciation: ghen-nah'-o
    Description: from a variation of γένος; to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate:--bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.
    
14. Strong's Number: G3149
    There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: μαστός
    Transliteration: mastós
    Pronunciation: mas-tos'
    Description: from the base of μασσάομαι; a (properly, female) breast (as if kneaded up):--pap.
    
15. Strong's Number: G2337
    There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: θηλάζω
    Transliteration: thēlázō
    Pronunciation: thay-lad'-zo
    Description: from (the nipple); to suckle, (by implication) to suck:--(give) suck(-ling).