Luke 11:47

KJV

Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

KJV (with Strong's)

Woe {G3759} unto you {G5213}! for {G3754} ye build {G3618} the sepulchres {G3419} of the prophets {G4396}, and {G1161} your {G5216} fathers {G3962} killed {G615} them {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

“Woe to you! You build tombs in memory of the prophets, but your fathers murdered them!

Berean Standard Bible

Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them.

American Standard Version

Woe unto you! for ye build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Luke 11:47, Jesus delivers a scathing indictment against the legal experts and Pharisees of His day, exposing their profound hypocrisy. He condemns them for building elaborate tombs for the prophets, while simultaneously perpetuating the same spirit of rejection and persecution that led their ancestors to murder those very prophets. This "woe" highlights the stark contrast between outward displays of piety and an inward heart of rebellion against God's living truth and His messengers.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is part of a series of "woes" (condemnations) Jesus pronounces against the religious leaders, specifically the Pharisees and lawyers, in [Luke 11](/luke/11 "Luke 11 - Woes Against the Pharisees and Lawyers"). The discourse begins when Jesus is invited to dinner by a Pharisee and critiques their ceremonial handwashing ([Luke 11:37-38](/luke/11-37-38 "Luke 11:37-38 - Jesus Dines with a Pharisee")). His initial condemnation of their inner defilement and outward show ([Luke 11:39-41](/luke/11-39-41 "Luke 11:39-41 - Inner vs. Outer Cleanliness")) leads to a lawyer interjecting, prompting Jesus to extend His rebukes to them as well ([Luke 11:45-46](/luke/11-45-46 "Luke 11:45-46 - Woes to the Lawyers")). The specific woe in [Luke 11:47](/luke/11-47 "Luke 11:47 - Woe for Building Tombs") directly follows Jesus' criticism of the lawyers for burdening people with impossible demands while not lifting a finger themselves. This sets the stage for the ultimate accusation of their complicity in the historical persecution of God's prophets, culminating in their rejection of Jesus Himself.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, honoring the dead, especially revered figures, was a common practice. Building and maintaining tombs, particularly for prophets, was seen as an act of piety and respect. By Jesus' time, many elaborate monuments had been erected for prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. However, this outward show of reverence often masked a deep-seated spiritual hypocrisy. The very leaders who meticulously observed external religious practices, such as tithing and ritual purity, often neglected the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness ([Luke 11:42](/luke/11-42 "Luke 11:42 - Woe for Neglecting Justice and Love")). They revered dead prophets but actively opposed and persecuted God's living messengers, including John the Baptist and Jesus. Their actions demonstrated a continuity with their ancestors, who had historically rejected and killed the prophets sent by God.

* **Key Themes:** [Luke 11:47](/luke/11-47 "Luke 11:47 - Woe for Building Tombs") contributes significantly to several key themes within Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully highlights the theme of **hypocrisy unveiled**. Jesus consistently exposes the chasm between outward religious performance and inward spiritual corruption, especially among the religious elite. Their veneration of dead prophets stands in stark contrast to their active rejection of the living Word of God. Secondly, the verse underscores the **continuity of rejection** of God's messengers throughout Israel's history. By stating "your fathers killed them," Jesus links the current generation's opposition to His ministry with the long-standing pattern of their ancestors' rebellion against the prophets. This theme culminates in the ultimate rejection of the Messiah. Thirdly, the pronouncement of "Woe" signifies **divine judgment** against those who lead others astray through their false piety and actively oppose God's redemptive plan. This judgment is not merely a lament but a solemn declaration of impending consequence for their spiritual blindness and resistance.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Woe (Greek, _ouaí_):** This is a primary exclamation of grief, often translated as "alas" or "woe." In biblical context, particularly from the lips of Jesus, it is far more than an expression of sorrow; it is a solemn and severe pronouncement of impending judgment, misfortune, or condemnation upon those addressed. It signals a dire spiritual state and the inevitable consequences of unrepentant sin.
* **build (Greek, _oikodoméō_):** Derived from a word meaning "house-builder," this verb literally means "to construct" or "to build up." Figuratively, it can mean "to confirm" or "to edify." Here, it refers to the physical act of constructing or maintaining sepulchres. The irony lies in the fact that they are building up monuments to those whom their ancestors tore down, while simultaneously tearing down the living prophet in their midst.
* **sepulchres (Greek, _mnēmeîon_):** From a word meaning "remembrance," this noun refers to a place of interment, a grave, tomb, or cenotaph. These were often elaborate structures, indicating honor and remembrance for the deceased. The act of building or beautifying these sepulchres was a public display of veneration, which Jesus exposes as hollow and hypocritical given their current actions.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Woe unto you!":** This opening phrase, a powerful exclamation from Jesus, is not merely an expression of pity but a divine declaration of condemnation and impending judgment. It serves as a stern warning, highlighting the dire spiritual state of the lawyers and Pharisees and the severe consequences awaiting their hypocrisy and opposition to God's truth.
* **"for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets":** This clause describes the outward act of piety performed by the religious leaders. They meticulously constructed, adorned, and maintained the tombs of the prophets, presenting themselves as reverent and honorable. This act was meant to convey respect for God's past messengers and a supposed alignment with divine truth, yet it stood in stark contrast to their true hearts.
* **"and your fathers killed them.":** This is the damning indictment that exposes their profound hypocrisy. Jesus directly links the current generation's actions with the historical violence of their ancestors. By building monuments to the dead prophets, they implicitly acknowledged the prophets' righteousness and their fathers' guilt. Yet, by actively rejecting and persecuting Jesus, the ultimate Prophet, they demonstrated that they were not merely honoring the dead, but rather affirming and continuing the murderous spirit of their forefathers. The conjunction "and" (Greek, _dé_) here carries an adversative sense, highlighting the shocking contradiction between their outward veneration and their inward complicity.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 11:47 employs several potent literary devices to convey Jesus' condemnation. **Irony** is central, as the religious leaders, by building and beautifying the tombs of the prophets, inadvertently testify against themselves. Their act of honoring the dead prophets exposes their complicity in the same spirit of persecution that led their ancestors to murder those prophets. This creates a powerful **paradox**: their outward display of piety is, in fact, an indictment of their inner spiritual state. **Hyperbole** is also present in the implied accusation that by honoring the dead, they are effectively endorsing the actions of those who killed them, escalating their guilt beyond mere neglect to active participation in the historical pattern of rejecting God's messengers. Finally, the repeated use of "Woe" throughout this chapter functions as a form of **anaphora** (though not strictly within this single verse), creating a rhythmic, emphatic pronouncement of judgment that underscores the severity of their spiritual condition.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 11:47 powerfully exposes the insidious nature of religious hypocrisy, a theme Jesus consistently confronts throughout His ministry. The religious leaders' outward veneration of dead prophets while actively rejecting the living Word of God in their midst reveals a fundamental spiritual blindness and a heart hardened against truth. This verse underscores that true faith is not about external rituals or historical reverence, but about a living, obedient relationship with God that embraces His current revelation and His messengers. Their actions demonstrate a dangerous continuity with the historical pattern of Israel's rebellion against God's prophetic voice, culminating in their ultimate rejection of the Messiah.

* [Matthew 23:29-36](/matthew/23-29-36 "Matthew 23:29-36 - Woes Against Scribes and Pharisees")
* [Acts 7:51-53](/acts/7-51-53 "Acts 7:51-53 - Stephen's Accusation of Rebellion")
* [Jeremiah 2:30](/jeremiah/2-30 "Jeremiah 2:30 - Israel's Rejection of Prophets")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 11:47 serves as a timeless and piercing warning against the dangers of superficial piety and spiritual hypocrisy. It challenges us to look beyond outward religious performance and examine the true condition of our hearts. Are we quick to honor historical figures or past movements of God, while simultaneously resisting or dismissing the living truth God is speaking through His Word or His people today? This verse calls us to genuine authenticity, reminding us that God desires truth in the inward parts, not just outward conformity. We must guard against the temptation to build monuments to past spiritual heroes while neglecting to embody the very principles for which they stood. Our reverence for God must be demonstrated by a humble, receptive heart that embraces His truth, even when it challenges our comfort zones or established norms, rather than perpetuating a spirit of rejection.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be tempted to engage in outward religious acts that do not reflect the true condition of my heart?**
* **Am I more comfortable honoring past spiritual heroes than embracing the challenging truths God is speaking today?**
* **How can I ensure my faith is characterized by genuine humility and receptivity to God's living Word, rather than superficial piety?**
* **What "prophets" or challenging truths might I be resisting in my own life or community, even while professing reverence for God?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of Jesus saying "Woe unto you!"?**

Answer: The phrase "Woe unto you!" (Greek, _ouaí_) is a powerful and solemn declaration from Jesus, far more than a simple expression of sorrow or pity. It functions as a divine pronouncement of impending judgment, condemnation, and severe misfortune. In this context, it signifies God's righteous anger and the inevitable consequences awaiting the religious leaders for their profound hypocrisy, spiritual blindness, and active opposition to God's truth and His messengers. It underscores the gravity of their sin and the dire spiritual state they are in.

**Why did the religious leaders build sepulchres for the prophets if their fathers killed them?**

Answer: The act of building and beautifying the sepulchres (tombs) of the prophets was an outward display of piety and reverence. It allowed the religious leaders to present themselves as righteous individuals who honored God's past messengers, thereby distinguishing themselves from their "wicked fathers" who had persecuted and killed the prophets. However, Jesus exposes this as a profound hypocrisy. While they honored the dead prophets with monuments, they perpetuated the same spirit of rejection by actively opposing and seeking to kill Jesus, the greatest Prophet, and His disciples. Their actions were a form of self-justification, attempting to appear righteous while their hearts were set against God's living truth, as Jesus highlights in [Matthew 23:29-31](/matthew/23-29-31 "Matthew 23:29-31 - You are Sons of Those Who Murdered the Prophets").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 11:47 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus Himself being the culmination of God's prophetic line, and His rejection by the religious leaders being the apex of Israel's historical pattern of rejecting God's messengers. The "prophets" whose tombs they built foreshadowed Christ, the ultimate Prophet and Messiah, whose coming they failed to recognize and whose message they vehemently opposed. Just as their fathers killed the prophets, the generation of Jesus' day would ultimately orchestrate the death of the Son of God, thereby filling up the measure of their fathers' guilt ([Matthew 23:32](/matthew/23-32 "Matthew 23:32 - Fill Up the Measure of Your Fathers")). Jesus' pronouncement of "woe" is not just a historical condemnation but a prophetic warning that their rejection of Him would lead to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple ([Luke 19:41-44](/luke/19-41-44 "Luke 19:41-44 - Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem")). Yet, in Christ's death and resurrection, God provided the ultimate atonement for sin, offering forgiveness even to those who participated in His crucifixion, inviting them to repent and believe in the One whom their fathers and they had rejected, thereby breaking the cycle of rebellion and entering into new life through faith in the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Thessalonians 2:15

Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

Acts 7:51

¶ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers [did], so [do] ye.

Matthew 23:29

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

Matthew 23:33

[Ye] serpents, [ye] generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?