Luke 11:50

KJV

That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

KJV (with Strong's)

That {G2443} the blood {G129} of all {G3956} the prophets {G4396}, which {G3588} was shed {G1632} from {G575} the foundation {G2602} of the world {G2889}, may be required {G1567} of {G575} this {G5026} generation {G1074};

Complete Jewish Bible

so that on this generation will fall the responsibility for all the prophets’ blood that has been shed since the world was established,

Berean Standard Bible

As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,

American Standard Version

that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 11:50 delivers a profound and sobering declaration from Jesus, forming a pivotal part of His "woes" against the religious leaders of His day. This verse asserts that the cumulative guilt for the persecution and martyrdom of all God's prophets throughout history, from the very beginning of the world, would be exacted from "this generation"—the generation that not only continued the pattern of rejecting divine messengers but also culminated this rebellion by rejecting and ultimately crucifying the Son of God Himself. It underscores the ultimate divine reckoning for persistent and escalating opposition to God's truth and His appointed spokesmen.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within a series of scathing denunciations by Jesus against the Pharisees and lawyers (scribes) in [Luke 11:37-54](/luke/11-37-54 "Luke 11:37-54 - Jesus' Woes Against the Pharisees and Lawyers"). Jesus exposes their deep-seated hypocrisy: while they meticulously observed external religious rituals like tithing and ceremonial cleansing, they utterly neglected the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and the love of God. Their outward piety masked an inward spiritual blindness and hostility towards God's true messengers. Jesus highlights their paradoxical behavior of building tombs for the prophets their ancestors killed, thereby implicitly endorsing their forefathers' actions and demonstrating their own complicity in the ongoing pattern of rejecting God's word. The immediate follow-up in [Luke 11:51](/luke/11-51 "Luke 11:51 - From Abel to Zechariah") explicitly names Abel as the first righteous one whose blood was shed, reinforcing the idea of a continuous historical line of prophetic martyrdom that culminates in "this generation."
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Judea was a land under Roman occupation, yet deeply rooted in its Jewish heritage and covenantal identity. The religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees and scribes, held significant influence over the populace, often prioritizing their oral traditions and interpretations over the direct commands of God. The concept of "prophet" was central to Israel's history, representing God's direct voice to His people, calling them to repentance and faithfulness. However, Israel's history is tragically marked by a consistent pattern of rejecting, persecuting, and even killing these divine messengers, as evidenced throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Jeremiah, Elijah). The phrase "from the foundation of the world" (or "from the creation of the world") is a Jewish idiom signifying the entirety of human history, emphasizing the long, unbroken chain of rebellion against God's truth. The idea of corporate solidarity and accountability was also present in Jewish thought, where a generation could be held accountable for the cumulative actions and patterns of their predecessors, especially if they continued and intensified those patterns. This is not about inherited personal sin, but about a generation bringing to a head a long-standing national rejection of God.
* **Key Themes:**
* **Cumulative Guilt and Accountability:** Jesus declares that "this generation," by continuing and culminating the pattern of rejecting God's divine messengers—especially by rejecting the Son of God Himself—would bear the full weight of all the innocent blood shed throughout history. This is not about individuals being held responsible for the personal sins of their ancestors, but about a generation reaching the zenith of historical rebellion against God's truth, thus incurring a corporate judgment for the entire trajectory of their national unfaithfulness. It highlights the profound spiritual responsibility that comes with receiving God's revelation.
* **Divine Justice and Judgment:** The declaration that blood "may be required" signifies a divine reckoning and the inevitable outworking of God's perfect justice. God's patience is not infinite, and there is a definite point of judgment for persistent, escalating, and unrepentant rebellion against His truth and His appointed spokesmen. This theme resonates with other passages where God's righteous judgment is pronounced upon those who reject His covenant and His messengers, such as [Jeremiah 2:30](/jeremiah/2-30 "Jeremiah 2:30 - Israel's Rejection of Prophets") or [Matthew 23:34-36](/matthew/23-34-36 "Matthew 23:34-36 - Jesus' Lament over Jerusalem").
* **Rejection of God's Messengers:** A recurring and tragic theme in biblical history is Israel's tendency to reject, scorn, and persecute the prophets God sent to call them to repentance and faithfulness. This pattern reached its ultimate and most egregious expression in the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus, the greatest Prophet and the Son of God. Jesus' lament over Jerusalem in [Matthew 23:37](/matthew/23-37 "Matthew 23:37 - Jesus' Lament over Jerusalem") vividly captures this sorrowful reality.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **blood (Greek, _haîma'_):** (G129) This term, of uncertain derivation, refers literally to the life-fluid of men or animals. Figuratively, it can denote the juice of grapes, but most significantly in biblical theology, it refers to the atoning blood of Christ or, by implication, to bloodshed and kindred. In Luke 11:50, "blood" is used metonymically to represent the violent deaths of the prophets and, by extension, the guilt associated with their unjust murder. It signifies the life unjustly taken and cries out for divine justice, echoing the blood of Abel in [Genesis 4:10](/genesis/4-10 "Genesis 4:10 - The Voice of Abel's Blood").
* **required (Greek, _ekzētéō'_):** (G1567) Derived from "ek" (out of) and "zētéō" (to seek), this verb means to search out, investigate, crave, or demand. In this context, it carries a strong sense of a debt that must be paid, an account that must be settled, or a just consequence that must be exacted. It implies a thorough divine investigation and a righteous judgment for the accumulated sin of rejecting God's messengers.
* **generation (Greek, _geneá'_):** (G1074) From a presumed derivative of "génos" (race, stock), this term refers to a generation, by implication an age (the period or the persons). In this verse, it refers not merely to a chronological period of 30-40 years, but more profoundly to the specific people of that era who embodied and culminated the long-standing rebellious disposition of their ancestors. This "generation" is held accountable because they brought the historical pattern of rejecting God's messengers to its decisive and ultimate climax by rejecting and crucifying Jesus, the Messiah.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"That the blood of all the prophets":** This phrase refers to the cumulative record of all the innocent lives of God's messengers who were persecuted and killed throughout salvation history. "Blood" here symbolizes their violent deaths and the injustice committed against them.
* **"which was shed from the foundation of the world":** This clause emphasizes the vast historical scope of this persecution. "From the foundation of the world" is an idiom signifying the entire span of human history, from the very beginning (as confirmed by the reference to Abel in the subsequent verse). It highlights the continuous, unbroken pattern of humanity's (and particularly Israel's) rebellion against God's revealed truth through His prophets.
* **"may be required of this generation":** This is the core declaration of divine judgment. "Required" signifies a demand for accountability, a settling of accounts, or an exacting of justice. "This generation" refers to the contemporary Jewish leadership and populace who, by their actions, particularly their rejection of Jesus, were completing the long history of national apostasy and bringing the cumulative guilt to a head. They were not merely inheriting guilt but actively participating in and culminating the historical pattern of rebellion against God's ultimate revelation in Christ.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 11:50 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its weighty message. **Hyperbole** is evident in the sweeping statement that the blood of *all* the prophets "from the foundation of the world" will be required of "this generation." While literally impossible for one generation to be personally responsible for every past act, the hyperbole emphasizes the profound spiritual continuity and the culmination of historical rebellion in the present generation. **Symbolism** is central, with "blood" representing not just physical death but the life unjustly taken, crying out for justice, a concept rooted in ancient Near Eastern thought and biblical narratives like Abel's blood. The phrase "foundation of the world" serves as an **Idiom**, signifying the entire sweep of human history, adding cosmic and historical weight to the pronouncement. There is also a profound **Irony** in Jesus' condemnation: the religious leaders who meticulously honored the *dead* prophets by building their tombs were, in fact, demonstrating the same murderous spirit towards the *living* Prophet, Jesus, thereby inheriting the guilt of their forefathers. This verse also functions as **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the impending judgment that would fall upon Jerusalem and the Jewish nation within that generation, culminating in the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 11:50 is a stark reminder of God's unwavering commitment to justice and the profound spiritual accountability that accompanies the rejection of divine truth. It reveals a theological principle that while God is patient and merciful, there is a point at which a people's persistent rebellion reaches a climax, incurring a corporate reckoning. This is not about inherited personal sin, but about a generation that, by its actions, fills up the measure of its ancestors' iniquity, particularly by rejecting the ultimate revelation of God in His Son. The verse underscores the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout history, marked by the consistent sending of prophets, and the equally consistent pattern of human resistance. It highlights that God sees and remembers every act of injustice, especially against His faithful messengers, and that ultimately, all accounts will be settled.

* [Matthew 23:34-36](/matthew/23-34-36 "Matthew 23:34-36 - Jesus' Prophecy of Judgment on Jerusalem")
* [Revelation 18:24](/revelation/18-24 "Revelation 18:24 - Blood of Prophets in Babylon")
* [Jeremiah 2:30](/jeremiah/2-30 "Jeremiah 2:30 - Israel's Rejection of Prophets")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 11:50 serves as a powerful and timeless warning, urging us to consider our own response to God's truth and His messengers. It challenges the complacent assumption that past generations' sins have no bearing on the present, reminding us that while we are not personally guilty of ancestral sins, we are profoundly accountable for our own choices in light of the truth we receive. The verse exposes the grave danger of religious hypocrisy—outward adherence to religious forms that masks an inward rebellion against God's heart and His revealed will. It calls us to examine whether our actions truly align with our professed faith, or if we, like the Pharisees, are honoring God with our lips while our hearts are far from Him. Ultimately, this passage compels us to embrace genuine repentance and humble submission to God's word, recognizing that the rejection of truth, especially the truth embodied in Christ, carries eternal consequences. It also offers a measure of comfort, knowing that God is just and that all unrighteousness, including the shedding of innocent blood, will ultimately be brought to account.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' condemnation of "this generation" challenge our own assumptions about inherited spiritual responsibility and corporate accountability?**
* **In what ways might we, in our own time, be guilty of rejecting God's truth or His messengers, perhaps subtly or unknowingly?**
* **What are the dangers of outward religiosity without genuine inner transformation, as exemplified by the Pharisees in this passage?**
* **How does the concept of God's unwavering justice, as expressed in this verse, shape our understanding of His character and our hope for ultimate righteousness?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse imply that the people of Jesus' generation were personally guilty of the sins of all their ancestors?**

Answer: No, this verse does not imply personal guilt for the sins of past generations. Instead, it speaks to a corporate and historical accountability. "This generation" was held responsible not because they inherited the personal sin of their forefathers, but because they continued and brought to a climax the long-standing pattern of rejecting God's prophets and ultimately rejected the greatest Prophet, Jesus Himself. They filled up the measure of their ancestors' iniquity by demonstrating the same rebellious spirit and hostility towards God's ultimate revelation. The judgment was for their own active participation in and culmination of this historical pattern of unfaithfulness.

**What is the significance of "from the foundation of the world" in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "from the foundation of the world" (Greek: *apo katabolēs kósmou*) signifies the entire span of human history, from creation onward. Jesus' mention of Abel in [Luke 11:51](/luke/11-51 "Luke 11:51 - From Abel to Zechariah") immediately after this verse confirms this broad scope. Its significance is twofold: first, it emphasizes the continuous, unbroken pattern of humanity's (and particularly Israel's) rebellion against God's revealed truth through His prophets, starting from the earliest recorded act of murder against a righteous person. Second, it highlights the immense cumulative weight of innocent blood shed, underscoring the gravity of the judgment that would fall upon "this generation" for bringing this historical trajectory of rejection to its decisive and ultimate conclusion in the rejection of the Messiah.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 11:50, with its chilling declaration of accountability for the blood of all prophets, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The very "blood of all the prophets" that cried out for justice throughout history ultimately points to the supreme act of injustice—the shedding of the innocent blood of the Son of God Himself. Yet, paradoxically, Christ's blood does not cry out for vengeance upon those who shed it, but for mercy and forgiveness. His atoning sacrifice on the cross, as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), is the ultimate answer to the demands of divine justice. The blood of Abel, which cried out from the ground, finds its counterpoint in the [blood of sprinkling that speaks a better word than that of Abel](/hebrews/12-24 "Hebrews 12:24 - The Blood of Sprinkling"). While the previous pattern of prophetic martyrdom culminated in the judgment pronounced on "this generation," Christ's death inaugurates a new covenant where forgiveness is offered to all who believe, regardless of their past. Through His sacrifice, the cycle of vengeance is broken, and a path to reconciliation is opened, fulfilling the prophetic trajectory not in judgment alone, but in the redemptive power of His shed blood, which cleanses us from all sin and offers eternal life (see [1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing by Christ's Blood") and [Revelation 1:5](/revelation/1-5 "Revelation 1:5 - Washed by His Blood")).

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

Revelation 18:20

Rejoice over her, [thou] heaven, and [ye] holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

Revelation 18:24

And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Genesis 9:5

And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.

Genesis 9:6

Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

2 Kings 24:4

And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.

Exodus 20:5

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;

Psalms 9:12

When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.