Luke 13:34

KJV

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!

KJV (with Strong's)

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}!

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!

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 13:34 captures Jesus' profound lament over Jerusalem, expressing His deep sorrow and protective longing for the city that historically rejected God's messengers. He portrays Himself as a mother hen yearning to gather her vulnerable chicks under her wings, but tragically, Jerusalem consistently refused His loving invitation, sealing its own fate through persistent rebellion against divine overtures and ultimately, against the Son of God Himself.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This poignant lament is uttered by Jesus as He journeys towards Jerusalem, fully aware of the suffering awaiting Him there. It immediately follows a warning from some Pharisees about Herod Antipas's desire to kill Him (Luke 13:31). Jesus defiantly responds that He must continue His work, declaring, "Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem" (Luke 13:33). This statement sets the stage for the lament, highlighting Jerusalem's dark reputation as the slayer of prophets, including the one now speaking. The lament thus serves as a climactic expression of Jesus' grief over the city's spiritual blindness and its impending judgment, directly preceding His teaching on humility and the parable of the great supper in [Luke 14](/luke/14 "Luke 14 - Parables and Teachings"). It also has a strong parallel in [Matthew 23:37-39](/matthew/23-37-39 "Matthew 23:37-39 - Jesus' Lament over Jerusalem").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jerusalem, as the capital of Judea, was the spiritual and political heart of the Jewish nation, home to the Temple and the center of Jewish religious life. Throughout its history, it had a complex relationship with God's prophets. Many Old Testament prophets, from Elijah to Jeremiah, faced persecution, rejection, and even death at the hands of Israel's leaders and people for delivering God's challenging messages. The act of "stoning" was a prescribed form of capital punishment in ancient Israel for offenses like blasphemy or idolatry, but it was also used by an angry populace against those perceived as threats or false prophets, or simply those whose message was unwelcome. Jesus' lament taps into this long, tragic history, portraying Jerusalem as a city that consistently resisted divine grace and violently silenced those God sent to guide it to repentance and salvation.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Lament and Compassion**, revealing Jesus' profound sorrow and heartbreak over the spiritual state of His people, a sorrow that transcends mere human grief. Secondly, it underscores the **Persistent Rejection of God's Messengers**, a recurring motif throughout Israel's history, where God's loving overtures through prophets were met with hostility and violence, culminating in the rejection of Jesus Himself. This theme is echoed in the parable of the wicked tenants (e.g., [Luke 20:9-19](/luke/20-9-19 "Luke 20:9-19 - Parable of the Wicked Tenants")). Thirdly, the imagery of the hen gathering her brood beautifully illustrates **God's Protective Love and Earnest Desire** to gather, nurture, and provide refuge for His people, a theme found throughout the Old Testament (e.g., [Psalm 91:4](/psalm/91-4 "Psalm 91:4 - God's Protective Wings")). Finally, the concluding phrase "and ye would not!" emphasizes the tragic reality of **Human Free Will and Resistance** to divine grace, demonstrating that despite God's fervent desire and persistent invitations, humanity retains the capacity to reject His loving offer of salvation, a truth also seen in [John 5:40](/john/5-40 "John 5:40 - Unwillingness to Come to Christ").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Jerusalem (Greek, _Hierousalḗm'_):** This word, repeated for emphasis, refers to the capital of Palestine, the spiritual and political center of the Jewish people. Its repetition in Jesus' lament underscores the intensity of His address to the city, not merely as a geographical location, but as the embodiment of the nation and its history of rejecting God's messengers. It signifies the collective identity and spiritual responsibility of the people.
* **gathered (Greek, _episynágō'_):** Derived from "epi" (upon) and "synago" (to collect), this verb means "to collect upon the same place" or "to gather together." In the context of the hen and her brood, it evokes the protective action of bringing vulnerable beings into a place of safety and unity. Jesus uses this word to express His deep desire to bring the children of Jerusalem into His protective care, implying spiritual safety, unity, and fellowship under His divine authority.
* **would (Greek, _thélō'_):** This verb signifies a strong determination, a choice, or a preference stemming from subjective impulse or desire. When Jesus says "how often would I have gathered," it expresses His genuine, repeated, and intense desire to protect and bless Jerusalem. The contrasting "ye would not" (using the same root combined with the negative particle `ou`) starkly highlights the active, deliberate refusal of the people to accept His loving overtures, emphasizing their culpable unwillingness despite His fervent longing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem":** The repetition of the city's name is a classic rhetorical device, conveying intense emotion—deep sorrow, profound lament, and a desperate plea. It personifies the city, addressing it directly as a responsible entity, and underscores the gravity of its spiritual condition.
* **"which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee":** This clause indicts Jerusalem for its historical pattern of rejecting and persecuting God's messengers. "Killest the prophets" refers to the long line of Old Testament prophets who suffered at the hands of the nation, while "stonest them that are sent unto thee" specifically points to the violent methods of their persecution, highlighting the city's deep-seated hostility towards divine truth.
* **"how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen [doth gather] her brood under [her] wings":** This is the heart of Jesus' compassionate desire. "How often" conveys His persistent, repeated attempts to draw them to Himself. The **simile** of the hen gathering her chicks under her wings is a tender, powerful image of maternal protection, warmth, and security. It illustrates Jesus' divine longing to provide refuge, care, and salvation for His people, shielding them from harm.
* **"and ye would not!":** This tragic conclusion reveals the ultimate reason for Jerusalem's impending judgment: its own stubborn and deliberate refusal. Despite Jesus' persistent, loving, and protective overtures, the people exercised their free will to reject His invitation, highlighting the profound and tragic consequences of human obstinacy in the face of divine grace.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 13:34 is rich with literary devices that amplify its emotional and theological impact. The most striking is **Repetition**, with "Jerusalem, Jerusalem" emphasizing Jesus' intense sorrow and direct address to the city, creating a sense of urgency and personal anguish. This repetition also serves as an **apostrophe**, directly addressing an absent or personified entity. A powerful **Simile** is employed with "as a hen [doth gather] her brood under [her] wings," which evokes a tender, maternal image of protection, warmth, and security, contrasting sharply with Jerusalem's violent history. This simile highlights Jesus' compassionate desire to shelter His people. The verse also employs **Personification**, as Jerusalem is depicted as an active agent that "killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee," giving the city a culpable moral agency. Finally, the entire verse functions as a **Lament**, a passionate expression of grief and sorrow, specifically a divine lament over the spiritual blindness and impending judgment of a beloved but rebellious people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This poignant lament from Jesus underscores the profound tension between God's persistent, compassionate love and humanity's stubborn resistance. It reveals a God who deeply grieves over the choices of His people, not out of weakness, but out of an infinite love that desires their flourishing and protection. The image of the hen gathering her brood is a powerful theological metaphor for God's covenantal faithfulness and His constant desire to provide refuge and intimacy, echoing Old Testament themes of divine shelter. However, it also highlights the tragic reality that divine grace, though freely offered, can be willfully rejected, leading to inevitable consequences. This verse serves as a stark reminder of human accountability and the seriousness of spurning God's loving invitations.

* [Matthew 23:37](/matthew/23-37 "Matthew 23:37 - Jesus' Parallel Lament")
* [Psalm 91:4](/psalm/91-4 "Psalm 91:4 - God's Protective Wings")
* [John 5:40](/john/5-40 "John 5:40 - Unwillingness to Come to Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 13:34 offers a profound mirror for self-reflection, urging us to consider our own response to God's persistent love and invitations. Jesus' lament reveals a divine heart that is not aloof or indifferent, but deeply invested in the well-being of His people, even to the point of sorrow over their rejection. This should stir within us a renewed appreciation for God's enduring patience and grace, reminding us that His desire to gather and protect us remains unwavering, even when we are prone to wander or resist. The verse also serves as a sobering warning: while God's love is infinite, human free will is real, and persistent rejection of His overtures has serious, even tragic, consequences. We are called to examine our own lives: are there areas where we, like Jerusalem, are stubbornly resisting God's loving hand, His guidance, or His call to deeper surrender? This lament is an invitation to humility, repentance, and a willing embrace of the divine protection and fellowship so freely offered.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be resisting God's "gathering" or protective hand, perhaps out of stubbornness or fear?**
* **How does Jesus' lament over Jerusalem deepen my understanding of God's love and His emotional investment in humanity?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a more receptive and willing heart towards God's invitations and guidance?**

### FAQ
**Why does Jesus lament over Jerusalem specifically?**

Answer: Jesus laments over Jerusalem because it was the spiritual and political heart of the Jewish nation, the city where God's presence was uniquely manifest in the Temple, and yet it had a long, tragic history of rejecting and persecuting the prophets God sent to them. As Jesus Himself notes in [Luke 13:33](/luke/13-33 "Luke 13:33 - A Prophet Cannot Perish Outside Jerusalem"), it was the place where prophets perished. His lament expresses profound sorrow not only for the city's past rebellion but also for its impending judgment and destruction, which would result from its ultimate rejection of Him, the Messiah. It's a cry of divine heartbreak over a people He deeply loved and longed to save.

**What is the significance of the "hen gathering her brood under her wings" imagery?**

Answer: The imagery of a hen gathering her brood under her wings is a tender and powerful **simile** that vividly illustrates God's protective, nurturing, and compassionate love. A hen instinctively shields her vulnerable chicks from danger, cold, and predators, offering them warmth, safety, and refuge. This metaphor, rooted in Old Testament imagery (e.g., [Psalm 17:8](/psalm/17-8 "Psalm 17:8 - Shadow of Your Wings") and [Psalm 91:4](/psalm/91-4 "Psalm 91:4 - God's Protective Wings")), conveys Jesus' fervent desire to provide spiritual security, comfort, and salvation to the people of Jerusalem. It highlights His persistent longing to draw them into His divine care, offering them a sanctuary from the spiritual dangers they faced due to their rejection of God's ways.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jesus' lament over Jerusalem in [Luke 13:34](/luke/13-34 "Luke 13:34 - Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem") finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in His ultimate mission and sacrifice. He is the divine messenger, the very Son of God, who came to gather His people, yet was tragically rejected and "killed" by the very city He longed to protect. This lament foreshadows His crucifixion in Jerusalem, where He, the ultimate Prophet, was stoned and put to death, fulfilling the pattern of rejection He decries. However, His death was not the end; it was the means by which a new "gathering" would occur. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus became the true "hen" who gathers not just the children of Jerusalem, but all who believe, under the protective "wings" of His grace and redemption (cf. [John 12:32](/john/12-32 "John 12:32 - Jesus Will Draw All People")). His resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (cf. [Acts 2](/acts/2 "Acts 2 - Pentecost")) initiated the gathering of the new Israel—the Church—a spiritual family united under His headship, offering the very protection and belonging that Jerusalem had refused. Thus, Jesus' lament, while expressing sorrow over a specific historical rejection, ultimately points to His victorious work of establishing a new covenant where all who "would" come to Him are gathered into eternal safety and communion with 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

Matthew 23:37

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!

Matthew 23:39

For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 32:11

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

Deuteronomy 32:12

[So] the LORD alone did lead him, and [there was] no strange god with him.

Acts 7:52

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

Isaiah 30:15

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Luke 19:41

¶ And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,