Luke 19:43

For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

For {G3754} the days {G2250} shall come {G2240} upon {G1909} thee {G4571}, that {G2532} thine {G4675} enemies {G2190} shall cast {G4016} a trench {G5482} about {G4016} thee {G4671}, and {G2532} compass {G4033} thee {G4571} round {G4033}, and {G2532} keep {G4912} thee {G4571} in {G4912} on every side {G3840},

For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will set up a barricade around you, encircle you, hem you in on every side,

For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side.

For the days shall come upon thee, when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

Luke 19:43 is a solemn and poignant prophecy uttered by Jesus Christ concerning the future destruction of Jerusalem. Spoken just after His triumphal entry into the city, it reveals Jesus' deep sorrow mixed with divine foresight regarding the judgment that would befall the city for its rejection of Him as Messiah.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is part of Jesus' lament over Jerusalem, found in Luke 19:41-44. Despite the joyous shouts of "Hosanna" during His triumphal entry, Jesus wept because He foresaw the impending catastrophe. The prophecy was literally fulfilled in 70 AD when the Roman legions, led by General Titus, besieged Jerusalem during the First Jewish-Roman War. Historical accounts, particularly from Josephus, confirm that the Romans indeed constructed a massive circumvallation – a siege wall or "trench" – around the city to prevent escape and starve the inhabitants, precisely as Jesus foretold. This military tactic of "compassing" and "keeping in on every side" was a brutal and effective method to conquer the city.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment: The verse powerfully illustrates the consequences of rejecting God's divine visitation and warnings. Jerusalem, having rejected its Messiah, faced a severe judgment.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: It underscores the absolute certainty and precision of biblical prophecy. Jesus' words were not mere predictions but divinely inspired truths that came to pass exactly as described, serving as a testament to His divine authority and knowledge. This echoes other prophecies of destruction, such as those found in the Old Testament concerning Israel's disobedience.
  • Sovereignty of God: Even amidst human rebellion and historical events, God's sovereign plan unfolds. The Roman siege, though carried out by human hands, was part of God's unfolding judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "cast a trench about thee" translates the Greek word charax (χάραξ), which refers to a palisade, rampart, or a staked wall used in military sieges. It signifies a formidable defensive or offensive structure. The phrase "compass thee round" comes from perikukloo (περικυκλόω), meaning to encircle completely or surround, emphasizing the inescapable nature of the siege. These precise terms highlight the military accuracy of Jesus' prophecy.

Related Scriptures

This prophecy is closely linked to other foretellings of Jerusalem's destruction and the temple's demise, such as Matthew 24:2 and Mark 13:2, where Jesus states that "there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." The depth of Jesus' sorrow for Jerusalem's fate is further emphasized in Luke 13:34, where He longs to gather them as a hen gathers her chicks, but they were unwilling.

Practical Application

Luke 19:43 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths. Firstly, it highlights the importance of recognizing and responding to God's "visitation" – His active presence and call in our lives. Neglecting such divine opportunities can lead to serious consequences. Secondly, it reinforces the reliability of God's Word; what He declares will surely come to pass. This should inspire both reverence and faith. Finally, it calls us to spiritual vigilance, to discern the times and heed divine warnings, ensuring we are not caught unprepared for future events, whether personal or global.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 21:20

    And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

  • Luke 21:24

    And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

  • Isaiah 29:1

    ¶ Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city [where] David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.

  • Isaiah 29:4

    And thou shalt be brought down, [and] shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.

  • Ezekiel 4:2

    And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set [battering] rams against it round about.

  • Ezekiel 26:8

    He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field: and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee.

  • Isaiah 37:33

    Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it.

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