Matthew 23:37

Bible in Basic English (1941)

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, putting to death the prophets, and stoning those who are sent to her! Again and again would I have taken your children to myself as a bird takes her young ones under her wings, and you would not!

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἰερουσαλήμ, Ἰερουσαλήμ, ἡ ἀποκτείνουσα τοὺς προφήτας, καὶ λιθοβολοῦσα τοὺς ἀπεσταλμένους πρὸς αὐτήν, ποσάκις ἠθέλησα ἐπισυναγαγεῖν τὰ τέκνα σου, ὃν τρόπον ἐπισυνάγει ὄρνις τὰ νοσσία ἑαυτῆς ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας, καὶ οὐκ ἠθελήσατε!

Transliteration

Ierousalēm, Ierousalēm, the one apokteinousa the prophētas, and lithobolousa the ones apestalmenous pros her, how-often ēthelēsa episynagagein the tekna of-you, which tropon episynagei ornis the nossia of-herself under the pterygas, and not ēthelēsate!

Grammar Details

• *Ierousalēm*: vocative - Jerusalem (direct address, repeated for emphasis)
• *hē apokteinousa*: present, active, participle, nominative, feminine, singular with article - the one killing
• *prophētas*: accusative, masculine, plural - prophets
• *lithobolousa*: present, active, participle, nominative, feminine, singular - stoning
• *apestalmenous*: perfect, passive, participle, accusative, masculine, plural - having been sent
• *pros*: preposition with accusative - to/toward
• *autēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - her
• *posakis*: interrogative adverb - how often/how many times
• *ēthelēsa*: aorist, active, indicative, 1st person singular - I wanted/wished
• *episynagagein*: aorist, active, infinitive - to gather together
• *tekna*: accusative, neuter, plural - children
• *sou*: genitive, singular - of you
• *hon tropon*: accusative of manner - in which manner/way
• *episynagei*: present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular - gathers together
• *ornis*: nominative, feminine, singular - bird/hen
• *nossia*: accusative, neuter, plural - young birds/chicks
• *heautēs*: genitive, feminine, singular, reflexive pronoun - of herself
• *hypo*: preposition with accusative - under
• *pterygas*: accusative, feminine, plural - wings
• *ouk ēthelēsate*: aorist, active, indicative, 2nd person plural with negative - you did not want/wish

Word Meanings

• *apokteinousa*: killing/putting to death/slaying
• *prophētas*: prophets/those who speak for God
• *lithobolousa*: stoning/throwing stones at
• *apestalmenous*: having been sent/commissioned/dispatched
• *ēthelēsa*: wanted/wished/desired
• *episynagagein*: to gather together/collect/bring together
• *tekna*: children/offspring/inhabitants
• *tropon*: manner/way/method
• *episynagei*: gathers together/collects/brings together
• *ornis*: bird/hen/mother bird
• *nossia*: young birds/chicks/brood
• *pterygas*: wings/feathered appendages
• *ēthelēsate*: wanted/wished/were willing

Referenced Verses

• Deut 32:11-12 : 11 As an eagle, teaching her young to make their flight, with her wings outstretched over them, takes them up on her strong feathers: 12 So the Lord only was his guide, no other god was with him.
• Ruth 2:12 : 12 The Lord give you a reward for what you have done, and may a full reward be given to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take cover.
• Matt 5:12 : 12 Be glad and full of joy; for great is your reward in heaven: for so were the prophets attacked who were before you.
• Neh 9:26 : 26 But they were hard-hearted, and went against your authority, turning their backs on your law, and putting to death your prophets, who gave witness against them with the purpose of turning them back again to you, and they did much to make you angry.
• Ps 63:7 : 7 Because you have been my help, I will have joy in the shade of your wings.
• Jer 6:16-17 : 16 This is what the Lord has said: Take your place looking out on the ways; make search for the old roads, saying, Where is the good way? and go in it that you may have rest for your souls. But they said, We will not go in it. 17 And I put watchmen over you, saying, Give attention to the sound of the horn; but they said, We will not give attention.
• Luke 13:34-35 : 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, putting to death the prophets, and stoning those who were sent to her! again and again would I have taken your children to myself, as a bird takes her young ones under her wings, but you would not! 35 Now see, your house is waste, and I say to you, You will not see me again till you say, A blessing on him who comes in the name of the Lord.
• Luke 14:17-20 : 17 And when the time had come, he sent his servants to say to them, Come, for all things are now ready. 18 And they all gave reasons why they were not able to come. The first said to him, I have got a new field, and it is necessary for me to go and see it: I am full of regret that I am unable to come. 19 And another said, I have got some cattle, and I am going to make a test of them: I am full of regret that I am unable to come. 20 And another said, I have been married, and so I am not able to come.
• Luke 15:28 : 28 But he was angry and would not go in; and his father came out and made a request to him to come in.
• Luke 19:14-44 : 14 But his people had no love for him, and sent representatives after him, saying, We will not have this man for our ruler. 15 And when he came back again, having got his kingdom, he gave orders for those servants to whom he had given the money to come to him, so that he might have an account of what business they had done. 16 And the first came before him, saying, Lord, your pound has made ten pounds. 17 And he said to him, You have done well, O good servant: because you have done well in a small thing you will have authority over ten towns. 18 And another came, saying, Your pound has made five pounds. 19 And he said, You will be ruler over five towns. 20 And another came, saying, Lord, here is your pound, which I put away in a cloth; 21 Because I was in fear of you, for you are a hard man: you take up what you have not put down, and get in grain where you have not put seed. 22 He said to him, By the words of your mouth you will be judged, you bad servant. You had knowledge that I am a hard man, taking up what I have not put down and getting in grain where I have not put seed; 23 Why then did you not put my money in a bank, so that when I came I would get it back with interest? 24 And he said to the others who were near, Take the pound away from him, and give it to the man who has ten. 25 And they say to him, Lord, he has ten pounds. 26 And I say to you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 27 And as for those who were against me, who would not have me for their ruler, let them come here, and be put to death before me. 28 And when he had said this, he went on in front of them, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came about that when he got near Beth-phage and Bethany by the mountain which is named the Mountain of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 Saying, Go into the little town in front of you, and on going in you will see a young ass fixed with a cord, on which no man has ever been seated; let him loose and take him. 31 And if anyone says to you, Why are you taking him? say, The Lord has need of him. 32 And those whom he sent went away, and it was as he said. 33 And when they were getting the young ass, the owners of it said to them, Why are you taking the young ass? 34 And they said, The Lord has need of him. 35 And they took him to Jesus, and they put their clothing on the ass, and Jesus got on to him. 36 And while he went on his way they put their clothing down on the road in front of him. 37 And when he came near the foot of the Mountain of Olives, all the disciples with loud voices gave praise to God with joy, because of all the great works which they had seen; 38 Saying, A blessing on the King who comes in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees among the people said to him, Master, make your disciples be quiet. 40 And he said in answer, I say to you, if these men keep quiet, the very stones will be crying out. 41 And when he got near and saw the town, he was overcome with weeping for it, 42 Saying, If you, even you, had knowledge today, of the things which give peace! but you are not able to see them. 43 For the time will come when your attackers will put a wall round you, and come all round you and keep you in on every side, 44 And will make you level with the earth, and your children with you; and there will not be one stone resting on another in you, because you did not see that it was your day of mercy.
• Luke 20:11-14 : 11 And he sent another servant, and they gave blows to him in the same way, and put shame on him, and sent him away with nothing. 12 And he sent a third, and they gave him wounds and put him out. 13 And the lord of the garden said, What am I to do? I will send my dearly loved son; they may give respect to him. 14 But when the workmen saw him, they said to one another, This is he who will one day be the owner of the property: let us put him to death and the heritage will be ours.
• Acts 7:51-52 : 51 You whose hearts are hard and whose ears are shut to me; you are ever working against the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets was not cruelly attacked by your fathers? and they put to death those who gave them the news of the coming of the Upright One; whom you have now given up and put to death;
• 1 Thess 2:15 : 15 Who put to death the Lord Jesus and the prophets, violently driving us out; who are unpleasing to God and against all men;
• Rev 11:7-8 : 7 And when they have come to the end of their witness, the beast which comes up out of the great deep will make war on them and overcome them and put them to death. 8 And their dead bodies will be in the open street of the great town, which in the spirit is named Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was put to death on the cross.
• Rev 17:6 : 6 And I saw the woman overcome as with the wine of the blood of the saints, and the blood of those put to death because of Jesus. And when I saw her, I was overcome with a great wonder.
• Jer 11:7-8 : 7 For I gave certain witness to your fathers on the day when I took them up out of the land of Egypt, and even to this day, getting up early and witnessing and saying, Give ear to my voice. 8 But they gave no attention and did not give ear, but they went on, every man in the pride of his evil heart: so I sent on them all the curses in this agreement, which I gave them orders to keep, but they did not.
• Jer 25:3-7 : 3 From the thirteenth year of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah, even till this day, for twenty-three years, the word of the Lord has been coming to me, and I have given it to you, getting up early and talking to you; but you have not given ear. 4 And the Lord has sent to you all his servants the prophets, getting up early and sending them; but you have not given attention and your ear has not been open to give hearing; 5 Saying, Come back now, everyone from his evil way and from the evil of your doings, and keep your place in the land which the Lord has given to you and to your fathers, from times long past even for ever: 6 Do not go after other gods to be their servants and to give them worship, and do not make me angry with the work of your hands, causing evil to yourselves. 7 But you have not given ear to me, says the Lord; so that you have made me angry with the work of your hands, causing evil to yourselves.
• Jer 26:23 : 23 And they took Uriah out of Egypt and came back with him to Jehoiakim the king; who put him to death with the sword, and had his dead body put into the resting-place of the bodies of the common people.
• Jer 35:15 : 15 And I have sent you all my servants the prophets, getting up early and sending them, saying, Come back, now, every man from his evil way, and do better, and go not after other gods to become their servants, and you will go on living in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but your ears have not been open, and you have not given attention to me.
• Jer 42:9-9 : 9 And said to them, These are the words of the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to put your request before him: 10 If you still go on living in the land, then I will go on building you up and not pulling you down, planting you and not uprooting you: for my purpose of doing evil to you has been changed. 11 Have no fear of the king of Babylon, of whom you are now in fear; have no fear of him, says the Lord: for I am with you to keep you safe and to give you salvation from his hands. 12 And I will have mercy on you, so that he may have mercy on you and let you go back to your land. 13 But if you say, We have no desire to go on living in this land; and do not give ear to the voice of the Lord your God,
• Jer 44:4 : 4 And I sent all my servants the prophets to you, getting up early and sending them, saying, Do not do this disgusting thing which is hated by me.
• Hos 11:2 : 2 When I sent for them, then they went away from me; they made offerings to the Baals, burning perfumes to images.
• Hos 11:7 : 7 My people are given up to sinning against me; though their voice goes up on high, no one will be lifting them up.
• Zech 1:4 : 4 Be not like your fathers, to whom the voice of the earlier prophets came, saying, Be turned now from your evil ways and from your evil doings: but they did not give ear to me or take note, says the Lord.
• Ps 81:8-9 : 8 Give ear, O my people, and I will give you my word, O Israel, if you will only do as I say! 9 There is to be no strange god among you; you are not to give worship to any other god. 10 I am the Lord your God, who took you up from the land of Egypt: let your mouth be open wide, so that I may give you food. 11 But my people did not give ear to my voice; Israel would have nothing to do with me.
• Ps 91:4 : 4 You will be covered by his feathers; under his wings you will be safe: his good faith will be your salvation.
• Prov 1:24-31 : 24 Because your ears were shut to my voice; no one gave attention to my out-stretched hand; 25 You were not controlled by my guiding, and would have nothing to do with my sharp words: 26 So in the day of your trouble I will be laughing; I will make sport of your fear; 27 When your fear comes on you like a storm, and your trouble like a rushing wind; when pain and sorrow come on you. 28 Then I will give no answer to their cries; searching for me early, they will not see me: 29 For they were haters of knowledge, and did not give their hearts to the fear of the Lord: 30 They had no desire for my teaching, and my words of protest were as nothing to them. 31 So the fruit of their way will be their food, and with the designs of their hearts they will be made full.
• Isa 50:2 : 2 Why, then, when I came, was there no man? and no one to give answer to my voice? has my hand become feeble, so that it is unable to take up your cause? or have I no power to make you free? See, at my word the sea becomes dry, I make the rivers a waste land: their fish are dead for need of water, and make an evil smell.
• Jer 2:30 : 30 I gave your children blows to no purpose; they got no good from training: your sword has been the destruction of your prophets, like a death-giving lion.
• Jer 4:14 : 14 O Jerusalem, make your heart clean from evil, so that you may have salvation. How long are evil purposes to have a resting-place in you?
• Jer 6:8 : 8 Undergo teaching, O Jerusalem, or my soul will be turned away from you, and I will make you a waste, an unpeopled land.
• Ps 17:8 : 8 Keep me as the light of your eyes, covering me with the shade of your wings,
• Ps 36:7 : 7 How good is your loving mercy, O God! the children of men take cover under the shade of your wings.
• Ps 57:1 : 1 <To the chief music-maker; put to Al-tashheth. Michtam. Of David. When he went in flight from Saul, in the hole of the rock.> Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me; for the hope of my soul is in you: I will keep myself safely under the shade of your wings, till these troubles are past.
• 2 Chr 24:21-22 : 21 But when they had made a secret design against him, he was stoned with stones, by the king's order, in the outer square of the Lord's house. 22 So King Joash did not keep in mind how good Jehoiada his father had been to him, but put his son to death. And in the hour of his death he said, May the Lord see it and take payment!
• 2 Chr 36:15-16 : 15 And the Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them by his servants, sending early and frequently, because he had pity on his people and on his living-place; 16 But they put shame on the servants of God, making sport of his words and laughing at his prophets, till the wrath of God was moved against his people, till there was no help.
• Matt 21:35-36 : 35 And the workmen made an attack on his servants, giving blows to one, putting another to death, and stoning another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more in number than the first: and they did the same to them.
• Matt 22:3 : 3 And sent out his servants to get in the guests to the feast: and they would not come.
• Matt 22:6 : 6 And the rest put violent hands on his servants, and did evil to them, and put them to death.
• Matt 23:30 : 30 If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in the blood of the prophets.
• Mark 12:3-6 : 3 And they took him, and gave him blows, and sent him away with nothing. 4 And again he sent to them another servant; and they gave him wounds on the head, and were very cruel to him. 5 And he sent another; and they put him to death: and a number of others, whipping some, and putting some to death. 6 He still had one, a dearly loved son: he sent him last to them, saying, They will have respect for my son.