Matthew 23:37

King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

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!

📖 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 stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreath abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: 12 So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.
• Ruth 2:12 : 12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to tst.
• Matt 5:12 : 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
• Neh 9:26 : 26 vertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
• Ps 63:7 : 7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
• Jer 6:16-17 : 16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
• Luke 13:34-35 : 34 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! 35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
• Luke 14:17-20 : 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
• Luke 15:28 : 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
• Luke 19:14-44 : 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. 28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. 32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. 33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? 34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him. 35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 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, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
• Luke 20:11-14 : 11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. 13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. 14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
• Acts 7:51-52 : 51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 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:
• 1 Thess 2:15 : 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:
• Rev 11:7-8 : 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the stet of the gat city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, whe also our Lord was crucified.
• Rev 17:6 : 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wonded with gat admiration.
• Jer 11:7-8 : 7 For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. 8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.
• Jer 25:3-7 : 3 From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. 4 And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. 5 They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever: 6 And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt. 7 Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
• Jer 26:23 : 23 And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.
• Jer 35:15 : 15 I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.
• Jer 42:9-9 : 9 And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him; 10 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. 11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. 12 And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land. 13 But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,
• Jer 44:4 : 4 Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.
• Hos 11:2 : 2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
• Hos 11:7 : 7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: tugh they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.
• Zech 1:4 : 4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.
• Ps 81:8-9 : 8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; 9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. 10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
• Ps 91:4 : 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
• Prov 1:24-31 : 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reoof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reoof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
• Isa 50:2 : 2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
• Jer 2:30 : 30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
• Jer 4:14 : 14 O usalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
• Jer 6:8 : 8 Be thou instructed, O usalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.
• Ps 17:8 : 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
• Ps 36:7 : 7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
• Ps 57:1 : 1 To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
• 2 Chr 24:21-22 : 21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. 22 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.
• 2 Chr 36:15-16 : 15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
• Matt 21:35-36 : 35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
• Matt 22:3 : 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
• Matt 22:6 : 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
• Matt 23:30 : 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
• Mark 12:3-6 : 3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. 6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.