Matthew 23:37

World English Bible (2000)

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks 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 that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bore them on his feathers. 12 Yahweh alone led him. There was no foreign god with him.
• Ruth 2:12 : 12 May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."
• Matt 5:12 : 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• Neh 9:26 : 26 "Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, and cast your law behind their back, and killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies.
• Ps 63:7 : 7 For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.
• Jer 6:16-17 : 16 Thus says Yahweh, "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, 'Where is the good way?' and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' 17 I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen!'
• Luke 13:34-35 : 34 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused! 35 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"
• Luke 14:17-20 : 17 He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, 'Come, for everything is ready now.' 18 They all as one began to make excuses. "The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please have me excused.' 19 "Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. Please have me excused.' 20 "Another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I can't come.'
• Luke 15:28 : 28 But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him.
• Luke 19:14-44 : 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent an envoy after him, saying, 'We don't want this man to reign over us.' 15 "It happened when he had come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business. 16 The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.' 17 "He said to him, 'Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.' 18 "The second came, saying, 'Your mina, Lord, has made five minas.' 19 "So he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.' 20 Another came, saying, 'Lord, behold, your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief, 21 for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn't lay down, and reap that which you didn't sow.' 22 "He said to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn't lay down, and reaping that which I didn't sow. 23 Then why didn't you deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?' 24 He said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina away from him, and give it to him who has the ten minas.' 25 "They said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas!' 26 'For I tell you that to everyone who has, will more be given; but from him who doesn't have, even that which he has will be taken away from him. 27 But bring those enemies of mine who didn't want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.'" 28 Having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 It happened, when he drew near to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the mountain that is called Olivet, he sent two of his disciples, 30 saying, "Go your way into the village on the other side, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat. Untie it, and bring it. 31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say to him: 'The Lord needs it.'" 32 Those who were sent went away, and found things just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34 They said, "The Lord needs it." 35 They brought it to Jesus. They threw their cloaks on the colt, and set Jesus on them. 36 As he went, they spread their cloaks in the way. 37 As he was now getting near, 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 which they had seen, 38 saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!" 39 Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" 40 He answered them, "I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out." 41 When he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you, even you, had known today the things which belong to your peace! But now, they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come on you, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side, 44 and will dash you and your children within you to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone on another, because you didn't know the time of your visitation."
• Luke 20:11-14 : 11 He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12 He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him, and threw him out. 13 The lord of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.' 14 "But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'
• Acts 7:51-52 : 51 "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. 52 Which of the prophets didn't your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers.
• 1 Thess 2:15 : 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and didn't please God, and are contrary to all men;
• Rev 11:7-8 : 7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. 8 Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
• Rev 17:6 : 6 I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.
• Jer 11:7-8 : 7 For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. 8 Yet they didn't obey, nor turn their ear, but walked everyone in the stubbornness of their evil heart: therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they didn't do them.
• Jer 25:3-7 : 3 From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years, the word of Yahweh has come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking; but you have not listened. 4 Yahweh has sent to you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them (but you have not listened, nor inclined your ear to hear) 5 saying, Return now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Yahweh has given to you and to your fathers, from of old and even forevermore; 6 and don't go after other gods to serve them or worship them, and don't provoke me to anger with the work of your hands; and I will do you no harm. 7 Yet you have not listened to me, says Yahweh; that you may provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own hurt.
• Jer 26:23 : 23 and they fetched forth Uriah out of Egypt, and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.
• Jer 35:15 : 15 I have sent also to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and don't go after other gods to serve them, and you shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but you have not inclined your ear, nor listened to me.
• Jer 42:9-9 : 9 and said to them, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your supplication before him: 10 If you will still live 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 grieve over the distress that I have brought on you. 11 Don't be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; don't be afraid of him, says Yahweh: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. 12 I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you, and cause you to return to your own land. 13 But if you say, We will not dwell in this land; so that you don't obey the voice of Yahweh your God,
• Jer 44:4 : 4 However I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Oh, don't do this abominable thing that I hate.
• Hos 11:2 : 2 They called to them, so they went from them. They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to engraved images.
• Hos 11:7 : 7 My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won't exalt them.
• Zech 1:4 : 4 Don't you be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Thus says Yahweh of Armies, 'Return now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings;' but they did not hear, nor listen to me, says Yahweh.
• Ps 81:8-9 : 8 "Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me! 9 There shall be no strange god in you, neither shall you worship any foreign god. 10 I am Yahweh, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 But my people didn't listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.
• Ps 91:4 : 4 He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
• Prov 1:24-31 : 24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; 25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof; 26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you; 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you. 28 Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me; 29 because they hated knowledge, and didn't choose the fear of Yahweh. 30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
• Isa 50:2 : 2 Why, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can't 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 stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst.
• Jer 2:30 : 30 "I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
• Jer 4:14 : 14 Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?
• Jer 6:8 : 8 Be instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from you; lest I make you a desolation, a land not inhabited."
• Ps 17:8 : 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
• Ps 36:7 : 7 How precious is your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
• Ps 57:1 : 1 Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed.
• 2 Chr 24:21-22 : 21 They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of Yahweh. 22 Thus Joash the king didn't remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, "May Yahweh look at it, and repay it."
• 2 Chr 36:15-16 : 15 Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early 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 scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of Yahweh arose against his people, until there was no remedy.
• Matt 21:35-36 : 35 The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they treated them the same way.
• Matt 22:3 : 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come.
• Matt 22:6 : 6 and the rest grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.
• Matt 23:30 : 30 and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn't have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'
• Mark 12:3-6 : 3 They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty. 4 Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. 5 Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some. 6 Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'