Luke 13:34 Meaning and Explanation
“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!”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus laments over Jerusalem, which kills the prophets, and tells of His longing to gather her children as a hen gathers her brood — but they would not.
What Does Luke 13:34 Mean?
The road-word becomes a cry of the heart: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem. The city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her is addressed not with contempt but with grief, and the grief is old — how often would I have gathered thy children — the longing behind generations of calling and sending.
The image Jesus chooses for Himself is tender and unguarded: a hen spreading her wings over her brood against danger. Such love does not seize; it gathers, and it can be refused — ye would not. Here the sorrow of God over the unwilling is laid bare (Isaiah 65:2). And the wings are still spread: the same Lord still longs to cover all who will come under them (Psalm 91:4).
Luke 13:34 in the Original Language
episynago (ἐπισυνάγω), 'gathered' -- to gather to oneself, as a bird draws her brood under her wings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 13:34
What does Luke 13:34 mean?
Jesus laments over Jerusalem, which kills the prophets, and tells of His longing to gather her children as a hen gathers her brood — but they would not.