Luke 23 29

Luke 23:29 kjv

For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

Luke 23:29 nkjv

For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!'

Luke 23:29 niv

For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'

Luke 23:29 esv

For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'

Luke 23:29 nlt

For the days are coming when they will say, 'Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.'

Luke 23 verses

Luke 23 29 Meaning

This verse is a profound prophetic warning from Jesus, uttered while on His way to the crucifixion. It signifies a future period of extreme suffering and desolation for Jerusalem (primarily fulfilled in 70 AD by the Roman destruction), so severe that societal norms and blessings would be tragically inverted. Childbearing, traditionally considered a great blessing and source of joy, would become a terrible burden, and the historically lamented state of barrenness would paradoxically be deemed fortunate. It highlights a radical shift in perspective driven by an unparalleled era of tribulation.

Luke 23 29 Context

This verse is situated during Jesus's final, agonizing procession to Calvary, carrying His cross. As He makes His way, a great multitude of people, including women, follow Him, lamenting and bewailing Him. Jesus, despite His immense suffering, turns to these "daughters of Jerusalem" and redirects their focus from His plight to the greater tribulation that awaits their city and people. Luke 23:28-31 forms a coherent warning, where Jesus prophesies the coming destruction of Jerusalem (primarily in 70 AD) by the Romans. The specific woes foretold, such as the inversion of blessings, indicate the extreme suffering that would lead people to prefer barrenness over motherhood, due to the unspeakable horrors that mothers and their children would endure during the siege and subsequent famine. It emphasizes Jesus's divine foresight and His compassionate, though stern, warning, even in His hour of deepest humiliation.

Luke 23 29 Word analysis

• For behold, (ἰδοὺ γάρ - idou gar): "Behold" (ἰδοὺ) serves as an imperative, drawing immediate and urgent attention to what is about to be said. It marks a significant revelation or prophecy. "For" (γάρ) connects this prophetic statement to the previous verse (Lk 23:28), explaining why they should weep for themselves and their children—because of these dire future events. This emphasizes the gravity and certainty of the coming tribulation.
• the days are coming (ἔρχονται ἡμέραι - erchontai hēmerai): This is a common prophetic idiom used throughout the Old Testament and New Testament (e.g., Jer 7:32, Amos 8:11). It consistently introduces a future time of divine intervention, judgment, or fulfillment. Here, it signifies a specific historical period of immense suffering for Jerusalem and the Jewish people, distinct from their current lamentations over Jesus.
• when they will say, (ἐν αἷς ἐροῦσιν - en hais erousin): This phrase indicates a future time when a collective realization and lament will sweep through the populace. "They" refers to the general population experiencing these events. The saying reveals a fundamental reevaluation of what constitutes good fortune under the weight of severe distress.
• 'Blessed (Μακάριαι - Makariai): The Greek word `Makarios` signifies not merely happiness, but a deep state of blessedness, favored by God, truly fortunate or enviable. It is the term used in the Beatitudes (e.g., Matt 5:3-11). The profound paradox here is that `Makariai` is applied to those who were traditionally considered unfortunate, reversing the common understanding of blessings.
• are the barren, (αἱ στεῖραι - hai steirai): In ancient Jewish society, barrenness was considered a great personal and familial misfortune, often a source of shame and a sign of divine disfavor (e.g., Gen 30:1, Lk 1:25). To be `steira` was to be unable to bear children. The verse shockingly proclaims this state as "blessed," indicating the future circumstances will be so dire that escaping the responsibility and pain of raising children in such a time would be preferred.
• and the wombs that never bore, (καὶ αἱ κοιλίαι αἱ οὐκ ἐγέννησαν - kai hai koiliai hai ouk egennēsan): This is a parallelism that reiterates and amplifies the blessing of barrenness. "Wombs" (koiliai) explicitly refers to the physical capacity for childbearing, making the reversal of fortune concrete. The phrase further underscores the profound despair that would lead to this counter-intuitive wish, implying the suffering children would face.
• and the breasts that never nursed!' (καὶ μαστοὶ οἳ οὐκ ἔθρεψαν - kai mastoi hoi ouk ethrepsan!): This phrase provides an even more vivid and visceral image. "Breasts" (mastoi) refers to the nurturing aspect of motherhood, symbolizing the full cycle of birth and early care. The emphasis on "never nursed" powerfully evokes the inability of mothers to feed and sustain their infants during siege and famine, and the excruciating pain of watching their children starve. This detail paints a horrifying picture of the depths of human suffering where life itself becomes a liability.

Words-group by words-group analysis: "For behold, the days are coming": This phrase functions as a solemn, urgent prophetic announcement, preparing the hearers for a future event of monumental significance and sorrow. It anchors the warning in divine foreknowledge. "when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren'": This highlights the radical reversal of societal and divine blessings. The universal lament signifies a shift from a culture valuing large families to one where not having children is considered merciful in the face of tribulation. This phrase captures the paradox that only extreme suffering can create.* "and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!": This triplet provides graphic, progressive imagery of the very essence of motherhood, meticulously detailing why it would become a burden. It paints a picture of extreme famine and desolation where the inability to nurture one's offspring becomes a merciful escape from unimaginable pain. This emphasizes the sheer horror and depravity awaiting Jerusalem, rendering its natural inclination towards life-giving into a source of agony.

Luke 23 29 Bonus section

• Jesus's Compassionate Foresight: This moment underscores Jesus's incredible selflessness. Even while He is undergoing extreme personal torment, His focus remains on the impending doom for the people of Jerusalem. He is not just lamenting, but prophetically warning, demonstrating His unwavering care and insight.
• Fulfillment of Old Testament Curses: The words of Jesus echo warnings found in the Old Testament concerning the dire consequences of disobedience and siege, such as the horrors described in Deut 28:53-57 and Lam 4:10, where mothers resort to extreme measures due to famine.
• Spiritual Application for Tribulation: While primarily about the fall of Jerusalem, this verse can also resonate as a broader spiritual principle for believers. In times of severe persecution or tribulation, earthly attachments, including family ties, can sometimes become immense burdens, testing one's commitment to Christ (Matt 10:37). The call to bear spiritual fruit (Gal 5:22-23) becomes paramount over physical fruitfulness in a world rejecting Christ.
• Reversal of the Genesis Mandate: This prophetic word strikingly overturns the foundational blessing and command of Genesis to "be fruitful and multiply." In the face of judgment, the very basis of human flourishing (reproduction) becomes a source of dread.

Luke 23 29 Commentary

Luke 23:29 serves as a stark warning delivered by Jesus Himself, amidst His profound personal suffering. It transcends mere historical prediction, speaking to the ultimate consequences of rejecting divine counsel. By foretelling a time when barrenness would be envied, Jesus vividly illustrates the horror of Jerusalem's impending destruction in 70 AD, a time of such unparalleled siege and famine that nurturing life would become a source of anguish. The traditional blessing of a fruitful womb (Pss 127:3-5) would invert, showing the depth of desolation where compassion would pray for a non-existent child. This prophetic word not only demonstrated Jesus's omniscience but also His compassionate heart, redirecting the "daughters of Jerusalem's" tears from His suffering to the much greater agony that awaited them and their future generations. It stands as a profound reminder that attachment to earthly comforts, especially future generations, can become a source of profound sorrow when divine judgment falls.