Matthew 23:37-38
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Jesus uses the tender image of a hen gathering her chicks to show His deep desire to protect Jerusalem, but highlights their unwillingness to be gathered, revealing that their persistent rejection of His love is the very reason for their impending doom.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this, Jesus has unleashed a series of "woes" against the religious leaders, exposing their hypocrisy and pronouncing judgment. Now, turning his gaze upon Jerusalem itself, he laments its future destruction, a fate he desperately wanted to avert, picturing himself as a mother hen trying to gather her chicks under her wings for protection, a tender image contrasted with the city's persistent refusal of his care. This lament sets the stage for the events of the Passion week, highlighting the deep tragedy of Jerusalem's rejection of God's offered salvation.
Jesus looks at Jerusalem, a city with a history of violence against God's messengers. What does this say about its heart?
Jesus calls Jerusalem 'the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it.' This isn't just a description of past events; it's a picture of a deep-seated pattern of rejection. Throughout its history, Jerusalem had repeatedly turned against the very people God sent to guide and correct them. This speaks to a profound resistance to God's voice, even when delivered through His chosen messengers. It highlights the dangerous reality of how communities, like individuals, can become entrenched in a way of thinking that actively opposes truth and righteousness, eventually leading to their own destruction.
Jesus uses a tender image to describe His desire for Jerusalem. What does this reveal about God's heart?
The powerful image of a hen gathering her chicks under her wings paints a vivid picture of Jesus' profound desire to protect and nurture Jerusalem. This wasn't a one-time offer, but a repeated, fervent plea: 'How often would I have gathered your children together...' This speaks volumes about God's unwavering love and relentless pursuit of His people, even when they resist Him. He doesn't force Himself upon them, but offers a sanctuary of safety and belonging. This maternal tenderness, expressed by Jesus, contrasts sharply with the city's violent response, highlighting the depth of His compassion and the tragedy of His rejection.
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Jesus' lament ends with a simple, yet devastating phrase. What does this 'no' signify?
The concluding phrase, 'and you were not willing!' is the tragic core of Jesus' lament. It underscores the devastating reality of human free will and the profound consequences of choosing rebellion over refuge. Despite God's persistent love, repeated calls, and the tender image of a mother hen, Jerusalem's leaders and people actively refused His outstretched hand. This 'you would not' highlights that salvation is a choice, and that genuine repentance involves a willing surrender. It's a sobering reminder that even the Almighty, in His infinite love, respects human choice, and that ultimate destruction often stems from a deliberate refusal of His grace.
Understand the original words
Ierousalēm · Greek Proper Noun
The capital of Israel, representing the heart of the nation, the site of the Temple, and the center of God's covenantal dealings with His people. It is frequently portrayed in Scripture as the place of spiritual rebellion and the rejection of God's messengers.
prophētēs · Greek Noun
Individuals commissioned by God to declare His word to His people, often calling them to repentance. They were frequently persecuted or killed by those who rejected God’s authority.
pterux · Greek Noun
A metaphorical image signifying divine protection, care, comfort, and the sheltering presence of God. It draws on the imagery of a mother bird protecting her young from danger.
erēmos · Greek Adjective
A state of being abandoned, forsaken, or laid waste. Biblically, it often refers to the withdrawal of God's presence, leading to spiritual or physical ruin.
oikos · Greek Noun
A reference to the Temple in Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God's name. Its desolation signifies the end of the old covenant order and the departure of the Lord's glory due to national rebellion.
Jesus' lament over Jerusalem, calling it a city that kills prophets, highlights a tragic historical pattern of rejection. This verse is deeply rooted in Jerusalem's long history of confronting and destroying God's messengers, a cycle that tragically culminates in the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus Himself.
~1400 BC
The Exodus and Wilderness Journey
God leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and guides them through the wilderness, establishing a covenant relationship with them. This marks the beginning of God's persistent efforts to gather and protect His people.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Temple Dedicated
The magnificent Temple in Jerusalem is dedicated, signifying God's chosen dwelling place among His people. This event highlights Jerusalem's central role in God's plan and the sacred trust placed upon it.
722 BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Kingdom
The northern kingdom of Israel is conquered by Assyria and its people are exiled, a severe judgment for their persistent disobedience. This event serves as a stark warning to the southern kingdom of Judah, centered in Jerusalem.
586 BC
Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and exile much of the population. This catastrophic event is a direct consequence of Judah's, and Jerusalem's, repeated rejection of God's messengers and warnings.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Jerusalem
Jesus enters Jerusalem, teaching and healing, and making repeated attempts to gather its people under His wing, much like a hen protecting her chicks. His ministry culminates in His crucifixion within the city.
c. 33 AD
Stephen's Martyrdom
Stephen, a disciple of Jesus, is stoned to death by a mob in Jerusalem for proclaiming the Gospel. This event exemplifies the city's ongoing pattern of killing those sent by God.
70 AD
Roman Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman army brutally sacks Jerusalem and destroys the Second Temple. This event fulfills Jesus' prophecy of devastation due to the city's persistent rejection of God's messengers and His Son.
This passage is nearly identical to Matthew 23:37-39, showing Jesus' deep sorrow and longing for Jerusalem, even as He foresees its destruction due to its persistent rejection of God's messengers.
Deuteronomy 32:11This Old Testament passage describes God's protective care for Israel using the imagery of an eagle protecting its young, which parallels Jesus' metaphor of the hen gathering her brood, highlighting God's consistent desire to shelter His people.
Jeremiah 7:1-7In this prophetic passage, Jeremiah confronts Jerusalem for its outward religious practices while inwardly harboring wickedness, echoing Jesus' condemnation of Jerusalem's leaders and the city's rejection of prophets, and foreshadowing the 'desolate house' Jesus speaks of.
Isaiah 5:1-7This parable of the vineyard presents God's loving care and expectations for His people, and their subsequent failure and destruction, mirroring Jesus' lament over Jerusalem's repeated refusal to bear fruit and its impending judgment.
This verse directly follows Jesus' lament, stating that Jerusalem will not see Him again until they acknowledge Him as the one who comes in the name of the Lord, emphasizing the ultimate consequence of their rejection and the fulfilled prophecy of their desolation.
vincentMatthew 23:37: "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!"
Hen (ὄρνις)Generic: bird or fowl; but hen is used generically of the mother-bird of all species.
bensonMatthew 23:37: "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!"
Matthew 23:37 . O Jerusalem, Jerusalem — The Lord Jesus having thus laid before the Pharisees and the Jewish nation their heinous guilt and impending ruin, was exceedingly moved at the thought of the calamities coming upon them. A day or two before he had…
Jesus uses the tender image of a hen gathering her chicks to show His deep desire to protect Jerusalem, but highlights their unwillingness to be gathered, revealing that their persistent rejection of His love is the very reason for their impending doom.
Just before this, Jesus has unleashed a series of "woes" against the religious leaders, exposing their hypocrisy and pronouncing judgment. Now, turning his gaze upon Jerusalem itself, he laments its future destruction, a fate he desperately wanted to avert, picturing himself as a mother hen trying to gather her chicks under her wings for protection, a tender image contrasted with the city's persistent refusal of his care. This lament sets the stage for the events of the Passion week, highlighting the deep tragedy of Jerusalem's rejection of God's offered salvation.
Just before this, Jesus has unleashed a series of "woes" against the religious leaders, exposing their hypocrisy and pronouncing judgment. Now, turning his gaze upon Jerusalem itself, he laments its future destruction, a fate he desperately wanted to avert, picturing himself as a mother hen trying to gather her chicks under her wings for protection, a tender image contrasted with the city's persistent refusal of his care. This lament sets the stage for the events of the Passion week, highlighting the deep tragedy of Jerusalem's rejection of God's offered salvation.
"“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is…" — Jesus uses the tender image of a hen gathering her chicks to show His deep desire to protect Jerusalem, but highlights their unwillingness to be gathered, revealing that their persistent rejection…
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Last reviewed October 2026
