41And as he drew near, having seen the city, he wept over it, [19:42] saying, "If you had known — even you, in this day — the things for your peace. But now they have been hidden from your eyes, hidden from your eyes. [19:43] For days will come upon you when your enemies will cast a siege-palisade around you and will encircle you and will hem you in on every side, [19:44] and will dash you and your children within you to the ground, and will not leave a stone upon a stone within you — because you did not know the season of your visitation."
LUK 19:41-44
Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
In the world it was spoken into
In the first century, Jerusalem was not only the religious and cultural heart of Judaism but also a symbol of Jewish identity and hope for divine deliverance. Jesus’ lament over the city would have resonated deeply with Jewish listeners, who understood Jerusalem as the site of God’s presence and the focus of prophetic promises. The term (peace) carried a holistic meaning, encompassing not just the absence of conflict but the flourishing of communal and spiritual well-being. Jesus’ weeping reflects a profound, audible grief, akin to prophetic laments over the destruction of cities in the Hebrew Scriptures. The mention of a (siege rampart) evokes the horrors of Roman military tactics, which were well-known in the region. The (visitation) refers to a divine intervention, often associated with judgment or salvation. For Jesus’ audience, this warning would have been understood as a prophetic critique of Jerusalem’s failure to recognize God’s presence and purpose in their midst.
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How other translations render this
LUK 19:41
- KJV
- And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
- BSB
- As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it
- Koinōnos
- And as he drew near, having seen the city, he wept over it,
LUK 19:42
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes.
- Koinōnos
- saying, "If you had known — even you, in this day — the things for your peace. But now they have been hidden from your eyes, hidden from your eyes.
LUK 19:43
- KJV
- 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,
- BSB
- For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side.
- Koinōnos
- For days will come upon you when your enemies will cast a siege-palisade around you and will encircle you and will hem you in on every side,
LUK 19:44
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”
- Koinōnos
- and will dash you and your children within you to the ground, and will not leave a stone upon a stone within you — because you did not know the season of your visitation.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 19:41
- He wept:The word translated 'He wept' describes a loud, audible expression of grief, often accompanied by wailing or lamentation, rather than silent tears.
LUK 19:42
- you yourself:The word translated 'peace' here refers to a state of wholeness, well-being, and prosperity, not merely the absence of conflict.
LUK 19:43
- a barricade:The word translated 'a barricade' specifically refers to a palisade or rampart made of sharpened stakes, used in ancient siege warfare to encircle and cut off a city.
LUK 19:44
- of visitation:The term translated 'of visitation' carries the sense of a divine inspection or intervention, often with the implication of judgment or accountability, not just a friendly visit.