Luke 23:28
What does Luke 23:28 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 23:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 23:28 means
Turning to the women, Jesus tells them not to weep for Him but for themselves and their children. He is not dismissing their compassion but redirecting it to the impending disaster. Judgment is coming upon Jerusalem. Even as He suffers, He thinks of others’ welfare and warns them. This reveals His prophetic role and His heart: He goes to the cross willingly, but the city that rejects Him will face anguish. Tears for His pain are outmatched by the tears due for the calamity that unbelief will bring. He invites sober reflection on what lies ahead.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But Jesus, turning to them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, let not your weeping be for me, but for yourselves and for your children.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and Jesus having turned unto them, said, `Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for yourselves weep ye, and for your children;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me; but weep for yourselves and for your children.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Jesus turning round to them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep over me, but weep over yourselves and over your children;
Context
This personal address interrupts the procession to Golgotha with a solemn prophecy. The next two verses expand on the theme, describing a time when barrenness will be called blessed and when people will long for mountains to cover them. Jesus places His death within the context of looming national judgment. After this warning, the narrative will resume its march to the place called The skull, where Jesus will be crucified between two criminals.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Song of Solomon 5:8
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If ye find my beloved, That ye tell him, that I am sick from love.
- Song of Solomon 5:16
His mouth is most sweet; Yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
- Song of Solomon 2:7
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, Until he please.
- Song of Solomon 3:5
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, Until he please.
- Song of Solomon 1:5
I am black, but comely, Oh ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon.
- Song of Solomon 3:10
He made the pillars thereof of silver, The bottom thereof of gold, the seat of it of purple, The midst thereof being paved with love, From the daughters of Jerusalem.
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