Luke 23:29
What does Luke 23:29 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 23:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 23:29 means
Jesus speaks of days coming when people will call the barren blessed—an upside-down judgment on a society facing such horror that not bearing children seems merciful. This likely points to the siege and devastation that will come upon Jerusalem. The normal joys of family life will be overshadowed by calamity. His words reveal both the certainty and severity of judgment for rejecting God’s gracious visitation. Even in agony, Jesus is the true prophet, preparing hearts for what is to come. He urges a perspective not limited to present tears but awake to the consequences of turning from God’s Christ.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For, 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For the days are coming in which they will say, Happy are those who have had no children, whose bodies have never given birth, whose breasts have never given milk.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for, lo, days do come, in which they shall say, Happy the barren, and wombs that did not bare, and paps that did not give suck;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For behold, the days shall come, wherein they will say: Blessed are the barren and the wombs that have not borne and the paps that have not given suck.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890for behold, days are coming in which they will say, Blessed [are] the barren, and wombs that have not borne, and breasts that have not given suck.
Context
Continuing His address to the weeping women, Jesus now paints the coming crisis in stark terms. The reversal of values—barrenness called blessed—signals extreme distress. In the next verse, He intensifies the imagery with cries for mountains and hills to cover people, a way of describing unbearable terror. After completing this brief prophecy, the narrative will return to its central action: arriving at The skull and the crucifixion alongside two criminals.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 24:19
But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days!
- Hosea 13:16
Samaria shall bear her guilt; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.
- Luke 21:23
Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.
- Mark 13:17
But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days!
- Deuteronomy 28:53
And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, whom Jehovah thy God hath given thee, in the siege and in the distress wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee.
- Hosea 9:12
Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, so that not a man shall be left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
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