Bible Strands
Luke 19:44
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.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to Jerusalem as He approaches the city, forecasting its imminent military siege and total destruction. He addresses the city's leadership and inhabitants regarding their failure to perceive divine intervention.
The words — ἐδαφιοῦσίν (edaphiousin) means "will level to the ground," describing complete physical demolition. τέκνα (tekna) translates literally to "children," specifying the casualties confined within the city walls.
The thread — This forecast of total ruin runs parallel to the temple's predicted demolition in Luke 21:6 and the earlier lament over Jerusalem in Luke 13:34. The theme of a forsaken city also aligns with the judgment described in Lamentations 1:8.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that historical catastrophe stems from failing to identify God's decisive action. It requires a reader to acknowledge that spiritual blindness precedes physical ruin.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
- Luke 21:6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
- Lamentations 1:8 Jerusalem has sinned greatly; therefore she has become an object of scorn. All who honored her now despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns away.
- Luke 19:42 and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes.
- John 3:18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
- 1 Peter 2:12 Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
- Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
- Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
- Matthew 24:2 “Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
- Luke 1:68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.