Luke 23:29

Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses the daughters of Jerusalem while being led to crucifixion, redirecting their mourning toward themselves and their children rather than toward Him.

The words — The text highlights ἰδοὺ (idou, "behold") and μακαρίαι (makariai, "blessed") to record a future declaration that childless women will be pronounced fortunate.

The thread — This warning parallels Jesus' Olivet Discourse prophecies in Matthew 24:19, Luke 21:23, and Mark 13:17, which describe a time of great distress where pregnancy and nursing become sources of misery rather than blessing.

Why it lands — The verse requires readers to prioritize spiritual readiness over physical comfort, as future judgment will invert worldly values and render mourning for a condemned man meaningless.

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

For, 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.

Cross-references

Matthew 24:19 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!
Luke 21:23 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.
Mark 13:17 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!
Hosea 9:12 Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe be to them when I turn away from them!
Hosea 13:16 Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.
Deuteronomy 28:53 Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you.