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Matthew 23:35-38

that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is left to you desolate.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Matthew 23:35-38 sits inside this longer paragraph.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna? Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.

    Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.

    “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!

    Behold, your house is left to you desolate.

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    that vpon you maye come all the righteous bloude that was sheed vpon the erth from the bloud of righteous Abell vnto the bloud of zacharias the sonne of Barachias who ye slewe betwene the temple and the altre.

    Verely I say vnto you all these thinges shall light vpon this generacion.

    Hierusalem hierusalem which kyllest prophetes and stonest the which are sent to the: how often wolde I have gadered thy chyldren to gether as the henne gadreth her chickes vnder her winges but ye wolde not:

    Beholde youre habitacion shalbe lefte vnto you desolate.

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  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    That vpon you may come all the righteous blood that was shed vpon the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous, vnto the blood of Zacharias the sonne of Barachias, whome ye slewe betweene the Temple and the altar.

    Verely I say vnto you, all these things shall come vpon this generation.

    Hierusalem, Hierusalem, which killest the Prophets, and stonest them which are sent to thee, how often would I haue gathered thy children together, as the henne gathereth her chickins vnder her wings, and ye would not!

    Beholde, your habitation shalbe left vnto you desolate,

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Examined in Scripture Analysis

Contradictions (2)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

  • Has there ever been a righteous person?
  • Who was Zechariah's father?

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Cross-references (83)

  • Luke 13:34-35 (v37) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children…
  • Psalms 91:4 (v37) He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
  • Ruth 2:12 (v37) May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take…
  • Deuteronomy 32:11-12 (v37) As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bore them on his feathers.…
  • 2 Chronicles 24:20-22 (v35) The Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, “God says, ‘Why do you…
Show all 81 cross-references
  • Psalms 17:8 (v37) Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
  • Nehemiah 9:26 (v37) “Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, cast your law behind their back, killed your prophets that testified against…
  • Proverbs 1:24-31 (v37) Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; but you have ignored all my…
  • Hebrews 11:4 (v35) By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God…
  • Jeremiah 6:16-17 (v37) Yahweh says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for…
  • Zechariah 1:1 (v35) In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, Yahweh’s word came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet,…
  • Psalms 36:7 (v37) How precious is your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
  • Psalms 63:7 (v37) For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.
  • Genesis 4:8 (v35) Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed…
  • Psalms 57:1 (v37) Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until…
  • 2 Chronicles 24:21-22 (v37) They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of Yahweh’s house. Thus Joash the king…
  • Jeremiah 35:15 (v37) I have sent also to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Every one of you must return now from his…
  • Hosea 11:2 (v37) They called to them, so they went from them. They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to engraved images.
  • Matthew 5:12 (v37) Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
  • Matthew 22:3 (v37) and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
  • Matthew 23:30 (v37) and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
  • Luke 14:17-20 (v37) He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’ They all as one began to make…
  • Luke 19:14-44 (v37) But his citizens hated him, and sent an envoy after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to reign over us.’ “When he had come back again,…
  • Jeremiah 22:5 (v38) But if you will not hear these words, I swear by myself,” says Yahweh, “that this house will become a desolation.” ’ ”
  • Jeremiah 25:3-7 (v37) From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years, Yahweh’s word has come to…
  • Jeremiah 42:9-13 (v37) and said to them, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your supplication before him, says: ‘If you will still live in…
  • Jeremiah 44:4 (v37) However I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, “Oh, don’t do this abominable thing that I…
  • Matthew 21:35-36 (v37) The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they…
  • Acts 7:51-52 (v37) “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. Which of the…
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:15 (v37) who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and don’t please God, and are contrary to all men,
  • Revelation 11:7-8 (v37) When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill…
  • Revelation 18:24 (v35) In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.”
  • Jeremiah 26:15 (v35) Only know for certain that, if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for…
  • Matthew 10:23 (v36) But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of…
  • Matthew 24:34 (v36) Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished.
  • Luke 13:35 (v38) Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the…
  • Jeremiah 2:30 (vv35, 37) “I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
  • Jeremiah 26:23 (vv35, 37) and they fetched Uriah out of Egypt, and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the…
  • 2 Kings 21:16 (v35) Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; in addition to his sin with which…
  • 2 Kings 24:4 (v35) and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and Yahweh would not pardon.
  • 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 (v37) Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and…
  • Psalms 81:8-11 (v37) “Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me! There shall be no strange god in you, neither shall you…
  • Isaiah 50:2 (v37) Why, when I came, was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can’t redeem? Or…
  • Jeremiah 4:14 (v37) Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long will your evil thoughts lodge within you?
  • Jeremiah 6:8 (v37) Be instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from you, lest I make you a desolation, an uninhabited land.”
  • Jeremiah 11:7-8 (v37) For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and…
  • Hosea 11:7 (v37) My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won’t exalt them.
  • Zechariah 1:4 (v37) Don’t you be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Yahweh of Armies says, ‘Return now from your evil ways, and…
  • Matthew 22:6 (v37) and the rest grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.
  • Luke 21:24 (v38) They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles,…
  • 1 Kings 9:7 (v38) then I will cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and I will cast this house, which I have made holy for my name, out of…
  • Isaiah 26:21 (v35) For, behold, Yahweh comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose her…
  • Mark 12:3-6 (v37) They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty. Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the…
  • Mark 13:30-31 (v36) Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my…
  • Luke 11:51 (v35) from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.’ Yes, I tell you, it will be required…
  • Luke 15:28 (v37) But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him.
  • Luke 19:43-44 (v38) For the days will come on you, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side, and will…
  • Luke 20:11-14 (v37) He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. He sent yet a third, and they…
  • Luke 21:6 (v38) “As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown…
  • Luke 21:20 (v38) “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.
  • Luke 21:32-33 (v36) Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my…
  • Acts 6:13-14 (v38) and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. For we have…
  • Hebrews 12:24 (v35) to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.
  • Revelation 17:6 (v37) I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great…
  • Genesis 9:5-6 (v35) I will surely require accounting for your life’s blood. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even at the hand…
  • Numbers 35:33 (v35) “ ‘So you shall not pollute the land where you live; for blood pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that…
  • Deuteronomy 21:7-8 (v35) They shall answer and say, “Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Forgive, Yahweh, your people Israel, whom…
  • Jeremiah 2:34 (v35) Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You didn’t find them breaking in, but it is because of all these…
  • Lamentations 4:13-14 (v35) It is because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the middle of her.…
  • Ezekiel 12:21-28 (v36) Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged,…
  • Mark 13:14 (v38) But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand),…
  • 1 John 3:11-12 (v35) For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and…
  • 2 Chronicles 7:20-21 (v38) then I will pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, I will…
  • Psalms 69:24 (v38) Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.
  • Isaiah 64:10-12 (v38) Your holy cities have become a wilderness. Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. Our holy and our beautiful house where our…
  • Jeremiah 7:9-14 (v38) Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods that you have not known, then come…
  • Daniel 9:26 (v38) After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One will be cut off, and will have nothing. The people of the prince who come will destroy the city…
  • Zechariah 11:1-2 (v38) Open your doors, Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars. Wail, cypress tree, for the cedar has fallen, because the stately ones are…
  • Zechariah 11:6 (v38) For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land,” says Yahweh; “but, behold, I will deliver the men everyone into his neighbor’s hand,…
  • Zechariah 14:1-2 (v38) Behold, a day of Yahweh comes, when your plunder will be divided within you. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and…
  • Matthew 24:2 (v38) But he answered them, “You see all of these things, don’t you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another,…

81 distinct cross-references across this passage (83 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (22 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv35, 37 Of Joiada, who was also called Berechiah, that is,…

Of Joiada, who was also called Berechiah, that is, blessed of the Lord.

The end of them which persecute the Gospel, under the pretence of zeal.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv35–38 35 That upon you may come all the righteous…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On v37 We have the same Luk 13:34,35. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!…
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On v37 Our Lord concludes this chapter with a pathetical lamentation…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv35–38 Verily I say unto you,.... An usual form of…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv35, 37, 38 That upon you may come - The consequence of…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv35–38 Verse 35. Upon the earth] επι της γης, upon…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv37–38 Mat 23:37. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem — The Lord Jesus…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv35–38 That upon you may come ... - That is,…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv35–38 From the blood of Abel, &c. Not that the…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv36–38 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv35–38 35. That — In order that. This word depends…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv35, 37, 38 35. from the blood of righteous Abel unto the…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv35–38 (35) The blood of Zacharias son of Barachias.—A very…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv35–38 That upon you may come (opwv elyh). This phrase…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv36–37 Mat_23:29; Mat_23:33; Mat_23:36
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv35–38 35. That upon you may come all the righteous…
William B. Godbey 1900 · Public Domain On v37 Mat 23:37-39. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On vv35–36 Jesus’ confirmation of Gen 4:8-10. Cf. Heb 12:24.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v37 The lament:
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v37 Connecting Statement:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv35, 37, 38 23:35 The span from Abel (Gen 4:8-11) to Zechariah…
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