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Luke 13:34
ESV O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
NIV "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.
NASB Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her young under her wings, and you were unwilling!
CSB "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
NLT O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.
KJV O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
NKJV “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

What does Luke 13:34 mean?

Jesus is looking ahead to the tasks He must accomplish before He enters Jerusalem (Luke 13:32–33). The thought of Jerusalem reminds Him of what He must do there. And what He must do reminds Him that as a nation, Israel will not reap the benefits.

He has pointed out that tragedy and violence may come upon anyone at any time. As does any person, each member of the crowd which follows Jesus has a limited amount of time in which to repent of their sins and reconcile with God (Luke 13:1–9). Jesus also explained that salvation does not come to everyone who claims Abraham as father. Those who do not identify themselves with Jesus will not be saved (Luke 13:22–30). God has tried to get their attention for generations. Instead of listening, they effectively kill the prophets by not listening to their words that would point them to the source of hope (Luke 11:47–52; 13:33).

"Jerusalem" doesn't just refer to the city. It also means the Jews as a nation and/or the Jewish religious leaders who are headquartered in Jerusalem. This parallels how modern people might speak of American actions by referring to "Washington" or those of Russia by mentioning "Moscow." Not all the prophets died in Jerusalem, nor did all of them die at the hands of religious leaders; most of the Old Testament prophets seem to have died of natural causes but many were murdered.

The Bible doesn't mention the deaths of many of the prophets. Extra-biblical sources say Isaiah was killed by King Manasseh of Judah; Jeremiah was stoned to death by the Jews who kidnapped him and took him to Egypt; Ezekiel was killed in Babylon after warning the Jews against worshiping idols; Micah was killed by King Joram of Israel; and Amos died of injuries given by Amaziah, false priest of Israel, and his sons.

God overwhelmingly uses male terminology for Himself in the Bible. And yet, as women are also made in His image, He also has attributes we would consider to be female characteristics. Here, Jesus compares Himself to a protective mother hen. In the Old Testament, God compares Himself to a mother several times (Deuteronomy 32:18; Isaiah 49:15; 66:13).
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