Luke 11:47-51
New English Translation
47 Woe to you! You build[a] the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors[b] killed. 48 So you testify that you approve of[c] the deeds of your ancestors,[d] because they killed the prophets[e] and you build their[f] tombs![g] 49 For this reason also the wisdom[h] of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that this generation may be held accountable[i] for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning[j] of the world,[k] 51 from the blood of Abel[l] to the blood of Zechariah,[m] who was killed[n] between the altar and the sanctuary.[o] Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against[p] this generation.
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- Luke 11:47 sn The effect of what the experts in the law were doing was to deny the message of the prophets and thus honor their death by supporting those who had sought their removal. The charge that this is what previous generations did shows the problem is chronic. As T. W. Manson said, the charge here is “The only prophet you honor is a dead prophet!” (The Sayings of Jesus, 101).
- Luke 11:47 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”
- Luke 11:48 tn Grk “you are witnesses and approve of.”
- Luke 11:48 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”
- Luke 11:48 tn Grk “them”; the referent (the prophets) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Luke 11:48 tn “Their,” i.e., the prophets.
- Luke 11:48 tc The majority of mss list a specific object (“their tombs”), filling out the sentence (although there are two different words for “tombs” among the mss, as well as different word orders: αὐτῶν τὰ μνημεῖα (autōn ta mnēmeia; found in A C W Θ Ψ 33 M) and τοὺς τάφους αὐτῶν (tous taphous autōn; found in ƒ1,[13] 2542). This suggests that early copyists had no term in front of them but felt the verb needed an object. But since a wide distribution of early Alexandrian and Western mss lack these words (P75 א B D L 579 1241 it sa), it is likely that they were not part of the original text of Luke. Nevertheless, the words “their tombs” are inserted in the translation because of requirements of English style.
- Luke 11:49 sn The expression the wisdom of God is a personification of an attribute of God that refers to his wise will.
- Luke 11:50 tn Or “that this generation may be charged with”; or “the blood of all the prophets…may be required from this generation.” This is a warning of judgment. These people are responsible for the shedding of prophetic blood.
- Luke 11:50 tn Or “foundation.” However, this does not suggest a time to the modern reader.
- Luke 11:50 tn The order of the clauses in this complicated sentence has been rearranged to simplify it for the modern reader.
- Luke 11:51 sn Gen 4:10 indicates that Abel’s blood cried out for justice.
- Luke 11:51 sn It is not clear which Zechariah is meant here. It is probably the person mentioned in 2 Chr 24:20-25.
- Luke 11:51 tn Or “who perished.”
- Luke 11:51 tn Or “and the temple”; Grk “and the house,” but in this context a reference to the house of God as a place of sanctuary.
- Luke 11:51 tn Or “required from.”
Luke 13:34-35
New English Translation
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,[a] you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you![b] How often I have longed[c] to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but[d] you would have none of it![e] 35 Look, your house is forsaken![f] And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”[g]
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- Luke 13:34 sn The double use of the city’s name betrays intense emotion.
- Luke 13:34 tn Although the opening address (“Jerusalem, Jerusalem”) is direct (second person), the remainder of this sentence in the Greek text is third person (“who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her”). The following sentences then revert to second person (“your…you”), so to keep all this consistent in English, the third person pronouns in the present verse were translated as second person (“you who kill…sent to you”).
- Luke 13:34 sn How often I have longed to gather your children. Jesus, like a lamenting prophet, speaks for God here, who longed to care tenderly for Israel and protect her.
- Luke 13:34 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Luke 13:34 tn Grk “you were not willing.”
- Luke 13:35 sn Your house is forsaken. The language here is from Jer 12:7 and 22:5. It recalls exilic judgment.
- Luke 13:35 sn A quotation from Ps 118:26. The judgment to come will not be lifted until the Lord returns. See Luke 19:41-44.
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