Luke 23:29

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.

Luke 23:29 (KJV)

Context

Jesus speaks these words while carrying His cross to Golgotha, turning to the daughters of Jerusalem who weep for Him. He redirects their sorrow: they should weep for themselves and for their children, because severe days are coming upon Jerusalem.

Meaning

The verse declares that a time will come when people will call the barren blessed, along with wombs that never bore and breasts that never nursed. This is not a commendation of childlessness as an ideal, but a prophetic lament. In the coming distress, the normal blessing of motherhood will become a source of anguish, so childlessness will seem preferable. The phrase “days are coming” is a prophetic formula pointing to a future time of divine intervention, here in judgment.

Biblical connections

The following verse continues the warning: people will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us” (Luke 23:30). This imagery of catastrophic calamity reinforces the severity of the coming judgment. Jesus’ compassion is evident even in His suffering, as He warns others of impending danger rather than focusing on His own pain.

Application

This passage calls for repentance and reliance on God. Earthly comforts and blessings, even the gift of children, can become sources of sorrow in times of divine visitation. The proper response is to heed Jesus’ warning, turn from sin, and place trust in God rather than in temporal blessings.

Reflection

How quickly normal joys can be overshadowed by coming distress. Jesus, in the midst of His own suffering, cared enough to warn others. His words invite us to examine where we place our hope and to seek the security that only God can provide.