Luke 23:30

30 then they shall begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us; --

Luke 23:30 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 23:30

Then shall they begin to say
The Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions read, "then shall ye begin to say"; the tribulation being so great, as never was the like since the creation of the world, nor never will be to the end of it; and being so sore pressed with the sword and famine; with the enemy without, and divisions, robberies, and murders within; and their miseries being inexpressible, and intolerable, they will seek to go into the holes of the rocks, and caves of the earth, as is prophesied of them, ( Isaiah 2:19 ) and as Josephus says, many of them did, when the city was taken; and, like those in ( Hosea 10:8 ) will say, "to the mountains fall on us, and to the hills cover us"; will choose rather that the mountains and hills round about Jerusalem, should fall upon them, and they be buried under the ruins of them, than live in such terrible distress, or fall into the hands of their enemies! Compare with this ( Revelation 6:15 Revelation 6:16 ) .

Luke 23:30 In-Context

28 and Jesus having turned unto them, said, `Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for yourselves weep ye, and for your children;
29 for, lo, days do come, in which they shall say, Happy the barren, and wombs that did not bare, and paps that did not give suck;
30 then they shall begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us; --
31 for, if in the green tree they do these things -- in the dry what may happen?'
32 And there were also others -- two evil-doers -- with him, to be put to death;
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.