The Meaning of Luke 19:42 Explained

Luke 19:42

KJV: Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

YLT: saying -- 'If thou didst know, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things for thy peace; but now they were hid from thine eyes.

Darby: saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, even at least in this thy day, the things that are for thy peace: but now they are hid from thine eyes;

ASV: saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Saying,  If  thou hadst known,  even  thou,  at least  in  this  thy  day,  the things  [which belong] unto  thy  peace!  but  now  they are hid  from  thine  eyes. 

What does Luke 19:42 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus meant that if the people of Jerusalem had only known then, that day (cf. Luke 4:21; Luke 19:5; Luke 19:9), what would result in peace for them, they could experience peace. Acceptance of Him and the inauguration of the kingdom would bring peace (i.e, salvation) to the city of peace, Jerusalem. However they did not realize the consequences of their decision. God had withheld that insight from them because they were bent on rejecting Jesus ( Luke 11:49-51; Luke 13:34).

Context Summary

Luke 19:41-48 - The Doom Of The Royal City
Our Lord loved the city of His race; and when it finally rejected His appeals, He knew that nothing could avert its downfall. Hence His tears! Each nation, city and individual has one day which is the crisis of existence. We cross the equator without knowing it. There is one hour in each God-forsaken life when, as in the Temple before its fall, watchers hear the words, "Let us depart," and there is the rustle of wings! Notice that God visits us in mercy before He comes to us in wrath.
It was a startling act when Christ cleansed the Temple for the second time, John 2:13, etc. If there had been daily papers in those days, they would have chronicled it in great headlines. Extraordinary that this meek and lowly man should break out so vehemently! But His zeal for God's house sustained and bore Him along. Let us ask Him to cleanse the temple of our heart.
These priests and scribes had vested interests to conserve, which blinded them to the beauty and glory of Christ. If we place a coin, however valueless, against the eye, it will blind us to the sun. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 19

1  Of Zacchaeus a tax collector
11  The ten minas
28  Jesus rides into Jerusalem with triumph;
41  weeps over it;
45  drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;
47  Teaching daily in it The rulers seek to destroy him, but fear the people

Greek Commentary for Luke 19:42

If thou hadst known [ει εγνως]
Second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω — ginōskō Second-class condition, determined as unfulfilled. [source]
Even thou [και συ]
Emphatic position of the subject. But now (νυν δε — nun de). Aposiopesis. The conclusion is not expressed and the sudden breaking off and change of structure is most impressive. They are hid Second aorist passive indicative of κρυπτω — kruptō common verb, to hide. [source]
But now [νυν δε]
Aposiopesis. The conclusion is not expressed and the sudden breaking off and change of structure is most impressive. [source]
They are hid [εκρυβη]
Second aorist passive indicative of κρυπτω — kruptō common verb, to hide. [source]
Wept [ἔκλαυσεν]
With audible weeping. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 19:42

Luke 19:44 Because [αντ ων]
“In return for which things.”Thou knewest not (ουκ εγνως — ouk egnōs). Applying the very words of the lament in the condition in Luke 19:42. This vivid prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem is used by those who deny predictive prophecy even for Jesus as proof that Luke wrote the Gospel after the destruction of Jerusalem. But it is no proof at all to those who concede to Jesus adequate knowledge of his mission and claims. [source]
Luke 19:44 Thou knewest not [ουκ εγνως]
Applying the very words of the lament in the condition in Luke 19:42. This vivid prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem is used by those who deny predictive prophecy even for Jesus as proof that Luke wrote the Gospel after the destruction of Jerusalem. But it is no proof at all to those who concede to Jesus adequate knowledge of his mission and claims. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 19:42 mean?

saying - If you had known in the day this even you the things for peace Now however they are hidden from eyes of you
λέγων ὅτι Εἰ ἔγνως ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ καὶ σὺ τὰ πρὸς εἰρήνην νῦν δὲ ἐκρύβη ἀπὸ ὀφθαλμῶν σου

λέγων  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ὅτι  - 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἔγνως  you  had  known 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: γινώσκω  
Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.
ἡμέρᾳ  day 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
ταύτῃ  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
καὶ  even 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
τὰ  the  things 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εἰρήνην  peace 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: εἰρήνη  
Sense: a state of national tranquillity.
νῦν  Now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: νῦν  
Sense: at this time, the present, now.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἐκρύβη  they  are  hidden 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κρύπτω  
Sense: to hide, conceal, to be hid.
ὀφθαλμῶν  eyes 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ὀφθαλμός  
Sense: the eye.
σου  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.