Luke 23:30

“Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’”
Luke 23:30 · direct translation from the Greek

With the Greek beneath

Thenτότεthey will beginἄρξονταιto sayλέγεινto the mountains,τοῖς ὄρεσιν‘FallΠέσετεonἐφ’us,’ἡμᾶςandκαὶto the hills,τοῖς βουνοῖς‘CoverΚαλύψατεus.’ἡμᾶς

Both texts say: “to the mountains: Fall on us; and to the hills: Cover us.”

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

Thenτότεtote

then

Then, at that time.

they will beginἄρξονταιarxontai

begin

To start doing something.

to sayλέγεινlegein

say

To express something in words to others.

to the mountainsὄρεσινoresin

mountain

Mountain, hill.

‘FallΠέσετεPesete

fall

To go from above down to the ground.

to the hillsβουνοῖςbounois

hill

Hill.

‘CoverΚαλύψατεKalypsate

cover, hide

Cover, hide, conceal.

Words of Hosea 10:8.

29for look, days are coming in which they will say, ‘Happy are the barren and the wombs that did not bear, and the breasts that did not nurse!’

30 · This verse (above)

31For if in the green tree they do these things, what will happen in the dry?”

1. What it says
What does Pilate say about Jesus, what does the crowd demand, and whom do they release? (vv. 13-25)
2. What it means
On the cross Jesus says, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (v. 34). What does he say to one of the criminals? (vv. 39-43)
3. How I live it
Jesus asked forgiveness for those who treated him badly (v. 34). Who has hurt you, and what good could you wish for that person today?