Luke 23:30
New International Version
Then “’they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!"’

New Living Translation
People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’

English Standard Version
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’

Berean Standard Bible
At that time ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’

Berean Literal Bible
Then 'they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall upon us," and to the hills, "Cover us."'

King James Bible
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

New King James Version
Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’

New American Standard Bible
Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US.’

NASB 1995
“Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US.’

NASB 1977
“Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US.’

Legacy Standard Bible
Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US.’

Amplified Bible
Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US!’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US!’

Christian Standard Bible
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us! ’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us! ’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us!’ and to the hills, Cover us!’

American Standard Version
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

Contemporary English Version
At that time everyone will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" They will say to the hills, "Hide us!"

English Revised Version
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then people will say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!'

Good News Translation
That will be the time when people will say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Hide us!'

International Standard Version
Then people will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!', and to the hills, 'Cover us up!'

Majority Standard Bible
At that time ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’

NET Bible
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!'

New Heart English Bible
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'

Webster's Bible Translation
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

Weymouth New Testament
Then will they begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us;' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'

World English Bible
Then they will begin to tell the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and tell the hills, ‘Cover us.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
then they will begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us;

Berean Literal Bible
Then 'they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall upon us," and to the hills, "Cover us."'

Young's Literal Translation
then they shall begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us; --

Smith's Literal Translation
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall upon us; and to the hills, Cover us.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall upon us; and to the hills: Cover us.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall over us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’

New American Bible
At that time people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’

New Revised Standard Version
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they shall begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us', and to the hills, 'Cover us.'
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

Godbey New Testament
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Hide us.

Haweis New Testament
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us! and to the hills, Cover us!

Mace New Testament
then shall they cry to the mountains, fall on us; and to the hills, cover us.

Weymouth New Testament
Then will they begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us;' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'

Worrell New Testament
Then will they begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us;' and to the hills, 'Cover us;'

Worsley New Testament
Then shall they say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Crucifixion
29Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’ 30At that time they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ 31For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”…

Cross References
Hosea 10:8
The high places of Aven will be destroyed—it is the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

Revelation 6:16
And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.

Isaiah 2:19
Men will flee to caves in the rocks and holes in the ground, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth.

Isaiah 2:21
They will flee to caverns in the rocks and crevices in the cliffs, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth.

Matthew 24:16-18
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. / Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. / And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

Jeremiah 4:29
Every city flees at the sound of the horseman and archer. They enter the thickets and climb among the rocks. Every city is abandoned; no inhabitant is left.

Isaiah 10:3
What will you do on the day of reckoning when devastation comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?

Isaiah 13:6-8
Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty. / Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt. / Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear.

Zephaniah 1:18
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.

Amos 9:1-3
I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said: “Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds shake. Topple them on the heads of all the people, and I will kill the rest with the sword. None of those who flee will get away; none of the fugitives will escape. / Though they dig down to Sheol, from there My hand will take them; and though they climb up to heaven, from there I will pull them down. / Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them.

Micah 7:17
They will lick the dust like a snake, like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will come trembling from their strongholds in the presence of the LORD our God; they will tremble in fear of You.

Nahum 3:11
You too will become drunk; you will go into hiding and seek refuge from the enemy.

Matthew 3:7
But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Hebrews 10:27
but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.


Treasury of Scripture

Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

Isaiah 2:19
And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Hosea 10:8
The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

Revelation 6:16
And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

Jump to Previous
Begin Cover Fall Hills Mountains
Jump to Next
Begin Cover Fall Hills Mountains
Luke 23
1. Jesus is accused before Pilate, and sent to Herod.
8. Herod mocks him.
12. Herod and Pilate become friends.
13. Barabbas is desired of the people,
24. and is released by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified.
26. He tells the women, that lament him, the destruction of Jerusalem;
34. prays for his enemies.
39. Two criminals are crucified with him.
46. His death.
50. His burial.














At that time
This phrase indicates a specific moment of judgment or calamity. In the context of Luke 23, Jesus is speaking prophetically about the coming destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, as well as a future time of tribulation. The Greek word used here, "τότε" (tote), often signifies a pivotal moment in God's redemptive history. It serves as a reminder that God's timeline is sovereign and purposeful, and that His judgments are both just and timely.

they will say
The use of "they" refers to the people who will experience the impending judgment. This phrase suggests a collective response of desperation and fear. The Greek verb "λέγω" (legō) implies a declaration or plea, highlighting the intensity of the situation. It underscores the reality that in times of divine judgment, human strength and wisdom are insufficient, leading people to seek refuge beyond their own means.

to the mountains
Mountains in biblical literature often symbolize strength, stability, and permanence. However, in this context, they become objects of appeal for protection. The irony here is profound; what is typically seen as immovable and secure is now being called upon to act in a way contrary to its nature. This reflects the upheaval and chaos that accompany divine judgment, where the natural order is disrupted.

Fall on us
This plea is a direct quotation from Hosea 10:8, which speaks of the terror and hopelessness during God's judgment. The Greek word "πίπτω" (piptō) means to fall or collapse, indicating a desire for the mountains to provide a swift end to suffering. It is a cry of despair, revealing the depth of fear and the recognition that there is no escape from divine wrath except through divine intervention.

and to the hills
Hills, like mountains, are often seen as places of refuge or defense. In ancient times, people would flee to the hills for safety from invaders. However, in this prophetic imagery, even the hills are unable to provide security. This highlights the totality of the judgment and the futility of seeking refuge in earthly things when faced with the divine.

Cover us
The plea for the hills to "cover us" echoes the desire for concealment and protection from the impending wrath. The Greek word "καλύπτω" (kalyptō) means to hide or veil, suggesting a wish to be shielded from the sight and consequences of judgment. This reflects a deep-seated human instinct to seek shelter from danger, yet it also serves as a poignant reminder that true refuge can only be found in God.

(30) Then shall they begin to say to the mountains.--The imagery was natural in a limestone country such as Judaea, subject to earthquakes. Commonly, such catastrophes were dreaded, and men prayed against them. The time was coming when the dens and caves which usually offered a place of refuge from invading armies (Isaiah 2:19) would prove insufficient, and men would cry, as they had done of old (comp. Hosea 10:8, from which the words are quoted), to the mountains to fall on them.

Verse 30. - Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. The allusion, in the first place, was to the awful siege of Jerusalem and to the undreamed-of woes which would accompany it; and in the second place, to the centuries of misery and persecution to which the children of these "daughters of Jerusalem" would, as Jews, be subjected in all lands.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
At that time
τότε (tote)
Adverb
Strong's 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

‘they will say
λέγειν (legein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

to the
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

mountains,
ὄρεσιν (oresin)
Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3735: A mountain, hill. Probably from an obsolete oro; a mountain: -hill, mount(-ain).

“Fall
Πέσετε (Pesete)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4098: A reduplicated and contracted form of peto; probably akin to petomai through the idea of alighting; to fall.

on
ἐφ’ (eph’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

us!”
ἡμᾶς (hēmas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

and
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

to the
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

hills,
βουνοῖς (bounois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1015: A hillock, hill. Probably of foreign origin; a hillock.

“Cover
Καλύψατε (Kalypsate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2572: To veil, hide, conceal, envelop. Akin to klepto and krupto; to cover up.

us!”’
ἡμᾶς (hēmas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.


Links
Luke 23:30 NIV
Luke 23:30 NLT
Luke 23:30 ESV
Luke 23:30 NASB
Luke 23:30 KJV

Luke 23:30 BibleApps.com
Luke 23:30 Biblia Paralela
Luke 23:30 Chinese Bible
Luke 23:30 French Bible
Luke 23:30 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Luke 23:30 Then they will begin to tell (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 23:29
Top of Page
Top of Page