Matthew 23:35
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Original Language Analysis
ὅπως
That
G3704
ὅπως
That
Strong's:
G3704
Word #:
1 of 31
what(-ever) how, i.e., in the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual)
ἔλθῃ
may come
G2064
ἔλθῃ
may come
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
2 of 31
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
ἐπὶ
upon
G1909
ἐπὶ
upon
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
3 of 31
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
αἵματος
blood
G129
αἵματος
blood
Strong's:
G129
Word #:
6 of 31
blood, literally (of men or animals), figuratively (the juice of grapes) or specially (the atoning blood of christ); by implication, bloodshed, also k
δικαίου
of righteous
G1342
δικαίου
of righteous
Strong's:
G1342
Word #:
7 of 31
equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively)
ἐπὶ
upon
G1909
ἐπὶ
upon
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
9 of 31
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γῆς
the earth
G1093
γῆς
the earth
Strong's:
G1093
Word #:
11 of 31
soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application)
ἀπὸ
from
G575
ἀπὸ
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
12 of 31
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αἵματος
blood
G129
αἵματος
blood
Strong's:
G129
Word #:
14 of 31
blood, literally (of men or animals), figuratively (the juice of grapes) or specially (the atoning blood of christ); by implication, bloodshed, also k
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
16 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δικαίου
of righteous
G1342
δικαίου
of righteous
Strong's:
G1342
Word #:
17 of 31
equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively)
ἕως
unto
G2193
ἕως
unto
Strong's:
G2193
Word #:
18 of 31
a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αἵματος
blood
G129
αἵματος
blood
Strong's:
G129
Word #:
20 of 31
blood, literally (of men or animals), figuratively (the juice of grapes) or specially (the atoning blood of christ); by implication, bloodshed, also k
Ζαχαρίου
of Zacharias
G2197
Ζαχαρίου
of Zacharias
Strong's:
G2197
Word #:
21 of 31
zacharias (i.e., zechariah), the name of two israelites
υἱοῦ
son
G5207
υἱοῦ
son
Strong's:
G5207
Word #:
22 of 31
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
ὃν
whom
G3739
ὃν
whom
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
24 of 31
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
μεταξὺ
between
G3342
μεταξὺ
between
Strong's:
G3342
Word #:
26 of 31
betwixt (of place or person); (of time) as adjective, intervening, or (by implication) adjoining
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
27 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
29 of 31
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
Zechariah 1:1In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,Hebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.Genesis 4:8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.Revelation 18:24And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.Jeremiah 26:15But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.2 Kings 21:16Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.2 Kings 24:4And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.Hebrews 12:24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.Isaiah 26:21For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.Jeremiah 26:23And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.
Historical Context
AD 70 brought Jesus's prophecy to fulfillment: Roman armies under Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. Josephus records over 1 million Jews died, temple treasures plundered, survivors enslaved. This judgment fell on "this generation" (v. 36)—those alive when Jesus spoke. The generation that witnessed Jesus's ministry, rejected His Messiahship, crucified Him, and persecuted His apostles experienced the accumulated judgment for Israel's entire history of prophetic rejection.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's patience in delaying judgment sometimes result in accumulated wrath falling on a culminating generation?
- What does the span from Abel to Zechariah teach about God's comprehensive justice—no righteous blood is forgotten?
- How should awareness that corporate judgment can fall on a generation affect our response to prophetic warning today?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth (ὅπως ἔλθῃ ἐφ' ὑμᾶς πᾶν αἷμα δίκαιον ἐκχυννόμενον)—hopōs indicates purpose or result. This generation's sin would bring accumulated judgment for all prophetic martyrdoms. From... Abel unto... Zacharias spans biblical history from Genesis 4:8 to 2 Chronicles 24:20-22 (last book in Hebrew Bible order). "Abel to Zechariah" equals our "Genesis to Revelation"—the entirety of redemptive history's martyrs.
Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar—this Zechariah said, "Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD?" before being stoned in the temple court (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). Jesus says "ye slew" (past tense)—treating that generation as corporately guilty with the current one. The crucifixion would be the culminating murder, triggering judgment for all accumulated prophetic blood.