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Luke 23:29
ESV For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’
NIV For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’
NASB For behold, days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are those who cannot bear, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have not nursed.’
CSB Look, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’
NLT For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’
KJV For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
NKJV For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’

What does Luke 23:29 mean?

Jesus is on His way from Pilate's palace to the cross. Behind Him, a crowd follows. In that crowd are women who mourn and lament for Him (Luke 23:26–27). We don't know if they are some of Jesus' followers or if they are professional mourners, come to give Jesus a traditional funeral element. Either way, Jesus warns them that their sorrow is misplaced. Yes, He has been tortured and will soon face an excruciating death on the cross. But the "daughters of Jerusalem" will not go unscathed.

Jesus doesn't specifically identify what events He is speaking about. His words match two prophecies. Before His arrest, Jesus warned Peter, Andrew, James, and John that armies would surround Jerusalem. He indicated that everyone, whether in the city or in the farmland, should flee (Luke 21:20–22). He said, "Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (Luke 21:23–24).

It's not clear if Jesus is talking about the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 or looking far forward to the "tribulation" of the end times. His next words (Luke 23:30) seem to identify the latter as they match with the events of the sixth seal (Luke 23:30; Revelation 6:16). Either way, Jesus continues the message He has given many times: be prepared for the end.
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