Matthew 23:29-39 Jesus Makes a Poem about the Prophets

In Matthew 23:29-39, Jesus makes a Hebrew poem using the words “You Build” (שתבנו), “Prophets” (נביאים), “Sons” (שבנים), “Stone” (אבנ). These words are used in the gospel of Matthew in ten different poems including The Dialogue of John the Baptist, The Temptation, The Sermon on the Mount, The Confession of Peter, The Olivet Discourse, Crucifixion and Resurrection. The poems using these words appear throughout Matthew linking both narrative and sayings into a unified text built on a central poetic theme.
“You Build” שתבנו
“Prophets” נביאים
“Sons” שבנים
“Prophets” נביאים
“Prophets” נביאים
“Prophets” נביאים
“Stone” אבנ
“Sons” בניך

Matthew 23:29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build {“You Build” (שתבנו)} the tombs of the prophets {“Prophets” (נביאים)} and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets {“Prophets” (נביאים)}.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons {“Sons” (שבנים)} of those who murdered the prophets {“Prophets” (נביאים)}. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents! You brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets {“Prophets” (נביאים)} and wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all this will come upon this generation. 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets {“Prophets” (נביאים)} and stone {“Stone” (אבנ)} those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children {“Sons” (בניך)} together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will never see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

J. Clontz – Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament