John Chrysostom

He directs his speech to the city, in this way, too, being minded to correct his hearers, and said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!" What is meant by this repetition? This is the manner of one pitying her and gently loving her. She is like a woman who is beloved. He always loved her indeed, yet she has despised him who loved her. Therefore at the point of being punished, he pleads, being now about to inflict the punishment. This he does also in the prophets, using these words, "I said, 'she will return to me,' but she did not return."