Amplified Bible
Matthew 24:22
22And if those days [of tribulation] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24:22 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
- New International Version (NIV)“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
Context of Matthew 24:22
20Pray that your flight [from persecution and suffering] will not be in winter, or on a Sabbath [when Jewish laws prohibit travel]. 21For at that time there will be a great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again]. And if those days [of tribulation] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened. 23Then if anyone says to you [during the great tribulation], ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones).
Read all of Matthew 24Matthew 24:22 word by word
καὶ εἰ μὴ ἐκολοβώθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι ἐκεῖναι, οὐκ ἂν ἐσώθη πᾶσα σάρξ· διὰ δὲ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς κολοβωθήσονται αἱ ἡμέραι ἐκεῖναι.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- exceptεἰei · ifG1487
- exceptμήmē · notG3361
- thoseἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
- daysὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- daysἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- should be shortenedκολοβόωkoloboō · to shortenG2856
- there shouldσῴζωsōzō · to saveG4982
- noοὐou · noG3756
- noἄνan · ifG302
- fleshπᾶςpas · allG3956
- fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
- butδέde · thenG1161
- forδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- the elect’sἐκλεκτόςeklektos · selectG1588
Cross-references for Matthew 24:22
- Mark 13:20And if the Lord had not shortened the days, no human life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose [for Himself], He shortened the days.
- Isaiah 6:13And though a tenth [of the people] remain in the land, It will again be subject to destruction [consumed and burned], Like a massive terebinth tree or like an oak Whose stump remains when it is chopped down. The holy seed [the elect remnant] is its stump [the substance of Israel].”
- Isaiah 65:8This is what the Lord says, “As the new wine is found in the cluster, And one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing and benefit in it,’ So I will do for the sake of My servants In order not to destroy all of them.
- Zechariah 13:8It will come about in all the land,” Declares the Lord, “Two parts in it will be cut off and perish, But the third will be left alive.
- Zechariah 14:2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured and the houses plundered and the women ravished; and half of the city will be exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.
- Romans 9:11and though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything either good or bad, so that God’s purpose [His choice, His election] would stand, not because of works [done by either child], but because of [the plan of] Him who calls them,
- Romans 11:25I do not want you, believers, to be unaware of this mystery [God’s previously hidden plan]—so that you will not be wise in your own opinion—that a partial hardening has [temporarily] happened to Israel [to last] until the full number of the Gentiles has come in;
- 2 Timothy 2:10For this reason I [am ready to] patiently endure all things for the sake of those who are the elect (God’s chosen ones), so that they too may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it the reward of eternal glory.
Commentaries on Matthew 24:22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22Except those days should be shortened - Josephus computes the number of those who perished in the siege at eleven hundred thousand, besides those who were slain in other places, War, b. vi. c. 9; and if the Romans had gone on destroying in this manner, the whole nation of the Jews would, in a short time, have been entirely extirpated; but, for the sake of the elect, the Jews, that they might not be utterly destroyed, and for the Christians particularly…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22Except those days should be shortened - If the calamities of the siege should be lengthened out. If famine and war should be suffered to rage. No flesh be saved - None of the nation would be preserved alive. All the inhabitants of Judea would perish. The war, famine, and pestilence would entirely destroy them. But for the elect‘s sake - The “elect” here doubtless means “Christians.” See 1 Peter 1:2; Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:4. The word…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-28Verses 4-28 The disciples had asked concerning the times, When these things should be? Christ gave them no answer to that; but they had also asked, What shall be the sign? This question he answers fully. The prophecy first respects events near at hand, the destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the Jewish church and state, the calling of the Gentiles, and the setting up of Christ's kingdom in the world; but it also looks to the general judgment; and toward…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22God's chosen people persevere (Matthew 24:13) and remain faithful (24:37–25:46; see Isaiah 65:8–9; Romans 11:7).Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 24:22
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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