Amplified Bible
Matthew 24:43
43But understand this: If the head of the house had known what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
Matthew 24:43 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
- New International Version (NIV)But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Context of Matthew 24:43
41Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left. 42“So be alert [give strict attention, be cautious and active in faith], for you do not know which day [whether near or far] your Lord is coming. But understand this: If the head of the house had known what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44Therefore, you [who follow Me] must also be ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him. 45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the others [in the house] their food and supplies at the proper time?
Read all of Matthew 24Matthew 24:43 word by word
ἐκεῖνο δὲ γινώσκετε, ὅτι εἰ ᾔδει ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης ποίᾳ φυλακῇ ὁ κλέπτης ἔρχεται, ἐγρηγόρησεν ἂν καὶ οὐκ ἂν εἴασεν διορυχθῆναι τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
- thisἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- ifεἰei · ifG1487
- the goodman of the houseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the goodman of the houseοἰκοδεσπότηςoikodespotēs · householderG3617
- had knownεἴδωeidō · to perceive: knowG1492
- inφυλακήphulakē · prison/watch: prisonG5438
- whatποῖοςpoios · what?G4169
- the thiefκλέπτηςkleptēs · thiefG2812
- would comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- he would have watchedγρηγορέωgrēgoreuō · to keep watchG1127
- ·ἄνan · ifG302
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- wouldἐάωeaō · to allowG1439
- notοὐou · noG3756
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- houseοἰκίαoikia · homeG3614
- to be broken upδιορύσσωdiorussō · to break inG1358
Cross-references for Matthew 24:43
- Matthew 20:11When they received it, they protested and grumbled at the owner of the estate,
- Proverbs 7:19For my husband is not at home. He has gone on a long journey;
- Luke 12:39“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time the thief was coming, he [would have been awake and alert, and] would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord is coming just as a thief [comes unexpectedly and suddenly] in the night.
- 2 Peter 3:10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish with a [mighty and thunderous] roar, and the [material] elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are on it will be burned up.
- Exodus 22:2“If a thief is caught breaking in [after dark] and is struck [by the owner] so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him.
Commentaries on Matthew 24:43
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 43If the good man of the house had known - "As a master of a family who expected a thief at any time of the night, would take care to be awake, and ready to protect his house; so do ye, who know that the Son of man will come. Though the day and hour be uncertain, continue always in a state of watchfulness, that he may not come upon you unawares." Wakefield.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 43But know this - If a man knew the hour, or “about the hour,” when a robber would come, he would be ready for him. So you know not the exact hour, but you know it is near, when the Son of man will come. He will come suddenly, as a thief comes, without giving previous warning, 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15. “Goodman.” See the notes at Matthew 20:11. Thief - A robber. A thief, with us, means one who takes goods without…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 42-51Verses 42-51 To watch for Christ's coming, is to maintain that temper of mind which we would be willing that our Lord should find us in. We know we have but a little time to live, we cannot know that we have a long time to live; much less do we know the time fixed for the judgment. Our Lord's coming will be happy to those that shall be found ready, but very dreadful to those that are not. If a man, professing to be the servant of Christ, be an unbeliever…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37-51Jesus now applied his prophecies (Matthew 24:1–36) to his disciples so they would stay faithful and be ready for his second coming.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 24:43
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
Amplified Bible — © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631
Commentaries