Berean Standard Bible
Mark 13:34
34It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch.
Mark 13:34 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
- New International Version (NIV)It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
- English Standard Version (ESV)It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.
- New King James Version (NKJV)It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
Context of Mark 13:34
32No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. 36Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping.
Read all of Mark 13Mark 13:34 word by word
ὡς ἄνθρωπος ἀπόδημος ἀφεὶς τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ δοὺς τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ τὴν ἐξουσίαν, ἑκάστῳ τὸ ἔργον αὐτοῦ, καὶ τῷ θυρωρῷ ἐνετείλατο ἵνα γρηγορῇ.Read the interlinear
- likeὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- going on a journeyἀπόδημοςapodēmos · absentG590
- leftἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: leaveG863
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- houseοἰκίαoikia · homeG3614
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- putδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- eachἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
- servantδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
- in chargeἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
- taskἔργονergon · workG2041
- instructedἐντέλλωentellomai · to orderG1781
- doorkeeperθυρωρόςthurōros · gatekeeperG2377
- toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- keep watchγρηγορέωgrēgoreuō · to keep watchG1127
Cross-references for Mark 13:34
- Matthew 24:45Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time?
- Matthew 25:14For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions.
- Luke 19:12So He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return.
- Romans 12:4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,
- Romans 13:6This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.
- 1 Corinthians 3:5What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- Colossians 3:24because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
- Colossians 4:1Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
- Ezekiel 3:17“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.
- Ezekiel 33:2“Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: ‘Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land choose a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman,
- Luke 12:36Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.
- Acts 20:29I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
- Matthew 16:19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
- John 10:3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Commentaries on Mark 13:34
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34Left his house - , family. Our blessed Lord and Master, when he ascended to heaven, commanded his servants to be faithful and watchful. This fidelity to which he exhorts his servants consists in doing every thing well which is to be done, in the heart or in the family, according to the full extent of the duty. The watchfulness consists in suffering no stranger nor enemy to enter in by the senses, which are the gates of the soul; in permitting nothing…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34Who left his house - The word “house” often means family. Our Saviour here represents himself as going away, leaving his household the church, assigning to the apostles and all his servants their duty, and leaving it uncertain when he would return. Since his return was a matter of vast consequence, and as the affairs of his kingdom were entrusted to them, just as the affairs of a house are to servants when the master is absent, so it was of vast…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 28-37Verses 28-37 We have the application of this prophetic sermon. As to the destruction of Jerusalem, expect it to come very shortly. As to the end of the world, do not inquire when it will come, for of that day and that hour knoweth no man. Christ, as God, could not be ignorant of anything; but the Divine wisdom which dwelt in our Saviour, communicated itself to his human soul according to the Divine pleasure. As to both, our duty is to watch and pray. Our…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 34-35The point of this parable is not that the Lord’s return is doubtful or completely unexpected (see Matthew 24:45–51; 25:1–30; Luke 12:36–38; 19:12–27). Rather, it teaches that there will be no warning sign before he comes. The parable uses symbolic language in at least two ways: The master (Greek kurios, “lord” or “master”) represents the Lord Jesus Christ. The servants represent the Christian community. However, interpreting the doorkeeper as the apostles…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3434. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, &c.--The idea thus far is similar to that in the opening part of the parable of the talents (Mt 25:14, 15). and commanded the porter--the gatekeeper. to watch--pointing to the official duty of the ministers of religion to give warning of approaching danger to the people.Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 13:34
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Mark 13
- 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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