Luke 21:20

Luke 21:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
• New International Version (NIV)“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

Context of Luke 21:20

18But your life will be safe with me. You will not lose even one hair from your head. 19Yes, you will have true life, if you remain strong. One day you will see Jerusalem with armies all around it. Then you will know that enemies will soon destroy that city. 21People in Judea must then run away to the hills to hide. People that are inside the city must leave it. People that are outside in the fields must not go back into the city. 22This is when God will punish Israel's people. Then all the things will happen that his servants wrote about in the Bible.

Luke 21:20 word by word

Ὅταν δὲ ἴδητε κυκλουμένην ὑπὸ στρατοπέδων Ἰερουσαλήμ, τότε γνῶτε ὅτι ἤγγικεν ἡ ἐρήμωσις αὐτῆς.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
• ye shall seeὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• JerusalemἹερουσαλήμHierousalēm · JerusalemG2419
• compassedκυκλόωkukloō · to surroundG2944
• withὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
• armiesστρατόπεδονstratopedon · army campG4760
• thenτότεtote · thenG5119
• knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• the desolationἐρήμωσιςerēmōsis · devastationG2050
• thereofαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• is nighἐγγίζωeggizō · to come nearG1448

Cross-references for Luke 21:20

• Luke 21:7‘Teacher,’ they asked, ‘When will all these things happen? What will show us that they will soon happen?’
• Luke 19:43As a result, days of trouble will come to you. Your enemies will build a wall round you. They will shut you in completely, and they will not let you leave.
• Daniel 9:27The foreign ruler will make an agreement with many people. That agreement will continue for one week. In the middle of that week, he will stop the sacrifices and offerings in the temple. Instead, he will put a disgusting thing there that causes trouble. It will remain there until God finally destroys the ruler who destroys. His end will happen at the time that God has decided.’
• Matthew 24:15Long ago, God's prophet Daniel wrote in the Bible about something that would happen. He said that one day people would put a disgusting thing that causes trouble in the temple. You will see it in the holy place. (When you read this, you must understand what it means.)
• Mark 13:14There will be a time when you will see in the temple a disgusting thing that causes trouble. You will see it in a place where it should not be. (When you read this, you must understand what it means.) At that time, people in Judea must run away to the hills to hide.

Commentaries on Luke 21:20

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7-36Verses 7-36 The account of the destruction of Jerusalem contained in this chapter has been fully considered in the notes at Luke 21:9 Commotions - Insurrections. Subjects rising against their rulers. Luke 21:11 Fearful sights - See Matthew 24:7. Luke 21:12, Luke 21:13 Synagogues, and into prisons - See the notes at Mark 13:9-10. Luke 21:14 Settle it, therefore, in your hearts - Fix it firmly in your minds - so firmly as to become a settled principle…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-28Verses 5-28 With much curiosity those about Christ ask as to the time when the great desolation should be. He answers with clearness and fulness, as far as was necessary to teach them their duty; for all knowledge is desirable as far as it is in order to practice. Though spiritual judgements are the most common in gospel times, yet God makes use of temporal judgments also. Christ tells them what hard things they should suffer for his name's sake, and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-24Jesus was describing the siege and destruction of Jerusalem that would take place in AD 70.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2120-21. by armies--encamped armies, that is, besieged: "the abomination of desolation" (meaning the Roman ensigns, as the symbols of an idolatrous, pagan, unclean power) "spoken of by Daniel the prophet" (Da 9:27) "standing where it ought not" (Mr 13:14). "Whoso readeth [that prophecy] let him understand" (Mt 24:15). Then ... flee, &c.--Eusebius says the Christians fled to Pella, at the north extremity of Perea, being "prophetically directed"; perhaps by…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 21:20

• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Jerusalem
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• War
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• Jerusalem
• Abundance
• Commotion
• Desolation, Abomination of
• Distress
• Gainsay
• Gospels
• Lift
• Look
• Mouth

Commentaries on Luke 21

• 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