English Standard Version
Mark 13:34
34It 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.
Context of Mark 13:34
32"But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 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. 35Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- taking a far journeyἀπόδημοςapodēmos · absentG590
- who leftἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: leaveG863
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- houseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- houseοἰκίαoikia · homeG3614
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- authorityἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
- servantsδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
- to every manἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
- workἔργονergon · workG2041
- commandedἐντέλλωentellomai · to orderG1781
- the porterθυρωρόςthurōros · gatekeeperG2377
- toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- watchγρηγορέωgrēgoreuō · to keep watchG1127
Cross-references for Mark 13:34
- Matthew 24:45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
- Matthew 25:14"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
- Luke 19:12He said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.
- Romans 12:4For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
- Romans 13:6For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
- 1 Corinthians 3:5What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
- 1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
- Colossians 3:24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
- Colossians 4:1Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing 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, you shall give them warning from me.
- Ezekiel 33:2"Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman,
- Luke 12:36and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
- Acts 20:29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
- Matthew 16:19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
- John 10:3To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and 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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