God’s Word Translation
Matthew 24:42
42“Therefore, be alert, because you don’t know on what day your Lord will return.
Matthew 24:42 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
- New International Version (NIV)“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
Context of Matthew 24:42
40“At that time two men will be working in the field. One will be taken, and the other one will be left. 41Two women will be working at a mill. One will be taken, and the other one will be left. “Therefore, be alert, because you don’t know on what day your Lord will return. 43You realize that if a homeowner had known at what time of the night a thief was coming, he would have stayed awake. He would not have let the thief break into his house. 44Therefore, you, too, must be ready because the Son of Man will return when you least expect him.
Read all of Matthew 24Matthew 24:42 word by word
Γρηγορεῖτε οὖν, ὅτι οὐκ οἴδατε ποίᾳ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ κύριος ὑμῶν ἔρχεται.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Watchγρηγορέωgrēgoreuō · to keep watchG1127
- thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- ·εἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- notοὐou · noG3756
- whatποῖοςpoios · what?G4169
- hourὥραhōra · hourG5610
- yourσύsu · youG4771
- Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- doth comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
Cross-references for Matthew 24:42
- Matthew 25:13“So stay awake, because you don’t know the day or the hour.
- Matthew 26:38Then he said to them, “My anguish is so great that I feel as if I’m dying. Wait here, and stay awake with me.”
- Mark 13:33Be careful! Watch! You don’t know the exact time.
- Luke 12:35“Be ready for action, and have your lamps burning.
- Luke 21:36Be alert at all times. Pray so that you have the power to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand in front of the Son of Man.”
- Romans 13:11You know the times ⌞in which we are living⌟. It’s time for you to wake up. Our salvation is nearer now than when we first became believers.
- 1 Corinthians 16:13Be alert. Be firm in the Christian faith. Be courageous and strong.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6Therefore, we must not fall asleep like other people, but we must stay awake and be sober.
- 1 Peter 4:7The end of everything is near. Therefore, practice self-control, and keep your minds clear so that you can pray.
- 1 Peter 5:8Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.
- Revelation 3:2Be alert, and strengthen the things that are left which are about to die. I have found that what you are doing has not been completed in the sight of my God.
- Revelation 16:15“See, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains alert and doesn’t lose his clothes. He will not have to go naked and let others see his shame.”
- Matthew 24:36“No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don’t know. Only the Father knows.
Commentaries on Matthew 24:42
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 42Watch therefore - Be always on your guard, that you may not be taken unawares, and that you may be properly prepared to meet God in the way either of judgment or mercy, whensoever he may come. This advice the followers of Christ took, and therefore they escaped; the miserable Jews rejected it, and were destroyed. Let us learn wisdom by the things which they suffered.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 42Watch - Be looking for his coming. Be expecting it as near; as a great event; as coming in an unexpected manner. Watch the signs of his coming, and be ready.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. 42keep watch: This means to actively and energetically obey the Lord with a single focus (see Matthew 25:13; 26:38–41).Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 24:42
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries