Luke 21:20-24
New English Translation
The Desolation of Jerusalem
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded[a] by armies, then know that its[b] desolation[c] has come near. 21 Then those who are in Judea must flee[d] to the mountains. Those[e] who are inside the city must depart. Those[f] who are out in the country must not enter it, 22 because these are days of vengeance,[g] to fulfill[h] all that is written. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress[i] on the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They[j] will fall by the edge[k] of the sword and be led away as captives[l] among all nations. Jerusalem[m] will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.[n]
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- Luke 21:20 sn See Luke 19:41-44. This passage refers to the events associated with the fall of Jerusalem, when the city is surrounded by armies.
- Luke 21:20 tn Grk “her,” referring to the city of Jerusalem (the name “Jerusalem” in Greek is a feminine noun).
- Luke 21:20 sn The phrase its desolation is a reference to the fall of the city, which is the only antecedent present in Luke’s account. The parallels to this in Matt 24:15 and Mark 13:14 refer to the temple’s desolation, though Matthew’s allusion is clearer. They focus on the parallel events of the end, not on the short term realization in a.d. 70. The entire passage has a prophetic “two events in one” typology, where the near term destruction (a.d. 70) is like the end. So the evangelists could choose to focus on the near time realization (Luke) or on its long term fulfillment, which mirrors it (Matthew, Mark).
- Luke 21:21 sn Fleeing to the mountains is a key OT image: Gen 19:17; Judg 6:2; Isa 15:5; Jer 16:16; Zech 14:5.
- Luke 21:21 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Luke 21:21 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Luke 21:22 tn Or “of punishment.” This is a time of judgment.
- Luke 21:22 tn The passive construction with the infinitive πλησθῆναι (plēsthēnai) has been translated as an active construction for simplicity, in keeping with contemporary English style.
- Luke 21:23 sn Great distress means that this is a period of great judgment.
- Luke 21:24 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Luke 21:24 tn Grk “by the mouth of the sword” (an idiom for the edge of a sword).
- Luke 21:24 sn Here is the predicted judgment against the nation until the time of Gentile rule has passed: Its people will be led away as captives.
- Luke 21:24 tn Grk “And Jerusalem.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Luke 21:24 sn Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled implies a time when Israel again has a central role in God’s plan.
Luke 21:20-24
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold
20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.[a](A) 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it,(B) 22 for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written.(C) 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; 24 they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the times of the nations are fulfilled.(D)
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- 21.20 Or is at hand
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