20"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that its desolation has drawn near. [21:21] Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must get out, and those in the countryside must not enter it — [21:22] because these are days of divine retribution, to fulfill everything that has been written. [21:23] Woe to those who are pregnant and those who are nursing in those days, for there will be great distress on the land and wrath against this people. [21:24] They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the appointed times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
LUK 21:20-24
The Destruction of Jerusalem
In the world it was spoken into
In the first century, Jerusalem was not only the religious center of Judaism but also a symbol of Jewish identity and resistance against Roman domination. The mention of (encampments) would evoke the Roman military strategy of siege warfare, a well-known tactic used to subdue rebellious cities. The warning to flee to the mountains aligns with Jewish apocalyptic expectations, where such actions were seen as necessary for survival during divine judgment. The term (vengeance) carries a theological weight, suggesting a divine retribution against Jerusalem for its unfaithfulness, a theme echoed in prophetic literature like Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The distress described would resonate with the lived reality of Roman oppression and the Jewish-Roman wars, where suffering was widespread. The (appointed time) implies a divinely orchestrated moment of reckoning, a concept familiar to Jewish eschatology. This passage would have been heard as both a dire warning and a theological explanation for the impending destruction of Jerusalem.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
LUK 21:20
- KJV
- And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
- BSB
- But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.
- Koinōnos
- But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that its desolation has drawn near.
LUK 21:21
- KJV
- Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
- BSB
- Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city.
- Koinōnos
- Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must get out, and those in the countryside must not enter it —
LUK 21:22
- KJV
- For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
- BSB
- For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.
- Koinōnos
- because these are days of divine retribution, to fulfill everything that has been written.
LUK 21:23
- KJV
- But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
- BSB
- How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.
- Koinōnos
- Woe to those who are pregnant and those who are nursing in those days, for there will be great distress on the land and wrath against this people.
LUK 21:24
- KJV
- And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
- BSB
- They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
- Koinōnos
- They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the appointed times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.17.2
›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.17.2
“And at this time it was that some of those that principally excited the people to go to war made an assault upon a certain fortress called Masada. They took it by treachery, and slew the Romans that were there, and put others of their own party to keep it.”
Cited to ground: The distress described would resonate with the lived reality of Roman oppression and the Jewish-Roman wars, where suffering was widespread.
Translator's notes
LUK 21:20
- encampments:The word translated 'encampments' here refers specifically to a military camp or an army that is encamped, highlighting the organized and hostile nature of the surrounding forces.
LUK 21:22
- of avenging:The term translated 'of avenging' carries the sense of divine justice being meted out, a righteous retribution for wrongs committed, rather than personal revenge.
LUK 21:23
- for:The word translated 'for' here implies a strong sense of necessity or unavoidable compulsion, indicating that these events are destined to happen.
LUK 21:24
- and:The word translated 'and' here is not just a simple conjunction, but refers to a specific, opportune, or appointed time, a critical moment in history.