Luke 17:20
New International Version
Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed,

New Living Translation
One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs.

English Standard Version
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,

Berean Standard Bible
When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs.

Berean Literal Bible
And having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God is coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with careful observation,

King James Bible
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

New King James Version
Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;

New American Standard Bible
Now He was questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, and He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs that can be observed;

NASB 1995
Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;

NASB 1977
Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;

Legacy Standard Bible
Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed,

Amplified Bible
Now having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed or with a visible display;

Christian Standard Bible
When he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God will come, He answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable;

American Standard Version
And being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Contemporary English Version
Some Pharisees asked Jesus when God's kingdom would come. He answered, "God's kingdom isn't something you can see.

English Revised Version
And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come. He answered them, "People can't observe the coming of the kingdom of God.

Good News Translation
Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. His answer was, "The Kingdom of God does not come in such a way as to be seen.

International Standard Version
Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. He answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with a visible display.

Majority Standard Bible
When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ?The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs.

NET Bible
Now at one point the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming, so he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed,

New Heart English Bible
Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The Kingdom of God does not come with observation;

Webster's Bible Translation
And when he was asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation.

Weymouth New Testament
Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God was coming, He answered, "The Kingdom of God does not so come that you can stealthily watch for it.

World English Bible
Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And having been questioned by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God comes, He answered them and said, “The Kingdom of God does not come with observation;

Berean Literal Bible
And having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God is coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with careful observation,

Young's Literal Translation
And having been questioned by the Pharisees, when the reign of God doth come, he answered them, and said, 'The reign of God doth not come with observation;

Smith's Literal Translation
And having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God comes, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God comes not with observation:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come? he answered them, and said: The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then he was questioned by the Pharisees: “When does the kingdom of God arrive?” And in response, he said to them: “The kingdom of God arrives unobserved.

New American Bible
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he said in reply, “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed,

New Revised Standard Version
Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When some of the Pharisees asked Jesus, when the kingdom of God would come, he answered and said to them, The kingdom of God does not come by observation.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when some of the Pharisees asked Yeshua, “When is the Kingdom of God coming”, he answered and he said to them, “The Kingdom of God does not come with what is observed.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said: The kingdom of God comes not so as to attract attention;

Godbey New Testament
Then being interrogated by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God is coming, He responded to them and said, The kingdom of God comes not with observation:

Haweis New Testament
And being asked by one of the Pharisees, When cometh the kingdom of God? he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Mace New Testament
Upon the Pharisees asking him, when the kingdom of God should come, he answer'd them, the kingdom of God is not usher'd in with pomp and exclamations,

Weymouth New Testament
Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God was coming, He answered, "The Kingdom of God does not so come that you can stealthily watch for it.

Worrell New Testament
And being asked by the Pharisees, when the Kingdom of God is coming, He answered them, and said, "The Kingdom of God comes not with observation;

Worsley New Testament
And being asked by the pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered and said, the kingdom of God cometh not with observation.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Coming of the Kingdom
19Then Jesus said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well!” 20 When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. 21Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”…

Cross References
Matthew 24:23-27
At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. / For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible. / See, I have told you in advance. ...

Mark 13:21-23
At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. / For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible. / So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

John 18:36
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

Matthew 6:10
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Daniel 2:44
In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever.

Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Zechariah 14:9
On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone.

Matthew 3:2
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Matthew 12:28
But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Luke 11:20
But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Acts 1:6-7
So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” / Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.

Revelation 11:15
Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”

Isaiah 11:9
They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is full of water.

Jeremiah 23:5
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.


Treasury of Scripture

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God comes not with observation:

when the.

Luke 10:11
Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Luke 16:16
The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Luke 19:11
And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

observation.

Luke 17:23,24
And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them

Daniel 2:44
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Zechariah 4:6
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

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Luke 17
1. Jesus teaches to avoid occasions of offense;
3. and to forgive one another.
5. The power of faith.
6. How we are bound to God.
11. Jesus heals ten lepers.
22. Of the kingdom of God, and the coming of the Son of Man.














When asked by the Pharisees
The Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Judaism during the time of Jesus. Known for their strict adherence to the Law and traditions, they often questioned Jesus to test Him or challenge His teachings. The Greek word for "asked" here implies a questioning that is not merely inquisitive but potentially skeptical or confrontational. This context sets the stage for Jesus' response, which addresses not just the question but the heart behind it.

when the kingdom of God would come
The "kingdom of God" is a central theme in Jesus' teachings. In the Jewish context, it was often associated with a future, messianic age where God would establish His rule on earth. The Pharisees, like many Jews of the time, expected a physical, political kingdom that would liberate them from Roman rule. However, Jesus redefines this expectation, emphasizing a spiritual kingdom that begins in the hearts of believers. The Greek word for "come" suggests an arrival or appearance, indicating the Pharisees' anticipation of a dramatic, visible event.

Jesus replied
Jesus' response is not just an answer but a revelation of deeper spiritual truths. His replies often challenge the listener to think beyond the surface and consider the spiritual implications of His words. The Greek verb used here for "replied" can also mean "answered" or "responded," indicating a thoughtful and intentional engagement with the question posed.

The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs
This phrase is pivotal in understanding Jesus' teaching about the nature of God's kingdom. The Greek word for "observable" suggests something that can be seen or watched for, like a spectacle. Jesus is correcting the Pharisees' expectation of a kingdom that would be marked by outward, visible signs. Instead, He points to a kingdom that is not bound by physical manifestations but is spiritual and internal. This challenges believers to seek the kingdom within, through faith and transformation, rather than looking for external validation. The phrase underscores the idea that God's kingdom is already present among those who follow Christ, even if it is not yet fully realized in the world.

(20) When he was demanded of the Pharisees.--The question may have been asked in a different tone, by different classes of those who bore the common name of Pharisee. There were some who were really looking for the coming of the Messianic kingdom; there were some who altogether rejected the claim of Jesus of Nazareth to be the Christ. In the lips of the one set, the question implied a taunt; in those of the other, something like impatience. The terms of the answer contain that which met both cases.

Cometh not with observation.--The English noun exactly answers to the meaning of the Greek, as meaning careful and anxious watching. There was, perhaps, a special force in the word, as referring to the two forms of "watching" of which our Lord had been the object. Some of the Pharisees had "observed" Him once and again with a purpose more or less hostile. (Comp. Luke 6:7; Luke 14:1; Mark 3:2; where the Greek verb is that from which the noun here used is derived.) Others were looking for some sign from heaven, to show that He was the promised Head of the Kingdom. They are told that when it comes it will not be in conjunction with any such "observation" of outward things; it would burst upon them suddenly. In the meantime they must look for the signs of its presence in quite another region. The marginal reading, "outward shew"--that which is subject to observation--though giving an adequate meaning, is rather a paraphrase than a translation.

Verse 20. - And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come. The following discourse of the Lord in reply to the Pharisee's question, 'When cometh the kingdom? was delivered, clearly, in the closing days of the ministry, probably just before the Passover Feast, and in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem. The query was certainly not put in a friendly spirit. The questioners had evidently caught the drift of much of our Lord's late teaching, and had seen how plainly he was alluding to himself as Messiah. This seems to have been the starting-point of their bitter, impatient inquiry. We must remember that the great rabbinic schools in which these Pharisees had received their training connected the coming of Messiah with a grand revival of Jewish power. If in reality this Galilaean Rabbi, with his strange powers, his new doctrines, his scathing words of reproach which he was ever presuming to address to the leaders in Israel, - if in reality he were Messiah, when was that golden age, which the long looked-for Hope of Israel was to introduce, to commence? But the words, we can well conceive, were spoken with the bitterest irony. With what scorn those proud, rich men from Jerusalem looked on the friendless Teacher of Galilee, we know. We seem to hear the muttering which accompanied the question: "Thou our King Messiah!" The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. This answer of our Lord's may be paraphrased: "The kingdom of God cometh not in conjunction with such observation and watching for external glorious things as now exist among you here. Lo, it will burst upon you suddenly, unawares." The English word "observation" answers to the signification of the Greek as meaning a singularly anxious watching.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
When asked
Ἐπερωτηθεὶς (Eperōtētheis)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1905: To interrogate, question, demand of. From epi and erotao; to ask for, i.e. Inquire, seek.

by
ὑπὸ (hypo)
Preposition
Strong's 5259: A primary preposition; under, i.e. of place, or with verbs; of place (underneath) or where (below) or time (when).

the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Pharisees
Φαρισαίων (Pharisaiōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330: Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.

when
πότε (pote)
Conjunction
Strong's 4219: When, at what time. From the base of pou and te; interrogative adverb, at what time.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

kingdom
βασιλεία (basileia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 932: From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.

of God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

would come,
ἔρχεται (erchetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

[Jesus] replied,
ἀπεκρίθη (apekrithē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

“The
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

kingdom
βασιλεία (basileia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 932: From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.

of God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

{will} not
Οὐκ (Ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

come
ἔρχεται (erchetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

with
μετὰ (meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

observable signs.
παρατηρήσεως (paratērēseōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3907: Observation, careful watching. From paratereo; inspection, i.e. Ocular evidence.


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