Luke 21:20
New International Version
“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.

New Living Translation
“And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived.

English Standard Version
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

Berean Standard Bible
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.

Berean Literal Bible
And when you see Jerusalem being encircled by encampments, then know that her desolation has drawn near.

King James Bible
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

New King James Version
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

New American Standard Bible
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near.

NASB 1995
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near.

NASB 1977
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is at hand.

Legacy Standard Bible
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.

Amplified Bible
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by [hostile] armies, then understand [with confident assurance] that her complete destruction is near.

Christian Standard Bible
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near.

American Standard Version
But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.

Contemporary English Version
When you see Jerusalem surrounded by soldiers, you will know that it will soon be destroyed.

English Revised Version
But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"When you see armies camped around Jerusalem, realize that the time is near for it to be destroyed.

Good News Translation
"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that it will soon be destroyed.

International Standard Version
"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then understand that its devastation is approaching.

Majority Standard Bible
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.

NET Bible
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

New Heart English Bible
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that its desolation is nigh.

Weymouth New Testament
"But when you see Jerusalem with armies encamping round her on every side, then be certain that her overthrow is close at hand.

World English Bible
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And when you may see Jerusalem surrounded by encampments, then know that her desolation has come near;

Berean Literal Bible
And when you see Jerusalem being encircled by encampments, then know that her desolation has drawn near.

Young's Literal Translation
'And when ye may see Jerusalem surrounded by encampments, then know that come nigh did her desolation;

Smith's Literal Translation
And when ye see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its devastation has drawn near.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed about with an army; then know that the desolation thereof is at hand.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, when you will have seen Jerusalem encircled by an army, know then that its desolation has drawn near.

New American Bible
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand.

New Revised Standard Version
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by an army, then know that its destruction is at hand.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But whenever you will see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, know then that its destruction has come near to it.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But when you shall see Jerusalem besieged by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

Godbey New Testament
And when you may see Jerusalem shut up by the armies, then know that her desolation is nigh.

Haweis New Testament
But when ye see Jerusalem, encircled with armies, then know that the desolation of it approaches.

Mace New Testament
Now when you shall see Jerusalem invested by an army, then be assured that the desolation of it is nigh.

Weymouth New Testament
"But when you see Jerusalem with armies encamping round her on every side, then be certain that her overthrow is close at hand.

Worrell New Testament
"But when ye see Jerusalem encompassed by armies, then know that her desolation has drawn near.

Worsley New Testament
And when ye shall see Jerusalem surrounded with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh: then let them that are in Judea flee to the mountains,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Destruction of Jerusalem
19By your patient endurance you will gain your souls. 20But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near. 21Then 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.…

Cross References
Matthew 24:15-16
So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), / then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Mark 13:14
So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Daniel 9:26-27
Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed. / And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him.”

Daniel 11:31
His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.

Daniel 12:11
And from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation set up, there will be 1,290 days.

Zechariah 14:2
For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.

Revelation 11:2
But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.

Revelation 17:16
And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

Jeremiah 6:6
For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst.

Jeremiah 21:4-10
this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will turn against you the weapons of war in your hands, with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the wall, and I will assemble their forces in the center of this city. / And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath. / I will strike down the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a terrible plague.’ ...

Ezekiel 4:1-3
“Now you, son of man, take a brick, place it before you, and draw on it the city of Jerusalem. / Then lay siege against it: Construct a siege wall, build a ramp to it, set up camps against it, and place battering rams around it on all sides. / Then take an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between yourself and the city. Turn your face toward it so that it is under siege, and besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.

Ezekiel 5:1-2
“As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword, use it as a barber’s razor, and shave your head and beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair. / When the days of the siege have ended, you are to burn up a third of the hair inside the city; you are also to take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; and you are to scatter a third to the wind. For I will unleash a sword behind them.

Ezekiel 7:2-12
“O son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says to the land of Israel: ‘The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land. / The end is now upon you, and I will unleash My anger against you. I will judge you according to your ways and repay you for all your abominations. / I will not look on you with pity, nor will I spare you, but I will punish you for your ways and for the abominations among you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ ...

Isaiah 29:3
I will camp in a circle around you; I will besiege you with towers and set up siege works against you.

Isaiah 63:18
For a short while Your people possessed Your holy place, but our enemies have trampled Your sanctuary.


Treasury of Scripture

And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is near.

Luke 21:7
And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

Luke 19:43
For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

Daniel 9:27
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Jump to Previous
Armies Close Compassed Desolation Destruction Drawn Encamping Encampments Encompassed Hand Jerusalem Nigh Overthrow Recognize Round Side Surrounded Thereof
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Armies Close Compassed Desolation Destruction Drawn Encamping Encampments Encompassed Hand Jerusalem Nigh Overthrow Recognize Round Side Surrounded Thereof
Luke 21
1. Jesus commends the poor widow.
5. He foretells the destruction of the temple, and of the city Jerusalem;
25. the signs also which shall be before the last day.
34. He exhorts them to be watchful.














But when you see
This phrase indicates a future event that the audience is to witness. The Greek word for "see" is "ὁράω" (horaó), which implies not just physical sight but also understanding and perception. Jesus is urging His followers to be vigilant and discerning, recognizing the signs of the times. This call to awareness is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing the importance of spiritual alertness and readiness.

Jerusalem
Jerusalem holds a central place in biblical history and prophecy. It is the city of David, the location of the Temple, and the heart of Jewish worship and identity. In the context of Luke 21, Jerusalem symbolizes both the physical city and the spiritual center of God's covenant people. Historically, Jerusalem has been a focal point of conflict and divine intervention, underscoring its significance in God's redemptive plan.

surrounded by armies
The imagery of armies encircling Jerusalem evokes a sense of impending doom and judgment. The Greek word "κυκλόω" (kukloó) means to encircle or surround completely, indicating a siege. Historically, this prophecy was fulfilled in A.D. 70 when the Roman armies besieged and destroyed Jerusalem. This event serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's messengers and the fulfillment of divine prophecy.

you will know
The phrase "you will know" suggests certainty and assurance. The Greek word "γινώσκω" (ginóskó) implies a deep, experiential knowledge. Jesus is providing His followers with a clear sign so that they can be certain of the coming judgment. This knowledge is not just intellectual but is meant to prompt action and preparation, reflecting the biblical principle that true understanding leads to obedience.

that her desolation
The term "desolation" comes from the Greek word "ἐρήμωσις" (erémósis), meaning devastation or ruin. This word conveys a sense of utter destruction and abandonment. In the biblical context, desolation often results from divine judgment due to persistent sin and rebellion. The desolation of Jerusalem serves as a poignant warning of the consequences of turning away from God and His covenant.

is near
The phrase "is near" indicates imminence and urgency. The Greek word "ἐγγύς" (eggus) means near in time or place. Jesus is warning His followers that the prophesied events are not distant but are approaching quickly. This sense of urgency is a call to action, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in faith and to prepare for the fulfillment of God's prophetic word. The nearness of these events also serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly things and the importance of focusing on eternal truths.

(20-24) When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies.--See Notes on Matthew 23:15-21; Mark 13:14-19. This is St. Luke's equivalent, possibly chosen as more intelligible for his Gentile readers, for "the abomination of desolation," which we find in St. Matthew and St. Mark. As far as it goes, it favours the view that he and others saw the "abomination" in the presence of the invading armies. On the other hand, it is possible, accepting, as we must accept, the thought of a substituted phrase, that we have one which, while it gives a partial explanation, fails to exhaust the meaning of the darker and more mysterious phrase. The occurrence of the word "desolation" in the latter clause of the verse, obviously favours the hypothesis now suggested.

Verses 20-24. - The true signs which his people are to be on the watch for. Verse 20. - And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. This is to be the sign that the end has come for temple, city, and people. Wars and rumors of wars, physical portents, famine and pestilence succeeding each other with a terrible persistence, all these will, in the forthcoming years, terrify and perplex men's minds, presages of something which seems impending. But his people are to bear in mind that these were not the immediate signs of the awful ruin he was foretelling. But when the holy city was invested, when hostile armies were encamped about her - then this would surely come to pass, and some of these very bystanders would behold it - then, and not till then, let his people take alarm. Let them at once and at all cost flee from temple and city, for there would be no deliverance, God had left his house, given up the chosen people. "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles" (ver. 24). It is probable that these solemn words of the Master, becoming, as they did, at a comparatively early date, the property of the Church, saved the Christian congregations in Palestine from the fate which overtook the Jewish nation in the last great war. Clearly warned by Jesus that the gathering of the Roman armies in the neighborhood of Jerusalem was the unmistakable sign of the end of the Jewish polity, the Christian congregations fled to Pella beyond Jordan. The Jews never ceased to the last trusting that deliverance from on high would be vouchsafed to the holy city and temple. The Christians were warned by the words of the Founder of their faith - words spoken nigh forty years before the siege - that the time of mercy was hopelessly past.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

when
Ὅταν (Hotan)
Conjunction
Strong's 3752: When, whenever. From hote and an; whenever; also causatively inasmuch as.

you see
ἴδητε (idēte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

Jerusalem
Ἰερουσαλήμ (Ierousalēm)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2419: Of Hebrew origin; Hierusalem, the capitol of Palestine.

surrounded
κυκλουμένην (kykloumenēn)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2944: To encircle, besiege, surround. From the same as kukloi; to encircle, i.e. Surround.

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).

armies,
στρατοπέδων (stratopedōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 4760: An encamped army. From the base of stratia and the same as pedinos; a camping-ground, i.e. a body of troops.

you will know
γνῶτε (gnōte)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

her
αὐτῆς (autēs)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

desolation
ἐρήμωσις (erēmōsis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2050: A desolation, devastation. From eremoo; despoliation.

is near.
ἤγγικεν (ēngiken)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1448: Trans: I bring near; intrans: I come near, approach. From eggus; to make near, i.e. approach.


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