Mark 13: Jesus speaks about the temple and what is coming
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
As Jesus leaves the temple, a disciple admires its stones, and Jesus says not one stone will be left on another. On the Mount of Olives, Peter, James, John and Andrew ask him when this will be. Jesus tells them of false claimants, wars, hard times, the Son of Man coming in clouds, the lesson of the fig tree, and a call to stay awake.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the opening. One disciple speaks in verse 1, and Peter, James, John and Andrew ask the question in verse 4. Jesus speaks in verses 2 and 5 to 37. No verse is in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!”
In plain English: As Jesus went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!"
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2Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down.”
In plain English: Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another here that will not be thrown down."
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3As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
In plain English: Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, opposite the temple. Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately,
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4“Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?”
In plain English: "Tell us, when will these things happen? What will be the sign when all these things are about to be completed?"
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5Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray.
In plain English: Jesus began to say to them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray.
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6For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and will lead many astray.
In plain English: Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he' (or: 'I am'). They will lead many astray.
The Greek words: "I am he" is ego eimi, word for word "I am". The Greek has no word for "he"; this Bible adds it.
What changes: Read as "I am he", the many say they are the one meant, and the text does not say who that is. Read as "I am", they use those two words as a claim. The text does not say more, and the plain line gives both.
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7“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet.
In plain English: When you hear of wars and reports of wars, do not be troubled. These things must happen, but the end is not yet.
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8For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains.
In plain English: Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains.
The Greek word: "Birth pains" is odin. The dictionary gives "a pang or throe, especially of childbirth". It is in 4 verses of the New Testament, and only here in Mark. This Bible prints "pain" in 3 of them.
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9“But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.
In plain English: But watch yourselves. They will hand you over to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.
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10The Good News must first be preached to all the nations.
In plain English: First the Good News (or: the gospel) must be preached to all the nations.
The Greek word: "Good News" is euangelion. The dictionary gives "a good message, i.e. the gospel". It is in 8 verses of Mark, and this Bible prints "Good News" in all 8, as in . The Greek allows "good news" or "gospel".
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11When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
In plain English: When they lead you away and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what to say, and do not plan it. Say whatever is given to you in that hour. It is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
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12“Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
In plain English: Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against their parents and put them to death.
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13You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.
In plain English: You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
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14“But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,
In plain English: When you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it should not (let the reader understand), then those in Judea should flee to the mountains.
Good to know: The words "abomination of desolation" are not found in this Bible's Daniel in that order. and speak of "the abomination that makes desolate" being set up, and speaks of one who "makes desolate" and of "abominations". Mark does not say what the abomination is, only where it stands.
Good to know: "Let the reader understand" is in round brackets in this Bible. The text does not say whether Jesus says it to his hearers or the writer adds it for readers of the book. The Greek allows both, and the plain line leaves it open.
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15and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house.
In plain English: The one on the housetop should not come down or go in to take anything out of his house.
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16Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak.
In plain English: The one in the field should not turn back to take his cloak.
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17But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days!
In plain English: How terrible it will be for women who are pregnant and for women who are nursing babies in those days!
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18Pray that your flight won’t be in the winter.
In plain English: Pray that your flight does not happen in winter.
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19For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be.
In plain English: Those days will be a time of great trouble, such as has not happened from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will again.
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20Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.
In plain English: If the Lord had not shortened the days, no one (or: no flesh) would be saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he chose, he has shortened the days.
The Greek word: "Chosen ones" is eklektos. The dictionary gives "select; by implication, favorite". It is in 3 verses of Mark: this one, and . This Bible prints "chosen" in all 3. The text does not say who they are, only that the days are shortened for their sake.
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21Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ don’t believe it.
In plain English: Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ,' or 'Look, there he is,' do not believe it.
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22For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
In plain English: False christs and false prophets will rise up. They will give signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
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23But you watch. “Behold, I have told you all things beforehand.
In plain English: But you, watch. Look, I have told you everything beforehand.
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24But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light,
In plain English: But in those days, after that time of trouble, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.
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25the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.
In plain English: The stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Good to know: says, "The sun will be darkened in its going out, and the moon will not cause its light to shine". says, "All of the army of the sky will be dissolved." Mark's verses 24 and 25 use some of the same pictures. The text does not name Isaiah.
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26Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
In plain English: Then people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
The Greek words: "Son of Man" is huios tou anthropou, word for word "the son of the man". The dictionary gives "a human being" for the second word. The phrase can be read as the title "the Son of Man" or as "the son of the human being".
What changes: Read as a title, it names a particular person. Read as "the son of the human being", it describes someone as human. The Greek allows both, and the text here does not choose.
Good to know: says, "there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man". Mark says people will see the Son of Man "coming in clouds". The text here does not say more than this.
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27Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.
In plain English: Then he will send out his angels and gather his chosen ones from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
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28“Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near;
In plain English: Learn this parable from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near.
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29even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors.
In plain English: In the same way, when you see these things happening, you also know that it (or: he) is near, at the doors.
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30Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen.
In plain English: Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen.
The Greek word: "Generation" is genea. The dictionary gives "a generation; by implication, an age (the period or the persons)". It is in 4 verses of Mark: , , and this one. This Bible prints "generation" in all 4.
What changes: Read as "generation", the people living at one time, it speaks of them. Read as "this kind of people" or "this age", it can reach wider. The Greek allows each. and have almost the same words. Mark does not date "all these things".
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31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
In plain English: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
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32“But of that day or that hour no one knows—not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
In plain English: But about that day or that hour no one knows. The angels in heaven do not know, the Son does not know, only the Father.
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33Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is.
In plain English: Watch, stay awake, and pray, because you do not know when the time is.
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34“It is like a man traveling to another country, having left his house and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.
In plain English: It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house, gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work, and told the doorkeeper to keep watch.
The Greek word: "Authority" is exousia. The dictionary gives a range, from "privilege" and "capacity" to "mastery" and "delegated influence". It is in 9 verses of Mark, and this Bible prints "authority" in all 9.
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35Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming—whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning;
In plain English: So keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming: in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.
Good to know: The four times named here are "evening", "midnight", "when the rooster crows" and "morning". Mark gives them as the times the master might come, and does not say more about them.
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36lest, coming suddenly, he might find you sleeping.
In plain English: He might come suddenly and find you sleeping.
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37What I tell you, I tell all: Watch!”
In plain English: What I tell you, I tell everyone: Watch!"
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