Luke 21 · Verse 20

Luke 21:20

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luke 21:20, King James Version

Luke 21:20 in other translations

BSBBut when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.
WEB“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.
ASVBut when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.
YLT‘And when ye may see Jerusalem surrounded by encampments, then know that come nigh did her desolation;
DARBYBut when ye see Jerusalem encompassed with armies, then know that its desolation is drawn nigh.
BBEBut when you see armies all round about Jerusalem, then be certain that her destruction is near.
WebsterAnd when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that its desolation is nigh.

What does Luke 21:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 21:20-21
20-21. by armies--encamped armies, that is, besieged: "the abomination of desolation" (meaning the Roman ensigns, as the symbols of an idolatrous, pagan, unclean power) "spoken of by Daniel the prophet" (Da 9:27) "standing where it ought not" (Mr 13:14). "Whoso readeth [that prophecy] let him understand" (Mt 24:15). Then ... flee, &c.--Eusebius says the Christians fled to Pella, at the north extremity of Perea, being "prophetically directed"; perhaps by some prophetic intimation still more explicit than this, which still would be their chart.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 21:5-28

With much curiosity those about Christ ask as to the time when the great desolation should be. He answers with clearness and fulness, as far as was necessary to teach them their duty; for all knowledge is desirable as far as it is in order to practice. Though spiritual judgements are the most common in gospel times, yet God makes use of temporal judgments also. Christ tells them what hard things they should suffer…

Read the full comment on Luke 21:5-28 →

Luke 21:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὍτανHotanWhenG3752
δὲdethenG1161
ἴδητεidēteyou may seeG1492
κυκλουμένηνkukloumenēnbeing encircledG2944
ὑπὸhupobyG5259
στρατοπέδωνstratopedōnencampmentsG4760
Ἰερουσαλήμ,IerousalēmJerusalem,G2419
τότεtotethenG5119
γνῶτεgnōtedo knowG1097
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἤγγικενēngikenhas drawn nearG1448
ἡhētheG3588
ἐρήμωσιςerēmōsisdesolationG2050
αὐτῆς.autēsof her.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 21:20

  • 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.

  • Mark 13:14

    But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains:

  • Matthew 24:15

    When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

  • 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?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7; 19:43; Da 9:27; Mt 24:15; Mr 13:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 21:19

    In your patience possess ye your souls.

  • Luke 21:20

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

  • Luke 21:21

    Then let them which are in Judea 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.

Read all of Luke 21

Luke 21:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y cuando viereis á Jerusalem cercada de ejércitos, sabed entonces que su destrucción ha llegado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et quand vous verrez Jérusalem environnée d’armées, sachez alors que sa désolation est proche.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn ihr aber Jerusalem von Heerscharen umzingelt sehet, alsdann erkennet, daß ihre Verwüstung nahe gekommen ist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cum autem videritis circumdari ab exercitu Jerusalem, tunc scitote quia appropinquavit desolatio ejus: