Matthew 24 · Verse 22

Matthew 24:22

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Matthew 24:22, King James Version

Matthew 24:22 in other translations

BSBIf those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.
WEBUnless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.
ASVAnd except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
YLTAnd if those days were not shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but because of the chosen, shall those days be shortened.
DARBYand if those days had not been cut short, no flesh had been saved; but on account of the elect those days shall be cut short.
BBEAnd if those days had not been made short there would have been no salvation for any, but because of the saints those days will be made short.
WebsterAnd except those days should be shortened, there would no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

What does Matthew 24:22 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 22. Except those days should be shortened. If the calamities of the siege should be lengthened out. If famine and war should be suffered to rage.

No flesh be saved. None of the nations would be preserved alive. All the inhabitants of Judea would perish. The war, famine, and pestilence would entirely destroy them.

But for the elect's sake. The elect here doubtless means Christians. See 1Pet 1:2, Rom 1:7, Eph 1:4, 1Thes 1:4. The word elect means to choose. It is given to Christians because they are "chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth," 2Thes 2:13. It is probable that in Jerusalem and the adjacent parts of Judea, there were many who were true followers of Christ. On their account--to preserve them alive, and to make them the instruments of spreading the gospel he said those days should not be lengthened out, and suffered to produce their destruction. It is related by Josephus, (Jewish Wars, book i. chap. 12,  1,) that Titus at first resolved to reduce the city by famine, he therefore built a wall around it, to keep any provisions from being carried in, and any of the people from going out. The Jews, however, drew up their army near the walls, engaged in battle, and the Romans pursued them, provoked by their attempts, and broke into the city. The affairs of Rome also at that time demanded the presence of Titus there and, contrary to his original intention, he pressed the siege, and took the city by storm--thus shortening the time that would have been occupied in reducing it by famine. This was for the benefit of the "elect." So the designs of wicked men, intended by them for the destruction of the people of God, are intended by God for the good of his chosen people. See Isa 10:7, and Isa 10:7 on that verse.

(t) "for the elect's sake" Isa 65:8,9

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 Except those days should be shortened - Josephus computes the number of those who perished in the siege at eleven hundred thousand, besides those who were slain in other places, War, b. vi. c. 9; and if the Romans had gone on destroying in this manner, the whole nation of the Jews would, in a short time, have been entirely extirpated; but, for the sake of the elect, the Jews, that they might not be utterly destroyed, and for the Christians particularly, the days were shortened. These, partly through the fury of the zealots on one hand, and the hatred of the Romans on the other; and partly through the difficulty of subsisting in the mountains without houses or provisions, would in all probability have been all destroyed, either by the sword or famine, if the days had not been shortened. The besieged themselves helped to shorten those days by their divisions and mutual slaughters; and by fatally deserting their strong holds, where they never could have been subdued, but by famine alone. So well fortified was Jerusalem, and so well provided to stand a siege, that the enemy without could not have prevailed, had it not been for the factions and seditions within. When Titus was viewing the fortifications after the taking of the city, he could not help ascribing his success to God. "We have fought," said he, "with God on our side; and it is God who pulled the Jews out of these strong holds: for what could machines or the hands of men avail against such towers as these?" War, b. vi. c. 9.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 24:4-28

The disciples had asked concerning the times, When these things should be? Christ gave them no answer to that; but they had also asked, What shall be the sign? This question he answers fully. The prophecy first respects events near at hand, the destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the Jewish church and state, the calling of the Gentiles, and the setting up of Christ's kingdom in the world; but it also looks to the…

Read the full comment on Matthew 24:4-28 →

Matthew 24:22 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
εἰeionlyG1487
μὴmēunlessG3361
ἐκολοβώθησανekolobōthēsanwas shortenedG2856
αἱhaitheG3588
ἡμέραιhēmeraidaysG2250
ἐκεῖναι,ekeinaithose,G1565
οὐκouknotG3756
ἂνanthen wouldG302
ἐσώθηesōthēthere have been savedG4982
πᾶσαpasaanyG3956
σάρξ·sarxflesh;G4561
διὰdiabecause ofG1223
δὲdehoweverG1161
τοὺςtoustheG3588
ἐκλεκτοὺςeklektouselectG1588
κολοβωθήσονταιkolobōthēsontaiwill be shortenedG2856
αἱhaitheG3588
ἡμέραιhēmeraidaysG2250
ἐκεῖναι.¶ekeinaithose.G1565

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

Cross references for Matthew 24:22

  • Mark 13:20

    And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

  • 2 Timothy 2:10

    Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

  • Matthew 24:24

    For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

  • Matthew 24:31

    And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

  • Luke 18:7

    And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

  • Matthew 22:14

    For many are called, but few are chosen.

  • Zechariah 14:2

    For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

  • Romans 9:11

    (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

  • Romans 11:25-31

    For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. …

  • Isaiah 65:8-9

    Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.

  • Isaiah 6:13

    But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

  • Zechariah 13:8

    And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
except.
Mr 13:20
for.
Isa 6:13; 65:8,9; Zec 13:8; 14:2; Ro 9:11; 11:25-31; 2Ti 2:10

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

Context

  • Matthew 24:21

    For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

  • Matthew 24:22

    And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

  • Matthew 24:23

    Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

Read all of Matthew 24

Matthew 24:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y si aquellos días no fuesen acortados, ninguna carne sería salva; mas por causa de los escogidos, aquellos días serán acortados.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et si ces jours-là n’avaient été abrégés, nulle chair n’aurait été sauvée; mais, à cause des élus, ces jours-là seront abrégés.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und wenn jene Tage nicht verkürzt würden, so würde kein Fleisch gerettet werden; aber um der Auserwählten willen werden jene Tage verkürzt werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et nisi breviati fuissent dies illi, non fieret salva omnis caro: sed propter electos breviabuntur dies illi.