Matthew 24 · Verse 27

Matthew 24:27

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:27, King James Version

Matthew 24:27 in other translations

BSBFor just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
WEBFor as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
ASVFor as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.
YLTfor as the lightning doth come forth from the east, and doth appear unto the west, so shall be also the presence of the Son of Man;
DARBYFor as the lightning goes forth from the east and shines to the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of man.
BBEBecause as in a thunderstorm the bright light coming from the east is seen even in the west; so will be the coming of the Son of man.
WebsterFor as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even to the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

What does Matthew 24:27 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 27. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, etc. This is not designed to denote the quarter from which he would come, but the manner. He does not mean to affirm that the Son of man will come from the east, but that he will come in a rapid and unexpected manner, like the lightning. Many would be looking for him in the desert; many in secret places. But, he said, it would be useless to be looking in that manner. It was useless to look to any particular part of the heavens, to know where the lightning would next flash. In a moment it would blaze in an unexpected part of the heavens, and shine at once to the other part. So rapidly, so unexpectedly, in so unlooked-for a quarter would be his coming. See Lk 10:18; Zech 9:14.

The coming of the Son of man. It has been doubted whether this refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, or to the coming at the day of judgment. For the solution of this doubt, let it be remarked,

(1.) that those two events are the principal scenes in which our Lord said he would come, either in person or in judgment.

(2.) That the destruction of Jerusalem is described as his coming, his act, for their great crimes.

(3.) That these events--the judgment of Jerusalem and the final judgment --in many respects greatly resemble each other.

(4.) That they will bear, therefore, to be described in the same language. And,

(5.) therefore, that the same words often include both events, as properly described by them. The words, therefore, had doubtless a primary reference to the destruction of Jerusalem, but such an amplitude of meaning as also to express his coming to judgment.

Isa 1:1,  7, (3.)

(y) "the lightning" Zech 9:14, Lk 17:24

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west - It is worthy of remark that our Lord, in the most particular manner, points out the very march of the Roman army: they entered into Judea on the East, and carried on their conquest Westward, as if not only the extensiveness of the ruin, but the very route which the army would take, were intended in the comparison of the lightning issuing from the east, and shining to the west.

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 24:27 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.

ὥσπερhōsperJust asG5618
γὰρgarforG1063
ἡhētheG3588
ἀστραπὴastrapēlightningG796
ἐξέρχεταιexerchetaicomes forthG1831
ἀπὸapofrom [the]G575
ἀνατολῶνanatolōneastG395
καὶkaiandG2532
φαίνεταιphainetaishinesG5316
ἕωςhe'ōsuntil [the]G2193
δυσμῶν,dusmōnwest,G1424
οὕτωςhoutōssoG3779
ἔσταιestaiwill beG1510
ἡhētheG3588
παρουσίαparousiacomingG3952
τοῦtouof theG3588
υἱοῦhuiouSonG5207
τοῦtou<the>G3588
ἀνθρώπου.anthrōpouof Man.G444

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

Cross references for Matthew 24:27

  • Luke 17:24-37

    For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. …

  • Zechariah 9:14

    And the Lord shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.

  • James 5:8

    Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

  • Job 37:3

    He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

  • Malachi 3:2

    But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

  • Isaiah 30:30

    And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

  • 2 Peter 3:4

    And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

  • Malachi 4:5

    Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

  • Matthew 24:37

    But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

  • Job 38:35

    Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?

  • Matthew 16:28

    Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

  • Matthew 24:39

    And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
as.
Job 37:3; 38:35; Isa 30:30; Zec 9:14; Lu 17:24-37
the coming.
16:28; Mal 3:2; 4:5; Jas 5:8; 2Pe 3:4

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

Context

  • Matthew 24:26

    Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

  • Matthew 24:27

    For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

  • Matthew 24:28

    For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

Read all of Matthew 24

Matthew 24:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque como el relámpago que sale del oriente y se muestra hasta el occidente, así será también la venida del Hijo del hombre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car comme l’éclair sort de l’orient et apparaît jusqu’à l’occident, ainsi sera la venue du fils de l’homme.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn gleichwie der Blitz ausfährt von Osten und scheint bis gen Westen, also wird die Ankunft des Sohnes des Menschen sein.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sicut enim fulgur exit ab oriente, et paret usque in occidentem: ita erit et adventus Filii hominis.