Matthew 24 · Verse 40

Matthew 24:40

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Matthew 24:40, King James Version

Matthew 24:40 in other translations

BSBTwo men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.
WEBThen two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left.
ASVThen shall two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left:
YLTThen two men shall be in the field, the one is received, and the one is left;
DARBYThen two shall be in the field, one is taken and one is left;
BBEThen two men will be in the field; one is taken, and one let go;
WebsterThen will two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

What does Matthew 24:40 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 40. Then shall two be in the field, etc. The calamity shall come suddenly. There shall be no escape for those whom it overtakes.

One shall be taken. The word taken may mean, either to be taken away from the danger, i.e. rescued, as Lot was, Lk 17:28,29 or to be taken away by death. Probably the latter is the meaning.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 40 Then shall two men - two women - one shall be taken, and the other left - The meaning seems to be, that so general should these calamities be, that no two persons, wheresoever found, or about whatsoever employed, should be both able to effect their escape; and that captivity and the sword should have a complete triumph over this unhappy people. Two women shall be grinding - Women alone are still employed in grinding the corn in the east; and it is only when despatch is required, or the uppermost millstone is heavy, that a second woman is added. See Wakefield, and Harmer, Obs. vol. i. 253. That they were formerly thus employed, see Exo 11:5, and the note there. See also Isa 47:2.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 24:29-41

Christ foretells his second coming. It is usual for prophets to speak of things as near and just at hand, to express the greatness and certainty of them. Concerning Christ's second coming, it is foretold that there shall be a great change, in order to the making all things new. Then they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds. At his first coming, he was set for a sign that should be spoken against, but at…

Read the full comment on Matthew 24:29-41 →

Matthew 24:40 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.

ΤότεToteThenG5119
δύοduotwoG1417
ἔσονταιesontaiwill beG1510
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtōtheG3588
ἀγρῷ·agrōfield;G68
εἷςheisoneG1520
παραλαμβάνεταιparalambanetaiis takenG3880
καὶkaiandG2532
εἷςheisoneG1520
ἀφίεται.aphietaiis left.G863

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

Cross references for Matthew 24:40

  • Luke 17:34-37

    I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

  • 2 Peter 2:7-9

    And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

  • 2 Peter 2:5

    And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the one.
2Ch 33:12-24; Lu 17:34-37; 23:39-43; 1Co 4:7; 2Pe 2:5,7-9

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Matthew 24:40

    Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

  • Matthew 24:41

    Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Read all of Matthew 24

Matthew 24:40 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces estarán dos en el campo; el uno será tomado, y el otro será dejado:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Alors deux hommes seront au champ, l’un sera pris et l’autre laissé;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Alsdann werden zwei auf dem Felde sein, einer wird genommen und einer gelassen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tunc duo erunt in agro: unus assumetur, et unus relinquetur.