Luke 17:24
What does Luke 17:24 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 17:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 17:24 means
Jesus likens the day of the Son of man to lightning that flashes across the whole sky, seen from one end of heaven to the other. The point is visibility and suddenness. His return will not be hidden, localized, or ambiguous; it will be public and unmistakable. This image corrects expectations shaped by secret calculations or private revelations. When He comes, none who look will miss it. This assurance steadies His people against panic or gullibility. It invites them to live ready every day rather than scanning for secret signs, confident that the true event will announce itself with heavenly clarity and power.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000for as the lightning, when it lighteneth out of the one part under the heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall the Son of man be in his day.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901for as the lightning, when it lighteneth out of the one part under the heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall the Son of man be in his day.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For as in a thunderstorm the bright light is seen from one end of the sky to the other, so will the Son of man be when his time comes.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for as the lightning that is lightening out of the one <FI>part<Fi> under heaven, to the other part under heaven doth shine, so shall be also the Son of Man in his day;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For as the lightning that lighteneth from under heaven shineth unto the parts that are under heaven, so shall the Son of man be in his day.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For as the lightning shines which lightens from [one end] under heaven to [the other end] under heaven, thus shall the Son of man be in his day.
Context
This vivid description answers the concerns raised in verses 22–23 about longing and false reports. It underscores that the true coming will be universal, not requiring anyone to run here or there. Immediately, however, Jesus grounds this future glory in the near-term reality: He must first suffer and be rejected (verse 25). The chapter then shifts to examples from Noah and Lot to illustrate the ordinary busyness and sudden judgment that will mark the day of revelation (verses 26–30).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 24:27
For 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.
- Job 37:3
He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, And his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
- Matthew 26:64
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:2
to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand;
- Matthew 25:31
But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:
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