Devine Scripture

Matthew 24:17

What does Matthew 24:17 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 24:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 24:17 means

Further emphasizing the extreme urgency for flight, Jesus commands, "let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house." Rooftops were common places for prayer and relaxation. This instruction signifies that there will be no time to gather personal belongings—the need for escape is so immediate that even a brief descent into the house is a critical delay. It communicates an unparalleled crisis where life itself depends on instant obedience.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Let not him who is on the house-top go down to take anything out of his house:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

he on the house-top--let him not come down to take up any thing out of his house;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

let not him that is on the house come down to take the things out of his house;

Context

This verse reinforces the immediate urgency presented in verse 16 regarding flight from Judea. It provides a more specific and practical illustration of the speed required, building on the general command to flee and directly preceding another vivid example of haste needed, thereby emphasizing the severe nature of the coming tribulation.

v.16then let them that are in Judæa flee unto the mountains:

v.17This passage

v.18and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 10:27

    What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house-tops.

  • Luke 12:3

    Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

  • Luke 5:19

    And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

  • Luke 17:31

    In that day, he that shall be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away: and let him that is in the field likewise not return back.

  • Acts 10:9

    Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour:

  • Mark 13:15

    and let him that is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house:

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