Devine Scripture

Matthew 24:22

What does Matthew 24:22 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 24:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 24:22 means

Jesus reveals the merciful intervention during this unprecedented tribulation: "And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened." This means that the intensity and duration of the suffering would be so extreme that it would extinguish all life on earth if not for God's direct intervention. The phrase "for the elect’s sake" highlights God's protective care for His chosen people, ensuring their survival and demonstrating His faithfulness even in the darkest times.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And 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.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And if those days were not shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but because of the chosen, shall those days be shortened.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and 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.

Context

Following the dramatic description of unprecedented tribulation in verse 21, this verse offers a crucial qualification: God's merciful shortening of these days. It introduces the concept of divine intervention and offers a ray of hope amid the intense warnings, leading directly into cautions against false Christs who will arise during this very difficult time.

v.21for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.

v.22This passage

v.23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ, or, Here; believe it not.

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 6:13

    And if there be yet a tenth in it, it also shall in turn be eaten up: as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stock remaineth, when they are felled; so the holy seed is the stock thereof.

  • Romans 11:25

    For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;

  • Luke 18:7

    And shall not God avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them?

  • 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.

  • 2 Timothy 2:10

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

  • Isaiah 65:8

    Thus saith Jehovah, 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’ sake, that I may not destroy them all.

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