Devine Scripture

Matthew 24:28

What does Matthew 24:28 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 24:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 24:28 means

Jesus uses an enigmatic proverb: "Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." This idiom likely conveys that where there is spiritual or moral decay (the 'carcase'), divine judgment or divine agents (the 'eagles,' or vultures) will inevitably be drawn. It suggests that the coming of the Son of Man will be accompanied by a clear separation, where those who are spiritually dead will be exposed, signifying a time of divine discernment and consequence. It underscores the pervasive and observable nature of Christ's coming and its accompanying judgment.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Wherever the dead body is, there will the eagles come together.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for wherever the carcase may be, there shall the eagles be gathered together.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

[For] wherever the carcase is, there will be gathered the eagles.

Context

This verse offers a cryptic but significant proverb immediately following the description of Christ's universally visible coming. This idiom functions as a proverb affirming that where spiritual death is present, judgment will inevitably follow, thus serving as a brief illustrative bridge to the grand cosmic signs that will accompany His visible return after the tribulation.

v.27For 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.

v.28This passage

v.29But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Cross references

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

  • Jeremiah 16:16

    Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith Jehovah, and they shall fish them up; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks.

  • Job 39:27

    Is it at thy command that the eagle mounteth up, And maketh her nest on high?

  • Luke 17:37

    And they answering say unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Where the body is, thither will the eagles also be gathered together.

  • Deuteronomy 28:49

    Jehovah will bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

  • Amos 9:1

    I saw the Lord standing beside the altar: and he said, Smite the capitals, that the thresholds may shake; and break them in pieces on the head of all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: there shall not one of them flee away, and there shall not one of them escape.

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