Matthew 24:30
What does Matthew 24:30 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 24:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 24:30 means
Following the cosmic disturbances, Jesus declares, "and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." This is the definitive, visible, and glorious return of Jesus Christ. The 'sign' is likely Christ Himself, majestic and unmistakable, causing universal mourning among those who rejected Him. His coming on the clouds, a clear reference to Daniel's prophecy, signifies His divine authority and kingship, fulfilling countless Old Testament expectations.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And then the sign of the Son of man will be seen in heaven: and then all the nations of the earth will have sorrow, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in the heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth smite the breast, and they shall see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of the heaven, with power and much glory;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven. And then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the land lament, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Context
This verse is the climatic moment of Jesus' description of His return, immediately following the cosmic disturbances. It clearly identifies the 'sign of the Son of man' as His glorious, unmistakable personal appearance on the clouds, powerfully concluding the narrative of His physical return and setting the stage for the gathering of His elect and the subsequent parable of the fig tree.
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:
v.30This passage
v.31And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 1:11
who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.
- Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.
- Mark 13:26
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
- Mark 13:4
Tell us, when shall these things be? and whatshall bethe sign when these things are all about to be accomplished?
- 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.
- Matthew 24:3
And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Matthew 24
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Matthew 24.
Devotionals
Devotional
Small Faith, Real Faith
A mustard seed is enough. Not a mountain of certainty — a seed of trust.
Devotional
The Weight We Were Not Built to Carry
Jesus does not promise the absence of burden. He offers an exchange.
Devotional
Consider the Lilies
Worry forgets that the same God who clothes the field clothes you.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Perseverance
Perseverance is a Christian virtue, a steadfastness in faith and obedience that endures through trials and hardships, trusting in God’s unfailing strength and promises.
Topic
Bible Verses About the Second Coming
The second coming of Jesus Christ is a central hope of believers, signifying His return to earth in power and glory.
Topic
Bible Verses About Adultery
Adultery, a grave sin against God and marriage, represents a betrayal of trust and a violation of sacred vows.
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for a Panic Attack at Night
Steady, slow verses to pray when your chest is tight and the house is dark.
Verses for
Bible Verses for Morning Work Anxiety
Start the workday from a steadier place — verses to pray with coffee.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You Can't Sleep Because of Anxious Thoughts
Verses to read in bed when your mind won't stop.