Devine Scripture

Matthew 24:39

What does Matthew 24:39 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 24:39 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 24:39 means

Continuing the analogy of Noah's day, Jesus concludes: "and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man." This highlights the profound spiritual blindness and unpreparedness of humanity before God's judgment. The suddenness and decisiveness of the flood, which swept away all those who were ignorant, serves as a powerful warning. Likewise, Christ's return will be a sudden, unexpected, and conclusive event for an unsuspecting world, underscoring the vital need for constant readiness.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they had no care till the waters came and took them all away; so will be the coming of the Son of man.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and they did not know till the flood came and took all away; so shall be also the presence of the Son of Man.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they knew not till the flood came and took them all away: so also shall the coming of the Son of man be.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and they knew not till the flood came and took all away; thus also shall be the coming of the Son of man.

Context

This verse completes the analogy of Noah's day by emphasizing the profound ignorance of the people until the flood arrived. This direct parallel to the 'coming of the Son of man' sets the stage for the immediate, dramatic illustrations of sudden separation due to unpreparedness in the following verses, highlighting the ultimate consequences of being caught unawares.

v.38For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

v.39This passage

v.40Then shall two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left:

Cross references

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

  • Judges 20:34

    And there came over against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore; but they knew not that evil was close upon them.

  • 2 Peter 3:5

    For this they wilfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;

  • Romans 1:28

    And even as they refused to have God intheirknowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

  • Luke 19:44

    and shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

  • John 3:20

    For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved.

  • Matthew 24:37

    And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man.

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