Devine Scripture

Mark 13:18

What does Mark 13:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 13:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 13:18 means

Continuing to emphasize the practical difficulties of the impending flight, Jesus instructed His disciples to "pray ye that it be not in the winter." Traveling during winter in ancient Judea was particularly arduous due to cold, rain, and difficult terrain. Such conditions would make a swift and safe escape even more challenging, especially for the vulnerable. This command to pray shows the compassionate heart of Jesus and teaches believers to seek God's mercy in mitigating the hardships of appointed trials.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And pray ye that it be not in the winter.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And pray ye that it be not in the winter.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And say a prayer that it may not be in the winter.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and pray ye that your flight may not be in winter,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But pray ye that these things happen not in winter.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And pray that it may not be in winter time;

Context

This verse continues the empathetic warnings and practical concerns for the flight from Judea. Following the woe pronounced upon the vulnerable in verse 17, Jesus now explicitly calls for prayer to mitigate the harshness of the flight during winter. This deepens the understanding of the tribulation's severity and the need for divine intervention, preparing the reader for the description of the unparalleled nature of this tribulation in the subsequent verses.

v.17But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days!

v.18This passage

v.19For those days shall be tribulation, such as there hath not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never shall be.

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