Matthew 24:16

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.

King James Version (1611)
Then let them which be in Iudea, flee into the mountaines.

King James Version
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

English Standard Version
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

New American Standard Bible
then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

New Century Version
"At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains.

Amplified Bible
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains [for refuge].

New American Standard Bible (1995)
then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

Legacy Standard Bible
then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

Berean Standard Bible
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Contemporary English Version
If you are living in Judea at that time, run to the mountains.

Complete Jewish Bible
"that will be the time for those in Y'hudah to escape to the hills.

Darby Translation
then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains;

Easy-to-Read Version
"The people in Judea at that time should run away to the mountains.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then let them which be in Iudea, flee into the mountaines.

George Lamsa Translation
Then let those who are in Judaea, flee to the mountain,

Good News Translation
"Then those who are in Judea must run away to the hills.

Lexham English Bible
"then those in Judea must flee to the mountains!

Literal Translation
then let those in Judea flee into the mountains;

American Standard Version
then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains:

Bible in Basic English
Then let those who are in Judaea go in flight to the mountains:

Hebrew Names Version
then let those who are in Yehudah flee to the mountains.

International Standard Version
then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

Etheridge Translation
then let those who are in Jehud escape to the mountain.

Murdock Translation
and then let them who are in Judaea, flee to the mountain:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then let them which be in Iurie, flee into the mountaynes:

English Revised Version
then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains:

World English Bible
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Let not him that is on the house-top,

Weymouth's New Testament
"then let those who are in Judaea escape to the hills;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
thanne thei that ben in Judee, fle to the mounteyns; and he that is in the hous roof,

Update Bible Version
then let those that are in Judea flee to the mountains:

Webster's Bible Translation
Then let them who are in Judea flee to the mountains:

New English Translation
"then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.

New King James Version
"then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

New Living Translation
"Then those in Judea must flee to the hills.

New Life Bible
Then those in the country of Judea should run to the mountains.

New Revised Standard
then those in Judea must flee to the mountains;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then, they who are in Judaea, let them flee into the mountains;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains:

Revised Standard Version
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains;

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then let them which be in Iury flye into the moutaynes.

Young's Literal Translation
then those in Judea -- let them flee to the mounts;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
the let the which be in Iewry, flye vnto ye moutaynes:

Mace New Testament (1729)
consider it well) let those who are then in Judea, flee into the mountains,

Simplified Cowboy Version
If you're livin' in or around Judea when this happens, saddle up your horse right then, not later, and shuck out for the hills.

Contextual Overview

⁴Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, ‘I am Christ, the Messiah.' They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming. ⁹"They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating each other. ¹¹"In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes. ¹³"Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come. ¹⁵"But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up in the Temple sanctuary. The prophet Daniel described this. If you've read Daniel, you'll know what I'm talking about. If you're living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; if you're working in the yard, don't return to the house to get anything; if you're out in the field, don't go back and get your coat. Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Hope and pray this won't happen during the winter or on a Sabbath. ²¹"This is going to be trouble on a scale beyond what the world has ever seen, or will see again. If these days of trouble were left to run their course, nobody would make it. But on account of God's chosen people, the trouble will be cut short. ²³"If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, ‘Here's the Messiah!' or points, ‘There he is!' don't fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I've given you fair warning. ²⁶"So if they say, ‘Run to the country and see him arrive!' or, ‘Quick, get downtown, see him come!' don't give them the time of day. The Arrival of the Son of Man isn't something you go to see. He comes like swift lightning to you! Whenever you see crowds gathering, think of carrion vultures circling, moving in, hovering over a rotting carcass. You can be quite sure that it's not the living Son of Man pulling in those crowds. ²⁹ "Following those hard times, Sun will fade out, moon cloud over, Stars fall out of the sky, cosmic powers tremble. ³⁰"Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he'll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Genesis 19:15-17, Exodus 9:20, Exodus 9:21, Proverbs 22:3, Jeremiah 6:1, Jeremiah 37:11, Jeremiah 37:12, Luke 21:21, Luke 21:22, Hebrews 11:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:17 - Escape Deuteronomy 28:52 - General 1 Samuel 20:38 - General 2 Samuel 17:16 - but speedily 2 Kings 7:7 - and fled for their life 2 Kings 7:15 - had cast away Isaiah 14:32 - trust in it Isaiah 22:5 - crying Jeremiah 44:29 - a sign Jeremiah 48:6 - Flee Zechariah 14:2 - the city Mark 13:15 - General Luke 21:7 - what Revelation 18:4 - Come

Cross-References

Genesis 4:1
Adam slept with Eve his wife. She conceived and had Cain. She said, "I've gotten a man, with God 's help!"

Genesis 24:18
She said, "Certainly, drink!" And she held the jug so that he could drink. When he had satisfied his thirst she said, "I'll get water for your camels, too, until they've drunk their fill." She promptly emptied her jug into the trough and ran back to the well to fill it, and she kept at it until she had watered all the camels. The man watched, silent. Was this God 's answer? Had God made his trip a success or not?

Genesis 26:7
The men of the place questioned him about his wife. He said, "She's my sister." He was afraid to say "She's my wife." He was thinking, "These men might kill me to get Rebekah, she's so beautiful."

Song of Solomon 5:2

The Woman

I was sound asleep, but in my dreams I was wide awake. Oh, listen! It's the sound of my lover knocking, calling!

The Man

"Let me in, dear companion, dearest friend, my dove, consummate lover! I'm soaked with the dampness of the night, drenched with dew, shivering and cold."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then let them which be in Judea,.... When this signal is given, let it be taken notice of and observed; let them that are in the city of Jerusalem, depart out of it; or who are in any other parts of Judea, in any of the towns, or cities thereof; let them not betake themselves to Jerusalem, imagining they may be safe there, in so strong and fortified a place, but let them flee elsewhere; see

Luke 21:21 and accordingly it is observed, that many did flee about this time; and it is remarked by several interpreters, and which Josephus a takes notice of with surprise, that Cestius Gallus having advanced with his army to Jerusalem, and besieged it, on a sudden, without any cause, raised the siege, and withdrew his army, when the city might have been easily taken; by which means a signal was made; and an opportunity given to the Christians, to make their escape: which they accordingly did, and went over Jordan, as Eusebius says b, to a place called Pella; so that when Titus came a few mouths after, there was not a Christian in the city, but they had fled as they are here bidden to

flee into the mountains; or any places of shelter and refuge: these are mentioned particularly, because they are usually such; and design either the mountains in Judea, or in the adjacent countries. The Syriac and Persic versions read in the singular number, "into the mountain"; and it is reported that many of them did fly, particularly to Mount Libanus c.

a De Bello Jud. l. 2. c. 19. sect. 7. b Eccl. Hist. l. 3. c. 5. p. 75. c Joseph. ib.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Then let them ... - Then Christians may know that the end is come, and should seek a place of safety. Destruction would not only visit the “city,” but would extend to the surrounding part of Judea.

The mountains - The mountains of Palestine abound in caves, a safe retreat for those who are pursued. In all ages these caves have been the favorite places of robbers, and they were also resorted to by those in danger, 1 Samuel 13:6; 1 Samuel 22:1; 2 Samuel 23:13; Joshua 10:16. In those mountains they would be safe.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 24:16. Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains — This counsel was remembered and wisely followed by the Christians afterwards. Eusebius and Epiphanius say, that at this juncture, after Cestius Gallus had raised the siege, and Vespasian was approaching with his army, all who believed in Christ left Jerusalem and fled to Pella, and other places beyond the river Jordan; and so they all marvellously escaped the general shipwreck of their country: not one of them perished. See on Matthew 24:13.