The Meaning of Mark 13:20 Explained

Mark 13:20

KJV: And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

YLT: and if the Lord did not shorten the days, no flesh had been saved; but because of the chosen, whom He did choose to Himself, He did shorten the days.

Darby: and if the Lord had not cut short those days, no flesh should have been saved; but on account of the elect whom he has chosen, he has cut short those days.

ASV: And except the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect's sake, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

Discover Mark 13:20

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Mark 13:20?

MEANING: What does Mark 13:20 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Mark 13:20 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Mark 13:20?

What is the context of Mark 13:20?

Signs of the End (Mark 13:14-23)
The Abomination of Desolation (Mark 13:14-23)
The Great Tribulation (Mark 13:14-23)
Things to Come (Mark 13:1-23)
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times .( A .) (Mark 13:1-31)
Jesus Speaks about the Future (Mark 13:1-37)

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

What does Mark 13:20 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God will not shorten the Tribulation to a period less than the seven years He has already announced ( Daniel 9:26-27). He has already chosen to shorten it to a period of seven years. ^[1] If he did not limit the Tribulation to this relatively brief duration, no one would survive. God"s special love for believers led Him to shorten His judgment on the world then to only seven years.

Context Summary

Mark 13:14-37 - "watch!"

The fall of Jerusalem, Mark 13:14-23. This abomination had been predicted by Daniel, Daniel 9:27, Josephus says that the Romans brought their standards into the Temple, and offered sacrifices to them, and proclaimed Titus emperor. Probably there is to be a yet further fulfillment of these significant words. Houses in the East are, for the most part, provided with staircases outside the wall, so that the occupants, seeing the approach of danger, could flee without going through their homes, Mark 13:15. The ungodly owe more than they realize to the elect who dwell among them, Mark 13:20. Let us not be deceived by the appearance of false doctrines or teachers; there are also false Christs, Mark 13:22.

The second advent, Mark 13:24-27. These signs may refer to the disorganization of political rule, or to literal convulsions of the elements. The ministry of angels was very real to Jesus, and their function in the future ages is clearly defined. As Enoch was translated before the deluge, so will the saints be gathered before the final sorrows, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. It would seem as if Christ's coming is to bring summer to our world. This generation may refer to the fact that the Jewish people would remain as a distinct people. Our Lord had so emptied Himself, that in His human nature He knew not the hour, and was content to know only as the Father told Him. He has now resumed the glory of the knowledge which He had before all worlds. Have we each one found our work? Let us watch! [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 13

¹ Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple;
⁹ the persecutions for the gospel;
¹⁰ that the gospel must be preached to all nations;
¹⁴ that great calamities shall happen to the Jews;
²⁴ and the manner of his coming to judgment;
³² the hour whereof being known to none, every man is to watch and pray

Greek Commentary for Mark 13:20

Whom he chose [ους εχελεχατο]
Indirect aorist middle indicative. In Mark alone. Explains the sovereign choice of God in the end by and for himself. [source]

Shortened []
See on Matthew 24:22. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 13:20

Mark 13:19 The creation which God created []
Note the peculiar amplification, and compare Mark 13:20, the elect or chosen whom he chose. [source]

1 Corinthians 7:29 Short [συνεσταλμένος]
Rev., correctly, giving the force of the participle, shortened. Compare Mark 13:20, and see on hasting unto, 2 Peter 3:12. The word means to draw together or contract. Only here and Acts 5:6, where it is used of the winding up of Ananias' corpse. In classical Greek of furling sails, packing luggage, reducing expenses, etc. Applied to time, the word is very graphic. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 13:20 mean?

And if not had shortened [the] Lord the days no - there would have been saved any flesh but on account of the elect whom He chose He has shortened

καὶ εἰ μὴ ἐκολόβωσεν Κύριος τὰς ἡμέρας οὐκ ἂν ἐσώθη πᾶσα σάρξ ἀλλὰ διὰ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς οὓς ἐξελέξατο ἐκολόβωσεν

ἐκολόβωσεν	had shortened
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: κολοβόω Sense: to mutilate.
Κύριος	[the] Lord
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: κύριος Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
ἡμέρας	days
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural Root: ἡμέρα Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
οὐκ	no
Parse: Adverb Root: οὐ Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.
ἂν	-
Parse: Particle Root: ἄν Sense: has no exact English equivalent, see definitions under AV.
ἐσώθη	there would have been saved
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἐκσῴζω Sense: to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction.
πᾶσα	any
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: πᾶς Sense: individually.
σάρξ	flesh
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: σάρξ Sense: flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts.
διὰ	on account of
Parse: Preposition Root: διά Sense: through.
ἐκλεκτοὺς	elect
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: ἐκλεκτός Sense: picked out, chosen.
οὓς	whom
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: ὅς Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἐξελέξατο	He chose
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἐκλέγομαι Sense: to pick out, choose, to pick or choose out for one’s self.
ἐκολόβωσεν	He has shortened
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: κολοβόω Sense: to mutilate.

What are the major concepts related to Mark 13:20?

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Similar Scriptures for Mark 13:20

		Isaiah 65:8-9 [4]
		Romans 11:28-32 [2]
		Zechariah 13:8-9 [2]
		Matthew 24:22 [2]
		Romans 11:5-7 [1]
		Isaiah 1:9 [1]
		Isaiah 6:13 [1]
		Romans 11:23-24 [1]