The Meaning of Mark 13:34 Explained

Mark 13:34

KJV: For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

YLT: as a man who is gone abroad, having left his house, and given to his servants the authority, and to each one his work, did command also the porter that he may watch;

Darby: it is as a man gone out of the country, having left his house and given to his bondmen the authority, and to each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper that he should watch.

ASV: It is as when a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[For the Son of man is] as  a man  taking a far journey,  who left  his  house,  and  gave  authority  to his  servants,  and  to every man  his  work,  and  commanded  the porter  to  watch. 

What does Mark 13:34 Mean?

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 13:34

Commanded also the porter to watch [και τωι τυρωρωι ενετειλατο ινα γρηγορηι]
The porter or door-keeper This Parable of the Porter is only in Mark. Our ignorance of the time of the Master‘s return is an argument not for indifference nor for fanaticism, but for alertness and eager readiness for his coming. [source]
A man taking a far journey [ἄνθρωπος ἀπόδημος]
The A. V. is incorrect, since the idea is not that of a man about to go, as Matthew 25:14; but of one already gone. So Wyc., gone far in pilgrimage; and Tynd., which is gone into a strange country. The two words form one notion - a man abroad. Rev., sojourning in another country. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 13:34

Mark 13:35 Watch [γρηγορεῖτε]
A different word from that in Mark 13:33. See also Mark 13:34. The picture in this word is that of a sleeping man rousing himself. While the other word conveys the idea of simple wakefulness, this adds the idea of alertness. Compare Mark 14:38; Luke 12:37; 1 Peter 5:8. The apostles are thus compared with the doorkeepers, Mark 13:34; and the night season is in keeping with the figure. In the temple, during the night, the captain of the temple made his rounds, and the guards had to rise at his approach and salute him in a particular manner. Any guard found asleep on duty was beaten, or his garments were set on fire. Compare Revelation 16:15: “Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments. ” The preparations for the morning service required all to be early astir. The superintending priest might knock at the door at any moment. The Rabbis use almost the very words in which scripture describes the unexpected coming of the Master. “Sometimes he came at the cockcrowing, sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later. He came and knocked and they opened to him” (Edersheim, “The Temple”). [source]
Luke 20:9 Went into a far country []
Not necessarily far, but as Rev., another country. See on Mark 13:34. [source]
John 10:3 To him [τουτωι]
“To this one,” the shepherd, in dative case. The porter Old word for doorkeeper Used for man (Mark 13:34; John 10:3) or woman (John 18:16.), only N.T. examples. The porter has charge of the sheep in the fold at night and opens the door in the morning for the shepherd. It is not certain that Jesus meant this detail to have a special application. The Holy Spirit, of course, does open the door of our hearts for Jesus through various agencies. Hear his voice Hear and heed (John 10:27). Note genitive case πωνης — phōnēs (accusative in John 3:8). By name Several flocks might be herded in the same fold overnight. But the shepherd knows his own And leadeth them out Old and common verb, present active indicative. The sheep follow readily (John 10:27) because they know their own shepherd‘s voice and his name for each of them and because he has led them out before. They love and trust their shepherd. [source]
Acts 1:2 Had given commandment [ἐντειλάμενος]
Special injunctions or charges. Compare Matthew 4:6; Mark 13:34; Hebrews 11:22. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 13:34 mean?

[It is] like a man going on a journey having left the house of him and having given the servants - authority to each one the work the doorkeeper he commanded that he should keep watch
Ὡς ἄνθρωπος ἀπόδημος ἀφεὶς τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ δοὺς τοῖς δούλοις τὴν ἐξουσίαν ἑκάστῳ τὸ ἔργον τῷ θυρωρῷ ἐνετείλατο ἵνα γρηγορῇ

Ὡς  [It  is]  like 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὡς 
Sense: as, like, even as, etc.
ἄνθρωπος  a  man 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
ἀπόδημος  going  on  a  journey 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀπόδημος  
Sense: away from one’s people, go abroad.
ἀφεὶς  having  left 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀφίημι 
Sense: to send away.
οἰκίαν  house 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: οἰκία  
Sense: a house.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
δοὺς  having  given 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
δούλοις  servants 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: δοῦλοσ1 
Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition.
τὴν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐξουσίαν  authority 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐξουσία  
Sense: power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases.
ἑκάστῳ  to  each  one 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ἕκαστος  
Sense: each, every.
ἔργον  work 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
θυρωρῷ  doorkeeper 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: θυρωρός  
Sense: a doorkeeper, porter.
ἐνετείλατο  he  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διακελεύω 
Sense: to order, command to be done, enjoin.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
γρηγορῇ  he  should  keep  watch 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γρηγορέω  
Sense: to watch.