Luke 21:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →When Jerusalem is surrounded by armies, Jesus says, its desolation has drawn near.
What Does Luke 21:20 Mean?
Jesus now answers the original question about the temple directly. The sign is concrete: Jerusalem compassed with armies. When his hearers see the city encircled, they will know its desolation is at hand. Within a generation Roman legions surrounded Jerusalem, and in A.D. 70 city and sanctuary fell.
Notice the mercy folded into the warning: God does not let judgment fall unannounced. Jesus gives his people a readable sign and, in the next verse, time and instruction to escape. He had wept over the city that did not know the day of its visitation (Luke 19:41-44); even his hardest prophecies are spoken so that some may heed and live. Warning is one of love's forms.
Luke 21:20 in the Original Language
eremosis (ἐρήμωσις), 'desolation' -- a laying waste, the turning of a city into wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 21:20
What does Luke 21:20 mean?
When Jerusalem is surrounded by armies, Jesus says, its desolation has drawn near.