Mark 13:14 Meaning and Explanation
“But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →When the 'abomination of desolation' foretold by Daniel stands where it ought not, those in Judaea must flee to the mountains without delay.
What Does Mark 13:14 Mean?
Jesus now gives a sign, borrowing Daniel's haunting phrase for a sacrilege that desecrates the holy place and leaves it desolate. Mark adds a rare aside — 'let him that readeth understand' — pressing every reader to take the prophecy seriously. When that desecration appears, the faithful in Judaea are not to defend the city but to flee.
The instruction overturned every instinct: in war, people fled into walled Jerusalem, not out of it. Yet when armies closed on the city a generation later, those who remembered this warning had their escape, while the city that trusted its walls fell. The word still teaches: there are moments when faithfulness means flight, when God's people must let go of a beloved place because God himself has gone ahead of them.
Mark 13:14 in the Original Language
bdelygma (βδέλυγμα), 'abomination' -- a detestable thing, a defilement of what is holy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 13:14
What does Mark 13:14 mean?
When the 'abomination of desolation' foretold by Daniel stands where it ought not, those in Judaea must flee to the mountains without delay.