Matthew 24:21 Meaning and Explanation
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →That time will bring tribulation greater than any before or after it.
What Does Matthew 24:21 Mean?
Jesus explains the urgency of flight: the coming distress will be tribulation beyond any the world has seen or will see. The language marks it as a uniquely severe hour.
Such solemn words press the seriousness of what is foretold and the mercy of the warning given in advance. Yet even here hope is implied -- a tribulation has an end, and the verses ahead speak of those days being shortened. Jesus does not hide the darkness, but he frames it within a story that moves toward deliverance and the coming of the Son of man.
Matthew 24:21 in the Original Language
thlipsis (θλῖψις), 'tribulation' -- crushing pressure or affliction.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 24:21
What does Matthew 24:21 mean?
That time will bring tribulation greater than any before or after it.