Luke 17:34 kjv
I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
Luke 17:34 nkjv
I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.
Luke 17:34 niv
I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.
Luke 17:34 esv
I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.
Luke 17:34 nlt
That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left.
Luke 17 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 17:26-30 | "Just as it was in the days of Noah...so will it be in the days of the Son of Man." | Preceding context: Sudden judgment and destruction. |
| Lk 17:35-36 | "Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left..." | Parallel examples of sudden separation. |
| Mt 24:37-39 | "As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man..." | Parallel discourse on suddenness of Christ's coming. |
| Mt 24:40-41 | "Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left." | Direct parallel of the "taken/left" phrase. |
| Mal 3:18 | "Then you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked..." | God's ultimate discernment between people. |
| Mt 13:47-50 | "The kingdom of heaven is like a net...they throw the bad away." | Parable illustrating ultimate separation. |
| Mt 25:31-33 | "He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." | Final judgment, explicit separation. |
| 1 Th 5:2-3 | "For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." | Sudden and unexpected nature of the Day of the Lord. |
| 2 Pet 3:10 | "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief..." | Sudden and unexpected judgment. |
| Rev 16:15 | "Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake..." | Urgency for vigilance for the coming. |
| Lk 12:39-40 | "Understand this: If the owner of a house had known at what hour the thief was coming..." | Warning to be prepared due to suddenness. |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | "He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart." | Divine judgment reveals inner realities. |
| Jn 6:39-40 | "This is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me." | Preservation of those who belong to Christ. |
| Lk 21:34-36 | "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing...That day will close on you suddenly..." | Exhortation to watchfulness and preparedness. |
| Mt 7:21-23 | "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom...I never knew you." | Distinction between genuine and false believers. |
| Ps 1:5-6 | "The wicked will not stand in the judgment...the way of the wicked leads to destruction." | Separation of wicked from righteous in judgment. |
| Jn 15:2, 6 | "Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away...they are thrown into the fire and burned." | Consequences of unfruitfulness and separation. |
| Isa 66:15-16 | "For behold, the LORD will come in fire...And the slain of the LORD shall be many." | Prophecy of divine judgment and destruction. |
| Mt 10:34-36 | "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword...dividing son against father..." | Christ's coming bringing division, even in families. |
| Gen 7:21-23 | "Every living thing that moved on the earth perished...Only Noah was left..." | Echoes of Noah's flood - destruction of many, salvation of few. |
Luke 17 verses
Luke 17 34 Meaning
Luke 17:34 declares that in the decisive moment of the Son of Man's revelation, a stark and sudden separation will occur among people, even those in close proximity and sharing common life activities. Specifically, it states that of two people sharing a bed during the night, one will be divinely taken for judgment and destruction, while the other will be left behind, implying preservation and entrance into the new order established by the Son of Man. This division underscores the individual nature of salvation and judgment, independent of relationships or daily routines.
Luke 17 34 Context
Luke 17:34 is part of Jesus' teaching concerning the coming of the Kingdom of God and the Son of Man (Lk 17:20-37). It follows directly after Jesus has rebuked the Pharisees for looking for external signs, instead proclaiming that the Kingdom of God is "within" or "among" them. He then turns to His disciples, explaining the nature of His Second Coming. The immediate preceding verses (Lk 17:26-33) liken the Son of Man's coming to the swift, sudden, and destructive events of Noah's flood and Lot's departure from Sodom. In both instances, life continued normally until divine judgment descended, destroying the unrighteous while preserving the righteous. The "taken and left" examples in verses 34-36 serve as practical illustrations of this sudden and divisive judgment, emphasizing that the separation will cut across all societal levels and intimate relationships. The overarching context highlights the importance of spiritual preparedness and a focus on Christ's true teaching, rather than a pursuit of worldly comforts or a misguided understanding of the Kingdom's arrival.
Luke 17 34 Word analysis
- I tell you: An emphatic declaration by Jesus (ἀπολεγω, apolegō). It signifies the certainty and solemnity of what He is about to reveal, demanding absolute attention and belief.
- on that night: Refers to the specific time of the Son of Man's sudden revelation (ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ νυκτί, en ekeinē tē nykti). The use of "night" highlights the unexpected nature, occurring during a time typically associated with rest and privacy. It signifies the unpredictable timing of judgment, capable of disrupting the most intimate and common daily routines.
- two people: (δύο, duo) Emphasizes individuality. Even within the closest associations, divine scrutiny and separation will occur, based on each person's standing before God.
- will be in one bed: (ἔσονται ἐπὶ κλίνης μίας, esontai epi klinēs mias) "Bed" (κλίνη, klinē) denotes a sleeping place. This illustrates a very close, intimate, and domestic setting, demonstrating that even those sharing the deepest bonds will be separated by the divine visitation. It shows judgment will be universal and intensely personal, affecting private lives without exception.
- one will be taken: (εἷς παραλημφθήσεται, heis paralēmphthēsetai) "Taken" (παραλαμβάνω, paralambanō), in this context, aligned with the preceding Noah and Lot narratives (destruction, removal from existence). Therefore, "taken" here most strongly signifies removal for judgment or destruction, akin to being swept away or seized for punitive ends. This aligns with those "left behind" in Noah's and Lot's day being those who perished.
- and the other left: (ὁ δὲ ἕτερος ἀφεθήσεται, ho de heteros aphethēsetai) "Left" (ἀφίημι, aphiēmi), means to let go, release, allow to remain, or pardon. In contrast to "taken for judgment," being "left" signifies preservation, sparing from destruction, and continuance, allowing them to remain on the cleansed earth to enter the new era of God's Kingdom. This one is left behind in a positive sense, surviving the cataclysmic event.
Words-group Analysis:
- "I tell you, on that night...": This phrase initiates a prophetic pronouncement, signaling a solemn and definitive statement about the future coming of the Son of Man. The emphasis on "that night" underscores the suddenness and lack of forewarning, catching people off guard during their ordinary repose.
- "two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.": This clause presents the core imagery of radical, intrusive division. The "bed" symbolizes privacy, intimacy, and daily life routines. The separation of two people, despite their closeness, vividly portrays that judgment and salvation are individual, based on one's relationship with God, rather than communal association or physical proximity. This highlights that external relationships offer no protection or guarantee of inclusion, necessitating personal readiness.
Luke 17 34 Bonus section
The distinct interpretation of "taken" in Luke 17 (removal for judgment/destruction, akin to those swept away by the flood) versus some common interpretations of "taken" in Matthew 24 (often interpreted as rapture/salvation for the faithful) is crucial. In Luke's narrative, the context of Noah and Lot clearly frames the "taken" as those who are lost or perish in the judgment, while the "left" are those who survive and are preserved (like Noah and Lot themselves). This underlines the severity of judgment for the unprepared and the precise nature of divine discernment. It serves as a stark warning to maintain vigilance and genuine faith, ensuring one is counted among the "left" who are spared and inherit the Kingdom.
Luke 17 34 Commentary
Luke 17:34 powerfully conveys the suddenness, selectivity, and individualized nature of the Son of Man's coming and the ensuing judgment. Jesus draws from common, everyday scenes to emphasize that the eschatological divide will not occur along societal lines, familial bonds, or even intimate relationships, but according to each person's spiritual standing before God. The choice of "night" and "bed" as the setting implies that life will proceed as normal, unassuming and secure, until the abrupt divine intervention. The contrasting fates of "taken" for destruction and "left" for preservation reinforce the urgency of vigilance and spiritual readiness, challenging all presumptions of collective safety. It's a call to individual accountability, emphasizing that the most significant distinction will be made by the Lord Himself, discerning between those destined for destruction and those preserved for His kingdom.