Luke 21 11

Luke 21:11 kjv

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Luke 21:11 nkjv

And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

Luke 21:11 niv

There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

Luke 21:11 esv

There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

Luke 21:11 nlt

There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.

Luke 21 verses

Luke 21 11 Meaning

Luke 21:11 describes various terrestrial and celestial disturbances that Jesus prophesied as signs preceding the culmination of the age and His return. These include widespread and severe earthquakes, famines, and pestilences across different regions. Additionally, the verse speaks of terrifying occurrences and significant signs originating from heaven, indicating supernatural or divinely orchestrated events that would cause great awe or dread, signaling impending major developments in God's plan. These are understood not as the end itself, but as intensifying harbingers, much like "birth pains."

Luke 21 11 Context

Luke 21:11 is part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, delivered on the Mount of Olives in response to the disciples' questions regarding the timing of the Temple's destruction and the signs of His coming and the end of the age (Luke 21:7). While Jesus first warns against deceptive messianic claimants and advises that global conflicts and natural disasters (like those in verse 11) are not immediately "the end" (Lk 21:9-10), He clarifies that these intensifying occurrences signify "birth pains." Thus, these specific signs serve as harbingers, distinguishing ongoing human woes from divinely ordained, intensifying markers that precede climactic events leading to His eventual return and the establishment of His kingdom. Historically, this discourse had immediate relevance for first-century Christians concerning the impending destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, while also holding eschatological implications for all believers concerning the signs of the true culmination of the age.

Luke 21 11 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple conjunction, connecting these prophesied events to the previous list of woes (wars and commotions).
• great earthquakes (σεισμοί μεγάλοι - seismoi megaloi):
  • Seismoi: Refers to violent shakings; literally, "shakings." Can denote an earthquake, tempest, or any strong disturbance.
  • Megaloi: "Great" or "large." Conveys significant intensity and magnitude, suggesting powerful, destructive seismic events.
  • Significance: Indicates more than ordinary tremors, rather substantial disruptions to the earth's stability, carrying an apocalyptic connotation.
• shall be (ἔσονται - esontai): Future tense of "to be," indicating these are definite future occurrences.
• in divers places (κατὰ τόπους - kata topous):
  • Kata: "According to," or "throughout."
  • Topous: "Places" or "localities."
  • Significance: Emphasizes that these phenomena will not be isolated to a single area but widespread globally or in many different regions.
• and famines (καὶ λιμοί - kai limoi):
  • Limoi: Plural for "famines" or "periods of scarcity."
  • Significance: Widespread food shortages and severe scarcity, often a consequence of natural disasters, war, or agricultural collapse.
• and pestilences (καὶ λοιμοί - kai loimoi):
  • Loimoi: Plural for "pestilences," "plagues," or "epidemics."
  • Significance: Widespread outbreaks of deadly diseases. This specific mention of "pestilences" is more prominent in Luke's account of the Olivet Discourse compared to Matthew and Mark. It signifies devastating illnesses affecting populations on a large scale.
• and fearful sights (καὶ φόβητρα - kai phobētra):
  • Phobētra: Unique to Luke in this passage. Means "objects of fear," "terrifying things," "terrors," or "omens."
  • Significance: Suggests unsettling and awe-inspiring phenomena that cause fear, perhaps visual disturbances not directly tied to earthly quakes or disease but of a more ominous or supernatural nature, such as celestial displays or strange atmospheric events.
• and great signs (καὶ σημεῖα μεγάλα - kai sēmeia megala):
  • Sēmeia: "Signs," "tokens," "portents," or "wonders." Indicates events that point to something greater, not just natural occurrences.
  • Megaloi: "Great" or "large."
  • Significance: These are not mere random occurrences but significant markers carrying prophetic weight, indicating divine action or communication. Their "greatness" denotes their extraordinary nature and profound meaning.
• shall there be from heaven (ἀπ' οὐρανοῦ ἔσται - ap' ouranou estai):
  • Ap' ouranou: "From heaven."
  • Significance: Explicitly states the origin of the "fearful sights and great signs." This signifies a divine or supernatural source, indicating that these phenomena are directly ordained or allowed by God, further reinforcing their prophetic and eschatological importance. They are not merely earthly chaos but emanate from the divine realm.

Words-group analysis:

• "great earthquakes... famines, and pestilences": This cluster represents terrestrial disturbances that inflict immense suffering and demonstrate the instability of the physical world. They are historically recurring events but are prophesied to increase in frequency and intensity.
• "fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven": This group highlights supernatural or celestial phenomena. It elevates the signs beyond mere earthly calamity, pointing to God's direct involvement or extraordinary occurrences that will specifically signal the approach of major eschatological events, instilling a sense of awe and dread in humanity.

Luke 21 11 Bonus section

The concept of "birth pains" (found in Matthew 24:8 and Mark 13:8) is crucial for understanding Luke 21:11. Just as birth pains intensify in frequency and severity as labor progresses, so too will these signs. They are not random occurrences but an escalating pattern indicating the drawing near of the age's fulfillment. This perspective helps believers differentiate ongoing societal and natural troubles from the divinely appointed signs of the end times, avoiding both complacency and sensationalism. It highlights a period of progressive revelation and preparation before the final culmination of history.

Luke 21 11 Commentary

Luke 21:11 elaborates on Jesus' prophetic "birth pains" for the age, portraying a landscape marked by intensified natural disasters and unique celestial portents. These events – severe earthquakes, widespread famines, and epidemics – depict a world increasingly unhinged, yet are not to be confused with the ultimate "end." Rather, they serve as deepening convulsions that foreshadow it. The distinct addition of "fearful sights and great signs from heaven" by Luke underscores the divine and supernatural dimension of these forewarnings. These heavenly phenomena are not arbitrary occurrences but profound indicators, signifying that God is actively working within history and guiding it towards its predetermined climax. For believers, these signs call not for panic, but for prayerful discernment, patient endurance, and an unwavering focus on God's sovereignty amidst a groaning creation, serving as clear alerts that the promised day of the Lord's return is drawing nearer.