Luke 21:35 kjv
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luke 21:35 nkjv
For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luke 21:35 niv
For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.
Luke 21:35 esv
For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luke 21:35 nlt
like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth.
Luke 21 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 12:40 | "You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." | Be ready for unexpected return. |
| Matt 24:36 | "But concerning that day and hour no one knows..." | Time of coming is unknown. |
| Matt 24:43 | "But know this, that if the master of the house had known... he would have watched." | Like a thief, implies unexpectedness. |
| Matt 25:13 | "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." | Call for continuous watchfulness. |
| Mk 13:35 | "Watch therefore—for you do not know when the master of the house will come..." | Command to be alert and vigilant. |
| 1 Thes 5:2 | "...that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night." | Day of the Lord's sudden arrival. |
| 1 Thes 5:3 | "For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes..." | Destruction comes when people feel secure. |
| 2 Pet 3:10 | "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night..." | Lord's Day, unexpected and destructive. |
| Rev 3:3 | "If therefore you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief..." | Judgment on the unwatched. |
| Rev 16:15 | "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches..." | Blessing on those who remain vigilant. |
| Lk 17:26-30 | Days of Noah and Lot; "they were eating, drinking... and then destruction." | Life goes on as usual before sudden judgment. |
| Psa 11:6 | "Upon the wicked He will rain snares..." | Snares as instruments of divine judgment. |
| Psa 35:8 | "Let a net that he hid catch himself; Let him fall into that very destruction." | Self-made trap; consequence of evil. |
| Prov 29:6 | "In the transgression of an evil man is a snare..." | Wickedness leads to self-entrapment. |
| Jer 5:26 | "For among My people are found wicked men; They lie in wait as one who sets snares..." | Human capacity to lay spiritual traps. |
| Isa 24:17-18 | "Terror and the pit and the snare are upon you... he who flees... shall fall into the pit..." | Universal judgment on earth, unavoidable. |
| Ecc 9:12 | "For man also does not know his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare..." | Humanity's ignorance of their appointed time. |
| Job 18:8-10 | "For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And he walks into a snare." | Wicked caught in their own ways. |
| Dan 12:4 | "...the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." | Hint of intense activity before the end. |
| Zep 1:14-18 | "The great day of the LORD is near... a day of wrath, a day of trouble..." | Day of the Lord described as wrath and trouble. |
| Mal 4:1 | "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven..." | The coming day as a time of fiery judgment. |
| 1 Pet 4:7 | "The end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." | Urgency and spiritual vigilance recommended. |
| Heb 9:27 | "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment..." | Universal appointment with judgment. |
| Rom 13:11 | "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep..." | Awareness of the time, call to spiritual awakening. |
| Phil 4:5 | "The Lord is at hand." | Emphasizes the imminence of Christ's return. |
Luke 21 verses
Luke 21 35 Meaning
Luke 21:35 warns about the sudden, inescapable, and universal nature of the Lord's coming or the end of the age. It uses the vivid image of a "snare" or trap to emphasize that this event will strike unexpectedly upon all inhabitants of the earth who are unprepared, catching them unaware and leaving no room for escape. It signifies a time of judgment that will impact humanity globally.
Luke 21 35 Context
Luke chapter 21 forms part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, delivered shortly before His crucifixion. In this discourse, Jesus responds to His disciples' questions regarding the destruction of the Temple and the signs of His coming and the end of the age. He describes a period of intense tribulation, false prophets, wars, famines, and cosmic disturbances. Verse 35 serves as a direct warning following these prophecies, urging vigilance because the specific "day" (which refers to the return of the Son of Man and associated judgment) will be sudden and encompassing, affecting everyone globally. The historical context for the original audience also includes the impending Roman-Jewish War and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, which served as a partial, prophetic fulfillment and a strong illustration of the principle of unexpected judgment on a local scale, foreshadowing a universal one.
Luke 21 35 Word analysis
- For as a snare (hōs pagis / ὡς παγίς):
- hōs (ὡς): Means "as," "like," indicating a comparison. The coming event will resemble a snare in its nature.
- pagis (παγίς): Refers to a trap, net, or gin, specifically one for catching birds or animals. This imagery emphasizes the elements of surprise, inescapable capture, and being caught off guard without a way out. It highlights the vulnerability of the victim.
- it will come upon (epeleusetai / ἐπελεύσεται):
- From the verb
eperchomai(ἐπέρχομαι), meaning to come upon, to happen, to attack, to approach. It implies a movement or arrival that is certain and can be sudden or forceful. Here, it denotes an inevitable and impactful arrival of the event.
- From the verb
- all who dwell (pantas tous kathēmenous / πάντας τοὺς καθημένους):
- pantas (πάντας): Meaning "all," signifying absolute universality.
- tous kathēmenous (τοὺς καθημένους): Literally "those who sit," or "those who are dwelling." It suggests people who are settled, established, or perhaps complacent and at ease in their daily lives, oblivious to the impending change or judgment. It contrasts with a posture of alertness or movement.
- on the face (epi prosōpon / ἐπὶ πρόσωπον):
- epi (ἐπί): Means "on," "upon."
- prosōpon (πρόσωπον): Means "face" or "surface." "On the face of" is a common biblical idiom meaning "over the surface of" or "across the whole extent of."
- of the whole earth (pasēs tēs gēs / πάσης τῆς γῆς):
- pasēs (πάσης): Again, "all," "whole," emphasizing comprehensive reach.
- tēs gēs (τῆς γῆς): Refers to "the earth" or "land." In this context, it unmistakably refers to the entire planet, underscoring the global nature of the event, affecting everyone everywhere.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- For as a snare it will come upon: This phrase vividly portrays the unexpected and trapping nature of the coming event. It highlights that the event will not be openly announced or gradually introduced, but will seize individuals swiftly and without warning, like a hunter's trap catches its prey. It conveys an inescapable destiny for the unprepared.
- all who dwell on the face of the whole earth: This segment emphasizes the unprecedented scope and universality of this event. It signifies that no person, regardless of location or lifestyle, will be exempt from its impact if they are living in a state of spiritual unawareness or complacency. It dispels any notion of a limited, localized judgment, proclaiming a global, comprehensive accounting.
Luke 21 35 Bonus section
The "snare" imagery here subtly polemicizes against any belief in inevitable human progress or absolute security within worldly structures, proclaiming divine interruption regardless of societal stability. The emphasis on "dwelling" suggests a spiritual comfort or entanglement with earthly concerns that diverts attention from eternal realities. This verse necessitates a posture of vigilant hope rather than passive fear or complacent self-assurance. It functions as a call to spiritual detachment from the temporary, focusing on eternal readiness. It implies that true security is not found in earthly dwellings but in one's spiritual standing and preparedness for Christ's return.
Luke 21 35 Commentary
Luke 21:35 serves as a profound warning embedded within Jesus' eschatological discourse, cautioning against spiritual lethargy in the face of prophetic certainty. The core message is the unforeseen and inescapable arrival of divine reckoning. The "snare" metaphor powerfully conveys suddenness and being entrapped without recourse for those unprepared. This coming event is not exclusive to a particular region or people; it is universal, affecting "all who dwell on the face of the whole earth." This universal scope underscores humanity's shared accountability before God and the need for global readiness. The reference to "those who dwell" suggests a state of worldly ease or distraction, implying that immersion in daily life without spiritual vigilance makes one particularly vulnerable to this sudden shock. Jesus urges His disciples, and by extension all believers, to live in constant anticipation and preparedness, not being caught up in the preoccupations of the world.Example: Consider a student always procrastinating their studies; the unexpected pop quiz or sudden final exam acts as a "snare," revealing their unpreparedness and leading to undesired consequences, whereas diligent students are not caught by surprise.