Luke 21 7

Luke 21:7 kjv

And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

Luke 21:7 nkjv

So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"

Luke 21:7 niv

"Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"

Luke 21:7 esv

And they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?"

Luke 21:7 nlt

"Teacher," they asked, "when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to take place?"

Luke 21 verses

Luke 21 7 Meaning

The disciples, having just heard Jesus' stark prophecy about the complete demolition of the glorious Jerusalem Temple, urgently inquire of Him, first asking about the specific timing ("when") these profound events will occur. Second, they seek to know "what sign" or visible indicator will mark the imminence or commencement of these cataclysmic occurrences. Their questions reveal a worldview common among Jewish people, where the fate of the Temple was closely linked with the coming of the Messiah and the culmination of the present age.

Luke 21 7 Context

Luke 21:7 is embedded within the critical Olivet Discourse (Luke 21:5-38), Jesus' eschatological teaching delivered on the Mount of Olives. This verse serves as the immediate reaction to Jesus' previous shocking pronouncement in Luke 21:5-6, where He declared that the magnificent, seemingly indestructible Jerusalem Temple would be completely dismantled, with "not one stone left upon another." For the disciples, and for first-century Judaism generally, the Temple represented the enduring presence of God among His people, the center of worship, and a symbol of national permanence and divine favor. The idea of its destruction was not only unthinkable but profoundly unsettling, shaking the very foundations of their religious and national identity. Their questions in verse 7—“when” this unimaginable event would occur and "what sign" would herald it—naturally flow from their deep perplexity and the desire to reconcile this grim prophecy with their expectations of the Messiah's coming and a glorious kingdom. This discourse, therefore, addresses deeply held beliefs about prophecy, God's kingdom, and the ultimate future.

Luke 21 7 Word analysis

• So: Acts as a connecting particle, indicating that the disciples' questions are a direct and logical consequence of Jesus' previous statement regarding the Temple's fate.
• they asked Him,: The Greek word eperōtēsan (ἐπηρώτησαν) suggests an earnest, seeking inquiry, implying more than mere casual curiosity. They are seeking specific, authoritative information.
• saying, 'Teacher,: Greek: Didaskale (Διδάσκαλε). This respectful form of address affirms Jesus' recognized authority as their master and instructor, demonstrating their trust in His wisdom to reveal profound truths.
• but when: Greek: pote (πότε). This adverb directly asks about the specific point in time or chronological timing of the prophesied events. It reveals their desire for a timeline for these momentous occurrences.
• will these things be?: Greek: mellē tauta ginesthai (μέλλῃ ταῦτα γίνεσθαι).
  • these things (ταῦτα - tauta): Refers explicitly and directly to Jesus' earlier prophecy about the destruction of the Temple (Luke 21:6). It pinpoints the subject of their concern.
  • will be / about to take place (μέλλῃ - mellē... γίνεσθαι - ginesthai): The verb mellē signifies an action that is imminent, "about to happen" or "on the verge of occurring." Ginesthai means "to come into existence," "to happen," or "to occur." Combined, the phrase implies a question about the very onset or occurrence of these prophesied events.
• And what sign: Greek: kai ti sēmeion (καὶ τί σημεῖον).
  • what (τί - ti): An interrogative pronoun, seeking the nature, type, or identity of the sign.
  • sign (σημεῖον - sēmeion): This Greek term denotes an indicator, a mark, a token, or a premonitory signal. In biblical prophecy, sēmeion often refers to a divine or supernatural occurrence that marks the significance of an event or serves as a warning. The disciples seek a discernible signal to confirm the approach of these predicted events.
• will there be: Implies the manifestation or visible presence of such an indicator.
• when these things are about to take place?': This clause reiterates their desire for observable premonitions or accompanying indicators precisely at the time of the predicted destruction, signifying their deep-seated need for tangible proof or warning.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "So they asked Him, saying, 'Teacher'": This opening establishes the immediate reaction of the disciples to Jesus' preceding prophecy, presenting their address as a respectful and urgent inquiry to their recognized Master. It sets the scene for an authoritative teaching.
• "'but when will these things be?':" This primary question highlights the human desire to understand the timeline of prophetic events. For the disciples, whose worldview centered on the Temple's permanence, knowing "when" its prophesied destruction would occur was a matter of utmost concern and deeply challenged their present understanding.
• "'And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?':" This secondary question reveals their practical need for discernment. Beyond knowing when, they wanted a visible, undeniable indication or set of signs that would allow them to recognize the impending catastrophe and subsequent unfolding of God's plan. They sought actionable intelligence to prepare.

Luke 21 7 Bonus section

• The structure of the questions posed by the disciples, first concerning timing ("when") and then specific manifestations ("what sign"), is characteristic of contemporary rabbinic forms of inquiry into matters of future prophecy.
• Although the synoptic Gospels present variations in the disciples' specific wording (e.g., Matt 24:3 explicitly adds "the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age"), Luke's version zeroes in on the destruction of "these things," implying the Temple as the primary catalyst for their immediate alarm and questions. Jesus' comprehensive answer, however, implicitly addresses their broader eschatological framework.
• This verse sets the stage for a critical theological distinction that Jesus subtly makes throughout the Olivet Discourse: separating the immediate, soon-to-be-fulfilled prophecy of Jerusalem's fall (AD 70) from the future, more distant signs pertaining to His parousia and the final consummation. The disciples' question, however, bundles these events into a single, continuous apocalyptic scenario.
• The search for a "sign" (sēmeion) points to a prevailing desire in biblical narratives for tangible proofs of divine action or warnings. From the signs given to Moses in Exodus to the signs Jesus performed to validate His ministry, observable phenomena serve as critical points of recognition. Here, the disciples are asking for such signals for an unprecedented future event.
• The Olivet Discourse, introduced by these questions, serves as a crucial hermeneutical key for interpreting various Old Testament prophetic themes related to judgment, national Israel, the Gentiles, and the end times. It interprets previous prophecies and provides new ones.

Luke 21 7 Commentary

Luke 21:7 presents the pivotal questions that frame Jesus' Olivet Discourse, born from the disciples' shock at His prophecy of the Temple's total destruction. Their questions—concerning the "when" and "what sign"—reflect a common Jewish eschatological outlook where the Temple's fate, the Messiah's coming, and the end of the age were perceived as intertwined. The disciples, expecting a visible, triumphal earthly kingdom for the Messiah, found it difficult to reconcile this with the annihilation of their most sacred site. Jesus' subsequent teaching carefully delineates between the imminent fall of Jerusalem (AD 70) and the ultimate signs preceding His glorious Second Coming and the end of the age. He provides specific indicators, not to satisfy mere curiosity about dates, but to equip His followers to live with vigilance, discernment, and steadfast faith amidst escalating global and spiritual challenges, understanding that preparation, rather than exact predictions, is paramount. This verse thus initiates a critical lesson in distinguishing true prophecy, understanding divine timing, and maintaining spiritual readiness until the Lord's return.