Mark 13:12 kjv
Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
Mark 13:12 nkjv
Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
Mark 13:12 niv
"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
Mark 13:12 esv
And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.
Mark 13:12 nlt
"A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.
Mark 13 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 10:21 | "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up..." | Direct parallel, intense familial betrayal. |
| Lk 21:16 | "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death." | Closest parallel, explicit family betrayal. |
| Lk 12:51-53 | "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division... father will be divided against son..." | Jesus brings spiritual division, even within families. |
| Mt 24:10 | "And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another." | General betrayal and hatred during tribulation. |
| Mic 7:6 | "For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises against her mother... a man's enemies are the men of his own household." | OT prophecy of domestic breakdown. |
| Dan 11:33-35 | "...those who are wise among the people shall make many understand... some of them shall fall by the sword and by fire..." | Prophecy of wise ones persecuted and delivered. |
| Dan 12:1 | "...a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time..." | Describes unparalleled distress for God's people. |
| Mt 10:22 | "And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake..." | Believers hated universally for Christ. |
| Jn 15:18-19 | "If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you... because you are not of the world..." | World's hatred for followers of Christ. |
| Jn 16:2 | "Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God." | Religious justification for killing believers. |
| Lk 14:26 | "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother... he cannot be My disciple." | Radical demand of loyalty to Christ over family. |
| Mt 10:37 | "Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me..." | Demands absolute priority of Christ over family. |
| 2 Tim 3:1-4 | "...in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves... unloving, unforgiving, without self-control..." | Description of degenerate characteristics in end times. |
| Isa 3:5 | "...people will be oppressed, each by another, each by his neighbor; The youth will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable." | General social breakdown and insubordination. |
| Mk 13:9 | "But be on your guard; for they will deliver you over to councils..." | Immediate context of being delivered to authorities. |
| Jer 12:6 | "For even your brothers and your father’s household have dealt treacherously with you..." | Warning of betrayal even from closest kin. |
| Ps 41:9 | "Even my close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me." | Betrayal by those closest and trusted. |
| Acts 7:51-52 | "You always resist the Holy Spirit... which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?" | Persecution of God's messengers throughout history. |
| Heb 12:3-4 | "Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary..." | Encouragement to endure persecution, even unto blood. |
| Rev 2:10 | "...Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." | Call to faithful endurance through martyrdom. |
| Rom 11:8-10 | "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day." | Explains spiritual blindness and hardening which could lead to betrayal. |
| 2 Pet 2:3 | "And in their greed these false teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories..." | Warning against those who would exploit and deceive, leading to harm. |
| Phil 3:18 | "For many walk, of whom I have told you often... who are enemies of the cross of Christ..." | Mention of enemies of Christ who may cause persecution. |
| Jude 1:4 | "For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God..." | Ungodly individuals causing discord and betrayal. |
Mark 13 verses
Mark 13 12 Meaning
Mark 13:12 prophesies an agonizing reality during periods of severe tribulation for believers: the breaking of the most fundamental human bonds. It warns that brother will betray brother, and father will hand over child, leading to their deaths. Furthermore, children will rebel against their parents, resulting in their demise. This verse highlights the profound depth of persecution that will compel family members to act with unnatural hostility, driven by spiritual opposition to faith in Christ, ultimately demanding ultimate loyalty to Jesus above all earthly ties.
Mark 13 12 Context
Mark chapter 13, often referred to as the "Olivet Discourse," presents Jesus' detailed prophecy concerning the destruction of the Second Temple and the signs that will precede His return and the end of the age. This discourse was prompted by the disciples' awe at the temple's grandeur and Jesus' prior statement that "not one stone will be left here upon another" (Mk 13:2). The chapter serves as a warning and an exhortation for believers to be alert, to endure, and to preach the Gospel in the midst of escalating persecution and deceit.
Mark 13:12 specifically fits within the section (Mk 13:9-13) that details the immediate trials and persecutions believers will face for bearing Christ's name. Prior verses speak of being "delivered over to councils" and "flogged in synagogues," and "standing before governors and kings." The scope here widens from external political/religious opposition to internal, intimate betrayal, revealing the profound depth of hostility encountered by those loyal to Christ. It implies that following Christ will lead to such radical division that it breaks even the most sacred family bonds, a core tenet of societal structure, particularly within Jewish culture which highly valued familial piety and honor.
Mark 13 12 Word analysis
- brother (Greek: ἀδελφὸς, adelphos): Signifies not just siblings by birth, but also kinsmen or fellow countrymen, implying a deep, natural bond. The betrayal from such a close relationship underscores the shocking nature of the tribulation.
- will betray (Greek: παραδώσει, paradōsei, from παραδίδωμι, paradidomi): Literally means "will hand over," "deliver up." This is a strong term often used in the New Testament for handing someone over to authorities or for judgment. It's the same word used for Judas's betrayal of Jesus. It implies an active act of turning over a person, leading directly to harm or judicial condemnation, not just passive disloyalty.
- to death (Greek: θανατῶσαι, thanatōsai, from θανατόω, thanatoō): "To put to death," "to kill." This makes clear the ultimate outcome of the betrayal. It's not just disownment or estrangement, but physical elimination.
- and a father his child (Greek: καὶ πατὴρ τέκνον, kai patēr teknon): Continues the pattern of familial betrayal. In ancient Jewish culture, the father was the head of the household and protector, and children were a blessing from God. This reversal of roles and natural affection highlights the extreme corruption and pressure of the age.
- and children (Greek: καὶ τέκνα, kai tekna): Specifies the next generation also participating in this unnatural act.
- will rise up against (Greek: ἐπαναστήσονται, epanastēsontai, from ἐπανίστημι, epanistēmi): Means "to rise up against," "rebel," or "take a stand against." It implies active hostility and insubordination from the previously subservient, demonstrating a complete breakdown of authority and respect within the family unit.
- parents (Greek: γονεῖς, goneis): The recipients of the children's rebellion. This signifies the disruption of foundational familial order and respect for elders.
- and cause them to be put to death: The direct result of the children's rising up, echoing the fatal outcome of the initial betrayals. This confirms the dire consequences across all levels of the family hierarchy.
Word Groups/Phrases Analysis:
- "brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child": This initial parallel emphasizes the tragic nature of the impending division, where natural affection is overridden by extreme pressure, likely related to differing spiritual allegiances in times of persecution. The sequence illustrates the spread of treachery from horizontal sibling bonds to the vertical, protective parent-child bond.
- "and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death": This phrase adds a further layer of unnatural rebellion, showing the collapse of traditional filial piety and respect. It highlights the pervasive nature of the conflict, where hostility is reciprocal and equally destructive. The combination of these phrases paints a comprehensive picture of society's core structure (the family) dissolving into a hostile environment where life itself is threatened by one's own kin, driven by fidelity to Christ versus opposition to Him.
Mark 13 12 Bonus section
The horrific nature of familial betrayal in Mark 13:12 suggests a time of spiritual depravity where truth and light are vehemently opposed, compelling even those in closest relationships to become instruments of persecution. This breakdown reflects a satanic strategy to isolate and destroy believers by fracturing their most vital support networks. The verse implicitly underscores the truth that enduring faithfulness in such circumstances can only come from a divine empowerment and a conviction that the eternal reward outweighs any earthly loss, including familial relationships or even life itself. This extreme situation highlights that "a man's enemies will be those of his own household" (Mt 10:36), confirming the complete transformation of society's moral fabric.
Mark 13 12 Commentary
Mark 13:12 presents a sobering forecast of the depths of hostility that believers will face for their commitment to Christ during the escalating tribulation before His return. This prophecy indicates a period so severe that it transcends external opposition, striking at the very heart of human relationships—the family. The betrayals described—brother against brother, father against child, and children against parents—represent a complete inversion of natural affection and the breakdown of society's most fundamental protective unit.
This chilling detail underscores several critical points: The radical cost of discipleship in true end-time scenarios will be exceedingly high, demanding a loyalty to Christ that supersedes all other human loyalties. Such betrayal highlights the pervasive nature of spiritual darkness and the intense opposition against those who uphold the truth of the Gospel. It serves as both a warning against complacency and an encouragement to cultivate unshakeable faith. The severity of familial betrayal also reveals that the conflict is ultimately spiritual, pitting the Spirit of God against the spirit of the world in the most intimate arenas of life. It compels believers to understand that while family is precious, absolute allegiance belongs solely to Christ, preparing them for trials that test their deepest affections.