Mark 13 29

Mark 13:29 kjv

So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

Mark 13:29 nkjv

So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near?at the doors!

Mark 13:29 niv

Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.

Mark 13:29 esv

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

Mark 13:29 nlt

In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that his return is very near, right at the door.

Mark 13 verses

Mark 13 29 Meaning

Mark 13:29 states that just as one knows summer is near by observing the budding fig tree, so too, when all the predicted signs (previously detailed in the chapter) begin to occur, the hearers should know that the Son of Man's return, or the culmination of the predicted events, is "at the gates." This verse serves as a crucial interpretative key, connecting the signs given earlier in the Olivet Discourse to the immediacy of their fulfillment or the Advent of Christ. It emphasizes watchfulness and understanding of the unfolding divine plan.

Mark 13 29 Context

Mark chapter 13, known as the Olivet Discourse, is Jesus's detailed prophecy to His disciples about the end times, the destruction of Jerusalem, and His second coming. The disciples had inquired about the signs of these events after remarking on the grandeur of the Temple (Mark 13:1-4). Jesus proceeds to describe a period marked by false Christs, wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecution of believers, emphasizing these are "birth pains" (Mark 13:5-13). He then warns of the "abomination that causes desolation" (Mark 13:14-23), indicating great distress, followed by cosmic disturbances (Mark 13:24-25) and the dramatic appearance of the Son of Man with power and glory (Mark 13:26-27). Mark 13:28-29 introduces the parable of the fig tree as an immediate, practical way for His disciples to interpret these signs. This parable acts as a guide, telling them that just as nature reveals seasonal changes, the signs He has outlined will clearly indicate the approaching culmination, whether it refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the age, or His literal return. The broader historical context includes the looming tension between Rome and Jewish zealotry, which would culminate in the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, an event many scholars see as a partial fulfillment of this discourse, yet with eschatological dimensions extending to Christ's final advent.

Mark 13 29 Word analysis

• Οὕτως (Houtōs): "So, thus, in this manner."
  • Significance: Connects the natural observation of the fig tree to the spiritual observation of prophetic signs, establishing a clear analogy. It bridges the two previous verses (28) with the conclusion (29), showing a logical consequence.
• καὶ (kai): "And, also, even."
  • Significance: Reinforces the direct comparison. "Even so" emphasizes the certainty and reliability of the prophetic timetable.
• ὑμεῖς (hymeis): "You (plural)."
  • Significance: Directly addresses the disciples then, and believers throughout history now. It implies personal responsibility to observe and understand these signs. Not a general statement but a specific instruction to His followers.
• ὅταν (hotan): "When, whenever."
  • Significance: Denotes a point in time, indicating that these events will indeed occur and serve as markers. It's not a hypothetical scenario, but a certainty.
• ἴδητε (idēte): "You see, you perceive."
  • Significance: From horaō, implying active observation, intellectual understanding, and experiencing with one's own eyes or mind. It demands discernment beyond mere visual input, encouraging recognition of the pattern of events.
• ταῦτα (tauta): "These things."
  • Significance: Refers back to the collection of signs and events previously described in Mark 13, specifically the distress, cosmic disturbances, and the appearing of the Son of Man. It's a comprehensive reference to the entirety of the discourse's prophecies.
• γινόμενα (ginomena): "Happening, taking place."
  • Significance: A present participle, suggesting events that are actively occurring or in process. It emphasizes an ongoing fulfillment, not a single static event. It speaks to the unfolding of a sequence of signs.
• γινώσκετε (ginōskete): "You know, you recognize, you come to know."
  • Significance: From ginoskō, indicating not just factual knowledge but a deeper, experiential, and conclusive understanding. It's a knowledge gained through observation and interpretation, a recognition of an underlying truth.
• ὅτι (hoti): "That."
  • Significance: Introduces the direct statement of what they will know.
• ἐγγύς (engys): "Near, close at hand."
  • Significance: Emphasizes proximity, indicating the imminence of the culmination. It's not abstract, but tangible nearness.
• ἐστίν (estin): "Is."
  • Significance: Simple declarative, stating the present reality of the nearness.
• ἐπὶ (epi): "At, upon, by."
  • Significance: Preposition indicating location or position, often with a sense of "on top of" or "at the very threshold."
• θύραις (thryais): "Doors, gates."
  • Significance: A vivid metaphor for immediate proximity. To be "at the doors" means that the moment has arrived, the threshold has been reached, or the person/event is about to appear. It highlights the direct transition from the signs to the reality they signify.
• αὐτό (autō): "He/it (himself/itself)." (Used in Matt 24:33, here implicitly the Son/King/Kingdom or event itself.)
  • Significance: Though Mark 13:29 text often has "it" or implicitly "He (the Son)", it refers to the subject of the previous prophecies – the arrival of the Son of Man and the establishment of His kingdom. Luke explicitly uses "kingdom of God" (Luke 21:31). This confirms the ultimate reality to which the signs point.

Words-group analysis

• "When you see all these things happening, you know..." (ὅταν ἴδητε ταῦτα γινόμενα γινώσκετε)
  • This phrase connects observation (idēte) with understanding (ginoskete). It suggests that the fulfillment of prophecies is not obscure but discernible for those who are watching and prepared. The present participles "happening" (ginomena) underscore a continuous, unfolding process of signs. It counters the idea that only exact predictions of dates are necessary, rather it emphasizes a recognition of a pattern.
• "...it is near, right at the door." (ἐγγύς ἐστίν ἐπὶ θύραις)
  • The repetition of the concept of "nearness" (ἐγγύς) amplified by the strong imagery of being "at the doors" (ἐπὶ θύραις) powerfully conveys urgency and immediate readiness. It speaks to the swiftness with which the ultimate event will follow the culmination of the signs. This imagery often appeared in Jewish eschatological thought to indicate impending judgment or redemption. It indicates the culmination is not some distant future but poised on the very threshold of being manifested.

Mark 13 29 Bonus section

The "it" in "it is near, right at the door" in Mark 13:29 is deliberately ambiguous in the Greek text (masculine form of 'him' or 'it'), reflecting different layers of fulfillment. While Matthew 24:33 specifically clarifies "he" (the Son), and Luke 21:31 says "the kingdom of God," Mark's phrasing might be inclusive of both the person of the Son of Man and the ushering in of His reign/judgment. This aligns with a dual fulfillment interpretation, seeing the fall of Jerusalem as a type or foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate return. The phrase "at the gates" or "at the door" carries significant weight in ancient culture, signifying the closest possible proximity—one step away from entering. It indicates a readiness to act or manifest. This teaches the importance of not just passive waiting, but active observation and discernment.

Mark 13 29 Commentary

Mark 13:29 provides the interpretative key to Jesus's Olivet Discourse. Building on the analogy of the fig tree's leaves signaling summer, Jesus instructs His disciples that the predicted events—persecutions, cosmic disturbances, and tribulation—will likewise unmistakably signal the imminent arrival of "it," referring to the full manifestation of His glorious coming, or the kingdom's breakthrough. The language of being "at the gates" (or "at the door" in Matthew) conveys an immediate, tangible proximity. This is not about precise timing, which Jesus reserves for the Father (Mark 13:32), but about recognizing the unmistakable patterns of prophetic fulfillment. The purpose is not to predict dates but to foster watchfulness, readiness, and a spirit of endurance. The events described may encompass both the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 as a significant initial fulfillment and the broader, ultimate Second Advent of Christ, serving as typological shadows of each other. The core message is clear: signs will precede the culmination, making clear the season of His advent to the discerning. Believers are called to discern the "signs of the times" (Matt 16:3) and remain prepared, much like a homeowner awaiting a returning master. For example, Christians today should observe global trends and spiritual decline, not as cause for despair, but as confirmation of biblical prophecy, prompting deeper commitment to the Great Commission and living out their faith with urgency and hope.