Mark 13 4

Mark 13:4 kjv

Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

Mark 13:4 nkjv

"Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?"

Mark 13:4 niv

"Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?"

Mark 13:4 esv

"Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?"

Mark 13:4 nlt

"Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?"

Mark 13 verses

Mark 13 4 Meaning

Mark 13:4 records the disciples' twin questions to Jesus regarding His preceding prophecy about the destruction of the Temple. Their first question, "Tell us, when will these things be," seeks to know the precise timing of the Temple's downfall. The second, "and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?", reveals their expectation of a precursory indicator that would herald not just the Temple's demise but "all these things" (which, in their understanding, might conflate the Temple's destruction with the general end of the age or the return of the Messiah), reaching their final completion. These questions serve as the prompt for Jesus' comprehensive eschatological discourse, often referred to as the Olivet Discourse.

Mark 13 4 Context

Mark 13:4 is situated at the beginning of Jesus' "Olivet Discourse," His longest continuous discourse recorded in Mark's Gospel. The scene unfolds on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the magnificent Second Temple complex. This conversation is triggered by Jesus' profound and unsettling prophecy in Mark 13:2: "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." This declaration about the total destruction of the revered Temple, the heart of Jewish identity and worship, deeply alarms the disciples. Peter, James, John, and Andrew approach Jesus privately (Mk 13:3) to seek clarification, asking the two central questions in verse 4. Their inquiries betray a typical Jewish eschatological perspective, associating the Temple's demise with the onset of the "end of the age" and the Messianic arrival, blurring the lines between these distinct events. Jesus' subsequent discourse directly addresses their questions, differentiating between events leading to the Temple's fall (fulfilled in AD 70) and signs pointing to His future second coming, while cautioning against false predictions and emphasizing the need for watchfulness and endurance.

Mark 13 4 Word analysis

• Tell us, (Εἰπὲ ἡμῖν, Eipe hēmin)

  • Eipe (Εἰπὲ): Imperative aorist active of legō (λέγω), meaning "say," "speak," "tell." It is a direct and immediate command, conveying an earnest request.
  • Hēmin (ἡμῖν): Dative plural of the personal pronoun "we," meaning "to us." The direct address underscores the disciples' private and pressing desire for answers.
  • Significance: This marks a direct personal inquiry, reflecting the urgency and the perceived gravity of Jesus' Temple prophecy. It sets the stage for a private revelation.

• when (πότε, pote)

  • Pote (πότε): An interrogative adverb meaning "when" or "at what time." It explicitly asks about the timing of the events Jesus prophesied.
  • Significance: This highlights the disciples' natural human curiosity regarding chronology. Their focus is on knowing the immediate future and timeline, which is a recurring theme in prophetic contexts (e.g., Dan 12:6).

• will these things be, (ταῦτα ἔσται, tauta estai)

  • Tauta (ταῦτα): Neuter plural demonstrative pronoun, "these things." This directly refers back to Jesus' prophecy in Mk 13:2 about the destruction of the Temple stones. However, the disciples likely broaden its scope in their minds to include the entire catastrophic "end" associated with such an event.
  • Estai (ἔσται): Future indicative of eimi (εἰμί), "to be." Simply denotes future existence or occurrence.
  • Significance: "These things" encapsulates the preceding prophetic pronouncement, making it the central subject of their timing question. Its ambiguity for the disciples sets up Jesus' subsequent clarification of distinct events (Temple destruction vs. the end of the age).

• and what (καὶ τί, kai ti)

  • Kai (καὶ): Conjunction "and," connecting the two questions.
  • Ti (τί): Neuter singular interrogative pronoun "what" or "what sort of." It asks about the nature or identity of something, in this case, a sign.
  • Significance: Introduces the second, distinct question about a recognizable indicator.

• will be the sign (τὸ σημεῖον ἔσται, to sēmeion estai)

  • To (τὸ): Definite article "the."
  • Sēmeion (σημεῖον): A noun meaning "sign," "mark," "token," or "proof." In biblical contexts, it often refers to a miraculous or prophetic indicator, a pointer to a greater truth or impending event.
  • Estai (ἔσται): Future indicative of eimi (εἰμί), "to be."
  • Significance: The disciples expect a clear, discernible event or phenomenon that would announce the imminence of the "accomplishment" of the prophetic events. This expectation of "signs" is common in both Old and New Testaments for divine actions (e.g., Ex 4:8, Mt 24:30).

• when (ὅταν, hotan)

  • Hotan (ὅταν): A conjunction, "when," "whenever," indicating a temporal condition. It links the sign to the occurrence of the accomplishment.
  • Significance: Specifies the timing for the appearance of the sign relative to the future events.

• all these things (πάντα ταῦτα, panta tauta)

  • Panta (πάντα): Accusative plural of pas (πᾶς), meaning "all" or "every."
  • Tauta (ταῦτα): Again, "these things," referring to the previously mentioned prophecies, likely now including a broader range of end-time events as perceived by the disciples.
  • Significance: The inclusion of "all" (πάντα) signifies the disciples' wider scope, potentially linking the Temple's destruction to the final consummation of the age, the return of Christ, or the ushering in of the new kingdom. This reveals their eschatological understanding.

• are about to be accomplished? (μέλλῃ συντελεῖσθαι, mellē synteleisthai)

  • Mellē (μέλλῃ): Present subjunctive of mellō (μέλλω), often indicating imminence, "to be about to," "to be destined to."
  • Synteleisthai (συντελεῖσθαι): Present infinitive passive of synteleō (συντελέω), meaning "to complete," "to bring to an end," "to finish," "to execute fully." The passive voice implies that these things are being brought to an end or completion by a divine agent.
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes the nearing culmination and decisive fulfillment of the prophetic events. The idea of completion of all things suggests a final, comprehensive resolution or climax, prompting the Olivet Discourse in which Jesus separates immediate fulfillment (Temple) from ultimate fulfillment (Second Coming).

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Tell us, when will these things be,": This group of words captures the disciples' desire for chronological understanding. It directly questions the timeline of the startling prophecy regarding the Temple. This demonstrates their linear perception of time and expectation for clear temporal indicators, a common human tendency when confronted with future uncertainties. It is the initial prompt for the prophetic discourse.
• "and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?": This second part broadens the initial question. It moves beyond mere timing to ask for a specific, identifiable indicator. The phrase "all these things" (πάντα ταῦτα) coupled with "about to be accomplished" (μέλλῃ συντελεῖσθαι) suggests the disciples' comprehensive understanding of Jesus' prophecy not just as Temple destruction, but as a pivotal event that heralds the culmination of historical events and the arrival of a new era. This shows their anticipation of cosmic or divine portents preceding major eschatological shifts, connecting to widespread Jewish eschatological expectations.

Mark 13 4 Bonus section

The location "on the Mount of Olives" (Mk 13:3) is highly significant. It directly faces the Temple complex, providing a perfect vantage point for Jesus' prophetic utterance and the disciples' questions. This very mount is associated in Old Testament prophecy (Zec 14:4) with the return of the Messiah and the beginning of the Messianic age, making it an apt location for Jesus' eschatological discourse. The disciples' specific identification of "Peter and James and John and Andrew" as the ones who questioned Jesus privately (Mk 13:3) suggests a deep, confidential teaching moment reserved for this inner circle, much like at the Transfiguration. The question itself underscores the common human desire for certainty and foreknowledge in times of crisis, an innate craving for divine indicators of the future, a topic Jesus addresses both directly (giving signs) and indirectly (stressing readiness over specific timing). This verse serves as a reminder that Jesus provided signs, but warned against chronological speculation beyond the Father's knowledge.

Mark 13 4 Commentary

Mark 13:4 acts as the crucial prompt for Jesus' Olivet Discourse, framing the disciples' primary concerns after His staggering prophecy of the Temple's ruin. Their questions encapsulate fundamental human anxieties regarding future catastrophe: "When will it happen?" and "What visible signs will precede it?" These two questions are not redundant but reveal distinct aspects of their inquiry. The first question focuses purely on the temporal aspect, seeking a precise date or period. The second, introduced by "and what will be the sign," highlights their expectation of discernible events that would herald the fulfillment. Crucially, their inclusion of "all these things... about to be accomplished" demonstrates a probable conflation of the Temple's destruction with the general "end of the age" and the ultimate return of the Messiah, reflecting a common eschatological fusion in early Jewish thought. Jesus' subsequent discourse precisely addresses both questions, disentangling the Temple's destruction from the very end of time while providing signs that will indeed precede the final consummation, teaching the critical lessons of discernment, preparedness, and perseverance. The passage implies the disciples sought a "prophetic road map" for end-time events.