Mark 13:8 kjv
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
Mark 13:8 nkjv
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
Mark 13:8 niv
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Mark 13:8 esv
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
Mark 13:8 nlt
Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
Mark 13 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mark 13:8 (Original) | "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes... and famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains." | Core verse: Signs of the times before the end. |
| Matt 24:7 | "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom... and famines and earthquakes in various places." | Parallel synoptic account of same signs. |
| Lk 21:10-11 | "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences..." | Parallel synoptic account, adds "pestilences." |
| Isa 13:8 | "And they will be in pangs and sorrows; they will writhe like a woman in labor..." | Old Testament origin of "birth pains" metaphor. |
| Jer 4:31 | "For I heard a cry as of a woman in labor, anguish as of one giving birth to her first child..." | Similar imagery of distress leading to birth. |
| Hos 13:13 | "The pangs of childbirth come for him, but he is an unwise son, for at the right time he does not present himself at the opening of the womb." | Birth pains not leading to birth due to folly. |
| Rom 8:22 | "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now." | Creation itself groans, awaiting redemption. |
| Rev 6:3-8 | Describes the opening of the seals, revealing the red (war), black (famine), and pale (death/pestilence) horses. | Escalating global judgment and suffering. |
| Rev 16:18 | "There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since mankind was on earth..." | Severe earthquake at the final judgments. |
| Matt 24:6 | "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet." | Warning against premature alarm; these are not the end. |
| Dan 11:4-45 | Prophecies extensive conflicts between "kings of the North and South." | Example of prolonged kingdom-level conflicts. |
| Isa 19:2 | "I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor..." | Prophetic example of internal nation conflict. |
| Jer 25:32 | "Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Behold, disaster is going forth from nation to nation, and a great tempest is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth!'" | Widespread global calamity foreshadowed. |
| Joel 2:10 | "The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining." | Cosmic disturbances alongside natural disasters. |
| Amos 8:8 | "Will not the land tremble on this account, and everyone mourn who dwells in it, and all of it rise like the Nile, and be tossed and sink, like the Nile of Egypt?" | Land shaking as a sign of divine judgment. |
| Jer 14:12 | "Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence." | Famine as one of God's judgments alongside war and disease. |
| Acts 11:28 | "One of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world..." | Example of an historical, widespread famine. |
| Zech 14:5 | "Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost." | The Lord's coming with accompanying seismic/earthly changes. |
| 1 Thess 5:3 | "While people are saying, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman..." | Illustrates unexpected judgment like birth pains. |
| 2 Tim 3:1-5 | Describes the characteristics of people in the "last days"—selfishness, violence, lack of self-control. | Moral decay coinciding with physical distress. |
| Isa 24:19-20 | "The earth is utterly broken, the earth is split apart, the earth is violently shaken. The earth staggers like a drunken man; it sways like a hut..." | Describes the shaking and breaking of the earth. |
| Hag 2:6-7 | "For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations..." | God's ultimate shaking of all creation. |
Mark 13 verses
Mark 13 8 Meaning
Mark 13:8 reveals that widespread conflict, natural disasters, and societal distress are signs of the escalating difficulties preceding the end of the age and Christ's return, rather than the immediate end itself. Jesus characterizes these global events—nations fighting nations, kingdoms against kingdoms, frequent earthquakes, and famines—as "the beginning of the birth pains." This crucial metaphor signifies intensifying suffering that is both necessary and purposeful, like labor pains leading to a new birth. It points to an period of growing tribulation that serves as a precursor to the coming Messianic era and the full establishment of God's Kingdom. These are not chaotic, meaningless events, but predictable signs within God's sovereign plan, indicating that a new order is imminent.
Mark 13 8 Context
Mark 13, often referred to as the "Little Apocalypse" or Olivet Discourse, records Jesus's private instruction to four key disciples (Peter, James, John, and Andrew) on the Mount of Olives. The discourse is prompted by their questions concerning the destruction of the magnificent Jerusalem Temple and the sign of Jesus's return and the end of the age (Mark 13:3-4).
Before outlining specific signs, Jesus issues a vital warning against deception and false Messiahs (Mark 13:5-6). He then emphasizes that various cataclysmic events, though severe, should not be mistaken for the immediate culmination. Mark 13:8 serves to further delineate this period of escalating turmoil from the actual end. It places wars, earthquakes, and famines within the broader timeline of tribulation, framing them not as a destructive end in themselves, but as purposeful "birth pains" leading to the birth of a new era. This provides the disciples, and by extension all believers, with a framework for understanding unfolding global events and discerning God's timing without falling into panic or misguided expectations.
Mark 13 8 Word analysis
- For (γὰρ - gar): This conjunction serves to connect the verse to the preceding statements, explaining why the disciples should not be alarmed (Mark 13:7). It introduces the reasons for the general commotion, not signaling the immediate end.
- nation (ἔθνος - ethnos): Refers to a people group, ethnicity, or Gentile nation. The repetition ("nation against nation") implies widespread, possibly ethnic or regional conflicts, indicating societal fragmentation.
- will rise against (ἐγερθήσεται ἐπὶ - egerthesetai epi): Egerthesetai is a future passive verb, emphasizing that these conflicts will certainly occur. Epi (against) denotes opposition or hostility.
- kingdom (βασιλεία - basileia): Refers to political states, empires, or governmental powers. "Kingdom against kingdom" signifies broader, organized, and often geopolitical warfare, implying global-scale unrest among nations and powers.
- earthquakes (σεισμοὶ - seismoi): Literally "shakings" or seismic events. In biblical apocalyptic literature, earthquakes often symbolize divine judgment, disruption, or the shaking of established orders. Their presence suggests physical instability and nature reflecting turmoil.
- in various places (κατὰ τόπους - kata topous): "According to places." This phrase indicates that the earthquakes will not be confined to a single location but will occur in diverse regions, suggesting increasing frequency and geographical spread.
- famines (λιμοὶ - limoi): Periods of extreme food scarcity and hunger. Famines are classic biblical signs of distress, economic breakdown, and often God's judgment, bringing widespread suffering and societal upheaval.
- These (ταῦτα - tauta): A demonstrative pronoun that collectively refers to all the preceding signs mentioned: wars, earthquakes, and famines. It bundles them together as a distinct category.
- are but (ἀρχὴ ὠδίνων - arche odinon): This is a critical interpretive phrase. Archē means "beginning." Ōdinōn (genitive plural of ōdin) means "birth pains" or "labor pangs." The English "but" emphasizes that these are only the initial stage.
Words-group analysis:
- Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: This dual phrase highlights the multifaceted nature of conflict. "Nation against nation" suggests ethnic strife, internal divisions, or smaller-scale international disputes. "Kingdom against kingdom" implies larger, state-level, global warfare involving geopolitical powers. Together, they depict escalating, widespread, and diverse forms of human conflict.
- Earthquakes in various places, and famines: These represent global natural and man-made disasters. "Earthquakes in various places" points to nature's unrest on an increasing scale, suggesting global instability. "Famines" underscore severe economic distress and scarcity, leading to immense human suffering. Both depict conditions of widespread societal breakdown and distress.
- These are but the beginning of the birth pains: This is the most significant phrase, acting as a crucial interpretative lens for all the listed signs. The metaphor of "birth pains" (ōdinōn) draws on the experience of childbirth:
- Inevitability: Labor pains are unavoidable once they begin.
- Intensity & Frequency: They increase in strength and occur closer together as birth approaches.
- Purpose: They are not random suffering but purposeful travail leading to a glorious new life or age.This signifies that the predicted global disturbances are not the instantaneous end but a divinely ordained process, a prelude to the consummation of the age and the ushering in of the Messianic Kingdom. They provide a theological framework for understanding suffering, redirecting focus from despair to the hope of a glorious outcome.
Mark 13 8 Bonus section
- Disciples' initial misunderstanding: The disciples expected an immediate, unified sign encompassing both the Temple's destruction and the end of the age. Jesus, through verses like Mark 13:8, provides a more nuanced, protracted eschatological timeline.
- Call to Endurance: While Mark 13:8 describes disturbing events, Jesus's overarching message in the discourse is one of faithful perseverance (e.g., Mark 13:13). The birth pains are designed to awaken and prepare believers, not to terrify them into paralysis.
- A "type" of the end: The Roman-Jewish War (AD 66-70) and the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD often served as a historical "type" or shadow of the greater tribulation to come before the return of Christ. The signs listed in Mark 13:8 were witnessed by that generation, providing a tangible prefiguration of what would characterize the true "end times."
- Global, not just local: The specific mention of "nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" combined with "earthquakes in various places, and famines" suggests a global rather than merely regional or localized pattern of events. This implies increasing distress on a worldwide scale as the "birth pains" intensify.
Mark 13 8 Commentary
Mark 13:8 provides vital insight into the timeline and nature of events preceding the ultimate return of Christ and the full manifestation of His kingdom. Jesus carefully delineates "the beginning of the birth pains" from "the end" itself. This counters any notion of an immediate, unheralded eschatological climax, emphasizing instead a period of escalating global turmoil characterized by intensifying wars, widespread earthquakes, and severe famines. These are not merely historical recurrences but signs that will become more frequent and impactful as the age progresses towards its fulfillment.
The core message of this verse is not to incite fear, but to equip believers with discernment and hope. The "birth pains" metaphor frames these tribulations as purposeful and productive, leading toward a glorious "birth"—the full realization of God's redemptive plan and the inauguration of the new heavens and new earth. It encourages patient endurance, active witness, and watchful readiness, understanding that increasing global distress serves as a divine signal of the approaching end, calling believers to look up with expectation.