Matthew 24 29

Matthew 24:29 kjv

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Matthew 24:29 nkjv

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Matthew 24:29 niv

"Immediately after the distress of those days "?'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'

Matthew 24:29 esv

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Matthew 24:29 nlt

"Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Matthew 24 verses

Matthew 24 29 Meaning

Matthew 24:29 describes profound cosmic disturbances that will occur "immediately after the tribulation of those days." These phenomena—the darkening of the sun, the moon losing its light, stars falling, and the shaking of the powers of the heavens—are presented as clear, dramatic signs announcing the imminent glorious return of Jesus Christ. They signify a collapse of the established order, a universal upheaval, and the breaking in of divine judgment and ultimate restoration. This imagery draws heavily on Old Testament prophetic language, symbolizing not only astronomical changes but often the downfall of earthly powers or the ushering in of God's direct intervention. It is a visible prelude to the revelation of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24 29 Context

Matthew 24 is part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, delivered to His disciples on the Mount of Olives. The chapter begins with the disciples asking three specific questions: "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Mt 24:3). Jesus first describes preliminary signs, often called "birth pains," which include wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecution of believers (vv. 4-14). He then speaks of a specific, grave sign—the "abomination of desolation"—and a subsequent period of unprecedented "great tribulation" (vv. 15-28), characterized by severe persecution and the need for immediate escape. Verse 29 immediately follows this description of the "great tribulation," placing the cosmic disturbances directly after this intense period of suffering. The signs are presented as direct precursors to the visible, glorious return of the Son of Man (vv. 30-31), His coming marking the true end of the age and the gathering of His elect.

Historically and culturally, the Jewish audience was deeply familiar with Old Testament prophetic imagery. Prophets frequently used the darkening of the sun, moon, and falling stars as poetic or symbolic language for divine judgment, the overthrow of nations, or major historical upheavals, often associated with the "Day of the Lord." These were not necessarily interpreted as literal astronomical phenomena but as powerful indicators of a world-altering event directed by God. Jesus here employs this traditional apocalyptic idiom to describe the climax of history, aligning His return with a well-understood sign language of impending divine intervention and cosmic transformation.

Matthew 24 29 Word analysis

• Immediately (εὐθέως, eutheōs): This adverb signifies direct succession, without delay. It emphasizes that these cosmic signs follow swiftly upon the "tribulation of those days," pointing to a post-tribulational timing for Christ's return, rather than a significant gap.
• After (μετὰ, meta): A preposition indicating sequence. It explicitly connects the cosmic disturbances as occurring subsequent to the specified tribulation.
• the tribulation (τὴν θλῖψιν, tēn thlipsin): Refers to the "great tribulation" previously described in Matthew 24:21. The term thlipsis (θλῖψις) literally means "pressure" or "crushing," indicating severe distress, anguish, and persecution.
• of those days: Refers to the specific period characterized by the great tribulation.
• shall the sun be darkened (ὁ ἥλιος σκοτισθήσεται, ho hēlios skotisthēsetai): "To darken, to become dim." This is common prophetic imagery for judgment, loss of divine favor, or the overthrow of political/cosmic order. It speaks to a profound, unsettling change.
• and the moon shall not give her light (καὶ ἡ σελήνη οὐ δώσει τὸ φέγγος αὐτῆς, kai hē selēnē ou dōsei to phengos autēs): Parallels the sun's darkening, reinforcing the idea of a universal loss of light, symbolizing God's judgment sweeping across the created order. Phengos (φέγγος) specifically means "light" or "radiance."
• and the stars shall fall from heaven (καὶ οἱ ἀστέρες πεσοῦνται ἀπὸ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, kai hoi asteres pesountai apo tou ouranou): Implies a cataclysmic, visually striking event. In ancient thought, "stars" could sometimes represent powerful rulers, angelic beings, or simply be part of the grand cosmic display. Pesountai (πεσοῦνται) means "they will fall."
• and the powers (αἱ δυνάμεις, hai dynameis): Dynameis (δυνάμεις) refers to "powers," "forces," or "capacities." Here, in the context of the heavens, it can denote the celestial bodies themselves, the forces governing the cosmos, or potentially spiritual authorities and angelic beings that hold sway in the heavenly realms.
• of the heavens (τῶν οὐρανῶν, tōn ouranōn): Refers to the celestial sphere, the sky.
• shall be shaken (σαλευθήσονται, saleuthēsontai): Saleuō (σαλεύω) means "to shake, agitate, put in commotion, disturb." It conveys a sense of instability, disruption, and violent upheaval, signaling a dismantling or severe disturbance of the cosmic order.

• "Immediately after the tribulation of those days": This phrase is critically important for understanding the timing of Christ's second coming within eschatological frameworks. It strongly supports the post-tribulational view, indicating that the signs and His return will occur after the period of great affliction experienced by God's people.
• "the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven": This triad of cosmic signs is a classic apocalyptic motif, pervasive in Old Testament prophetic literature (e.g., Isa 13:10, Joel 2:10). It signifies the complete overturning of the cosmic order, signaling an end to the present age and the breaking in of a new divine order, specifically tied to the "Day of the Lord" and God's judgment/coming.
• "and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken": This goes beyond the physical celestial bodies, suggesting a shaking of the very fabric and spiritual order of the cosmos. It implies the destabilization of any forces or authorities, visible or invisible, that stand in opposition to God, clearing the way for the ultimate reign of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24 29 Bonus section

The apocalyptic language used in Matthew 24:29 is crucial. It’s drawn from the Old Testament prophets and primarily functions as symbolic imagery for massive upheaval and divine intervention, not necessarily a literal, scientific description of celestial mechanics. These signs mark the culmination of a historical period, the close of a dispensation, and the breaking in of God's new order. While literalists might expect exact astronomical events, many interpret the language to convey a profound, universally recognized breakdown of normalcy, signaling that the "Day of the Lord" has arrived. The phrase "the powers of the heavens shall be shaken" has various interpretations, including the literal dissolution of the celestial mechanics, the disempowerment of spiritual forces of evil in the "heavenly places," or a general shaking of all creation. This verse, with its timing of "immediately after the tribulation," forms a key plank in what is commonly known as the post-tribulational understanding of the rapture and Christ's return, indicating one single event of Christ's appearing subsequent to the great tribulation, where believers enduring through it are caught up to meet Him.

Matthew 24 29 Commentary

Matthew 24:29 is a pivotal verse in the Olivet Discourse, presenting distinct and powerful cosmic signs as the immediate precursor to Jesus' visible return. These signs are not merely natural phenomena but are supernaturally induced cataclysms, drawing deeply on ancient prophetic tradition to signify a momentous divine intervention. The darkening of the sun and moon, along with falling stars, speaks to a dramatic collapse of the visible cosmos, signifying the judgment of the old order and the dawning of a new era. The shaking of the "powers of the heavens" implies an even deeper disruption, touching the very foundations and spiritual forces of the created universe, perhaps encompassing even spiritual authorities (principalities and powers).

The critical phrase "immediately after the tribulation of those days" directly links these events to the unprecedented period of suffering Jesus described earlier in the chapter. This precise chronological indicator serves to reassure believers that while tribulation is coming, their ultimate deliverance in Christ's return is imminent after that trial, serving as a sign of impending victory and glory. The severity and global scale of these cosmic disturbances will serve as a terrifying, undeniable spectacle for the ungodly and a confirmation of hope for the faithful, ushering in the glorious appearance of the Son of Man and the establishment of His kingdom.Examples for practical usage:

• Encourages steadfast endurance through trials, knowing cosmic signs signify Christ's near return.
• Calls for urgency in sharing the Gospel, as the signs indicate the end is drawing near.
• Provides comfort that earthly systems, even the cosmos, are temporary and under God's control.