Matthew 24 34

Matthew 24:34 kjv

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Matthew 24:34 nkjv

Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

Matthew 24:34 niv

Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

Matthew 24:34 esv

Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

Matthew 24:34 nlt

I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.

Matthew 24 verses

Matthew 24 34 Meaning

Matthew 24:34 is a pivotal verse within Jesus' Olivet Discourse, presenting a profound declaration about the timing of the preceding prophecies. In essence, Jesus asserts with absolute certainty that the generation living at the time these prophecies begin to unfold will witness their complete fulfillment. The verse signifies an urgent and imminent fulfillment of either specific judgment on Jerusalem and its Temple, or the beginning stages of events leading to the consummation of the age, all within the span of a single generation's lifetime from their commencement. It underscores the reliability and definite timing of God's prophetic word through Christ.

Matthew 24 34 Context

Matthew 24, along with its parallels in Mark 13 and Luke 21, is known as the Olivet Discourse, Jesus' extensive prophetic teaching given to His disciples on the Mount of Olives. The discourse begins with the disciples' three-part question prompted by Jesus' prophecy of the Temple's complete destruction (Mt 24:2): "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" Jesus proceeds to describe a period leading up to major calamities, including the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple (vv. 4-28), followed by signs in the cosmos and the coming of the Son of Man (vv. 29-31). Matthew 24:34 then provides a critical temporal marker, asserting the definite timeline for the fulfillment of the preceding prophecies within the lifespan of "this generation." Historically, the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple by the Romans in 70 AD serves as a major fulfillment event, prompting various interpretations of how "all these things" relate to the signs mentioned before and after verse 34. The original audience would have been primarily Jewish believers, keenly aware of the Temple's centrality and the history of prophecy, making the imminent nature of Jesus' words profoundly impactful.

Matthew 24 34 Word analysis

• Truly (Ἀμὴν - Amēn): A Hebrew transliteration meaning "so be it," "certainly," or "amen." When Jesus uses this word, especially prefixed to a statement ("Amen, I say to you"), it signifies the utmost solemnity, authority, and undeniable truthfulness of what He is about to declare. It stresses divine authentication.
• I say to you (λέγω ὑμῖν - legō hymin): A direct, personal, and authoritative declaration from Jesus to His disciples. It emphasizes that this is His own clear and undeniable teaching, requiring attentive listening and acceptance.
• this (αὕτη - hautē): A demonstrative pronoun, referring to something specific and immediate. In this context, it points directly to "generation" standing near.
• generation (γενεά - genea): This is one of the most debated words in the verse. It can refer to:
  • A specific period of time: Roughly 30-40 years, representing the lifespan of those living at a particular moment (the most common and straightforward meaning of genea in ancient Greek). This interpretation connects "this generation" to Jesus' contemporaries.
  • A race or people group: The Jewish people as a whole. In this view, it means "the Jewish race will not pass away until all these things are fulfilled," implying national preservation until the end of time.
  • A particular type of people: Often used by Jesus for "this evil, unbelieving, or wicked generation" (e.g., Mt 12:39; 16:4; Acts 2:40). This interpretation would imply the nature of humanity as a whole, or unbelieving Jews, remaining until all prophesied events are completed.
  • The generation that sees the beginning of the signs: Those who observe the "signs of the times" mentioned in the Olivet Discourse. This implies a future generation distinct from Jesus' immediate hearers.
  • The interpretation impacts how "all these things" is understood.
• will not pass away (οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ - ou mē parelthē): This uses a strong double negative (οὐ μή), an emphatic Greek construction meaning "certainly not," "by no means," or "never." It conveys an absolute impossibility of the event described happening. The certainty is beyond doubt; this generation will definitely not cease to exist or perish before the stated events.
• until (ἕως ἄν - heōs an): A temporal conjunction marking a boundary or point in time before which the preceding action is assured. It means the generation will continue up to the point when "all these things" are completed.
• all these things (πάντα ταῦτα - panta tauta): Refers to the events Jesus has been describing immediately preceding this verse. This phrase is another major point of interpretive debate.
  • Limited scope: Some argue it refers only to the signs and events leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (vv. 4-28), particularly given the parallels with Luke 21:32 where Luke lists similar events without cosmic signs often linked to the Second Coming.
  • Comprehensive scope: Others believe it refers to all the events mentioned in Matthew 24, from the false Messiahs and wars (v. 4) up to the gathering of the elect at the Son of Man's coming (v. 31), which would imply that all these events must occur within a single lifespan.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Truly I say to you: Emphasizes the unyielding truth and authoritative nature of Jesus' declaration. It serves as a seal on the prophecy's certainty.
• This generation: This critical phrase anchors the prophecy to a specific timeframe. The natural and primary understanding in context (Jesus speaking to those around him) points to his contemporary audience. Its specific interpretation greatly shapes the eschatological viewpoint (e.g., Preterism, Futurism).
• will not pass away until: This structure guarantees that the generation in question will persist or exist up to the point of completion for "all these things." It speaks to the immediate and certain fulfillment of prophecy within a determined lifespan.
• all these things: The referent of this phrase is the key to understanding the scope of the fulfilled prophecy. The most coherent interpretation for its fulfillment within "this generation" points to the comprehensive judgment on Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70, encompassing the tribulation (Great Tribulation for Jerusalem, but not global as the one at the very end), signs, and suffering that led to it. However, if it encompasses the Second Coming as described in Mt 24:30-31, then "this generation" takes on one of its other meanings (race, or future generation seeing the signs). The consistent usage of "these things" throughout Mt 24 points mostly to the events tied to the desolation of Jerusalem.

Matthew 24 34 Bonus section

The debate around Matthew 24:34 often revolves around whether Jesus' Second Coming (Mt 24:29-31) is included in "all these things." If "all these things" extends to the global return of Christ, then "this generation" cannot refer to the contemporaries of Jesus in the first century. This tension leads to diverse eschatological viewpoints. Partial Preterism, for example, argues that "all these things" indeed refer to the events leading to AD 70, thus allowing the prophecy of v. 34 to be completely fulfilled then, while acknowledging a future, global Second Coming discussed later in Mt 25. The strong, doubled negative "will not pass away" underscores the divine guarantee that nothing will delay or thwart the unfolding of these prophetic events once they commence, highlighting God's absolute sovereignty over time and history. The disciples' questions combined Jerusalem's fall with the end of the age. Jesus addresses both, distinguishing stages but affirming the immediacy of the former.

Matthew 24 34 Commentary

Matthew 24:34 is a linchpin verse for understanding the timeline of the Olivet Discourse. Its brevity belies its interpretive complexity. The most straightforward understanding, and that favored by many scholars who analyze the historical context and consistent usage of genea (generation) by Jesus elsewhere (e.g., Mt 11:16, 12:41-45, 23:36), indicates that "this generation" refers to the generation of people contemporary with Jesus and His disciples. "All these things" then logically refers to the events immediately preceding this verse within the Olivet Discourse, particularly the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem (Mt 24:1-28) and the severe tribulation upon the Jewish nation leading up to it, which culminated in AD 70. This interpretation suggests that the main prophecies concerning Jerusalem's downfall and the associated "coming of the Son of Man" (a coming in judgment against the city, not necessarily the bodily Second Coming) were fulfilled within the first century.

This verse offers immense comfort in its declaration of divine certainty. God’s Word is always reliable; His promises and warnings will certainly come to pass within His appointed time. It is a powerful affirmation that Jesus is Lord over history and orchestrates events according to His purposes.