Matthew 24 37

Matthew 24:37 kjv

But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Matthew 24:37 nkjv

But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Matthew 24:37 niv

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24:37 esv

For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24:37 nlt

"When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day.

Matthew 24 37 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Gen 6:5The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth...Depicts the pervasive evil before the Flood.
Gen 6:11-12The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.Details the depth of corruption before Flood.
Gen 7:7And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.Noah and family entered before judgment.
Gen 7:21-23All flesh died that moved upon the earth... and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.Finality and comprehensiveness of the Flood.
Matt 24:36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.Emphasizes unknown timing of Christ's return.
Matt 24:38-39For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came...Elaborates on everyday life prior to the Flood.
Matt 24:42-44Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Therefore be ye also ready...Exhortation to readiness and watchfulness.
Matt 25:13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.Repeated command for constant vigilance.
Luke 17:26-27And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came...Luke's parallel account, same lesson.
Luke 17:28-30Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot... so shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.Adds Sodom/Lot parallel for sudden judgment.
1 Thes 5:2-3For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh...Compares return to a thief, sudden destruction.
2 Pet 2:5And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.Noah as a preacher; flood for the ungodly.
2 Pet 3:3-7Scoffers will come in the last days... saying, "Where is the promise of his coming?"... by which the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished...Addresses skepticism and points to Flood as precedent for future judgment by fire.
Heb 11:7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house...Highlights Noah's faith and obedience to divine warning.
Rev 1:7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him...Universal visibility of Christ's return.
Rev 16:15Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.Blessing on those who remain watchful and prepared.
Jude 1:14-15Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all...Mentions ancient prophecy of judgment.
Zep 1:14-15The great day of the Lord is near... a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress...Prophecy of the severity of the Day of the Lord.
Mal 3:1-2...the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple... but who may abide the day of his coming?His sudden arrival and refining judgment.
Dan 7:13-14I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven...Prophetic vision of the Son of Man's coming.

Matthew 24 verses

Matthew 24 37 Meaning

Matthew 24:37 reveals a crucial parallel between the moral and spiritual state of the world preceding Noah's Great Flood and the conditions that will prevail just before the Second Coming of the Son of Man. This comparison emphasizes the unexpectedness, common human activities, widespread unreadiness, and the sudden, definitive nature of divine judgment that will characterize both periods. It serves as a stark warning about complacency in the face of prophetic fulfillment.

Matthew 24 37 Context

This verse is part of Jesus's extensive teaching on the Mount of Olives, known as the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24-25), delivered in response to His disciples' questions about the destruction of the temple, the sign of His coming, and the end of the age. After describing specific signs that will precede His return (wars, famines, persecution, tribulation, cosmic disturbances, vv. 4-31) and affirming the certainty of His coming (vv. 32-35), Jesus transitions to address the timing and nature of His Second Advent. He emphasizes that the exact day and hour are unknown to humanity (v. 36) and then illustrates the character of that unknown time by drawing a vivid parallel to the days of Noah, focusing not on overt cosmic signs but on the state of humanity living in a condition of unawareness and business as usual. This serves as a warning against being caught unprepared due to immersion in mundane affairs, ignoring spiritual realities, or scoffing at prophetic warnings.

Matthew 24 37 Word analysis

  • But as: This phrase marks a direct contrast and a pivotal analogy. It signals a shift from discussing the signs and certainty of Christ's coming to describing the circumstances and attitude of humanity at that time, linking them explicitly to a well-known biblical event.
  • the days of Noah: Greek: hēmerais tou Noe. This refers to the period just before the Great Flood described in Gen 6–7. Key characteristics include widespread human wickedness, violence, corruption (Gen 6:5, 11-12), and ordinary life activities (eating, drinking, marrying), but importantly, a general lack of spiritual readiness and awareness of impending divine judgment. The emphasis is on how human society functioned while being oblivious to imminent disaster, despite Noah's long-term warning and obedience.
  • were: Simple past tense, indicating a completed state or condition. It sets up the precedent that will be mirrored.
  • so shall also: A definitive statement of parallel and certainty. What happened then will unequivocally happen again. This isn't merely a possibility but a divine assurance of the repeating pattern of human behavior and divine intervention.
  • the coming: Greek: parousia (παρουσία). This is a crucial theological term in the New Testament, used specifically for the Second Coming of Christ. It implies not just an event or arrival, but the physical, personal "presence" or "appearance" of the Lord Jesus Christ in power and glory. In the Greco-Roman world, parousia was also used for the visit of a dignitary or king, signifying their powerful and authoritative presence. Here, it conveys Christ's ultimate kingly manifestation for judgment and kingdom establishment.
  • of the Son of man: Jesus' preferred self-designation. This title (Aramaic: bar nasha, Greek: huios tou anthrōpou) references the figure in Dan 7:13-14, who comes with the clouds of heaven to receive universal and eternal dominion. It emphasizes both His true humanity (connects Him with mankind) and His divine authority, cosmic judgment, and kingly rule (connects Him to God and ultimate authority). This designation underlines that the one who was humbled will come in glory to judge the earth.

Matthew 24 37 Bonus section

The parallel Jesus draws is primarily about the unpreparedness and suddenness of judgment for the majority. It implies that ordinary life activities will continue, which in themselves are not evil, but people will be consumed by them to the exclusion of spiritual watchfulness. This normalcy fosters a false sense of security, contrasting sharply with Noah’s obedience born of fear and faith (Heb 11:7). It also underscores the long-suffering of God (Noah’s hundred-year ark building was a silent warning) before the decisive arrival of His judgment, offering ample time for repentance that many ignore. The world's "business as usual" serves as a profound test of faith for those who truly discern the "signs of the times" and await the parousia of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24 37 Commentary

Matthew 24:37 provides a profound illustration of the state of the world leading up to the Lord's return. The parallel with "the days of Noah" is not merely about great wickedness, though that was certainly present (Gen 6:5, 11). More pointedly, it highlights the continued, seemingly normal, worldly routines (eating, drinking, marrying, as stated in the following verse, Matt 24:38) that engross humanity, rendering them utterly oblivious and unprepared for the sudden, definitive intrusion of divine judgment. Just as Noah’s contemporaries ignored warnings until the flood came and "knew not," so too will many in the end times be spiritually unperceptive, caught unaware despite evident signs and biblical prophecy. The ordinary nature of the days, rather than an extraordinary surge of visible evil, serves as the ultimate deceptive calm. This verse acts as a urgent call for believers to remain watchful, spiritually alert, and living in faithful obedience, rather than being lulled into complacency by the world's routine and disregard for eternal realities.