Matthew 24 38

Matthew 24:38 kjv

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

Matthew 24:38 nkjv

For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

Matthew 24:38 niv

For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;

Matthew 24:38 esv

For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,

Matthew 24:38 nlt

In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.

Matthew 24 38 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Gen 6:5The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great...God's assessment before the Flood.
Gen 7:7Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood.Noah's entry marks the turning point.
Heb 11:7By faith Noah, being warned by God... constructed an ark...Noah's obedience in preparing for judgment.
2 Pet 2:5He did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others...Noah as an example of righteous warning.
Luke 17:26Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.Direct parallel by Jesus.
Luke 17:27They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying... until the day when Noah entered the ark...Luke's parallel wording.
Luke 17:28Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating, they were drinking, buying, selling, planting, building...Expands on the idea of ordinary life.
Matt 24:37For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.Direct preceding context, key comparison.
Matt 24:39And they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away...Emphasizes the element of surprise/unawareness.
Matt 24:42Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.Call to vigilance as a result.
Matt 24:44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.Emphasis on readiness and suddenness.
Matt 25:13Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.Parable of Ten Virgins reinforces watchfulness.
1 Thess 5:2For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.The unexpected timing of divine judgment.
1 Thess 5:3When people say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them...False sense of security precedes judgment.
1 Thess 5:6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.Contrast to the unsuspecting world.
2 Pet 3:3Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing...Predictive warning against dismissiveness.
2 Pet 3:4They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming?" For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.Scrutiny of those doubting Christ's return.
2 Pet 3:5For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago... and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.Links creation and flood as divine acts.
Luke 21:34But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life...Warning against being weighed down by worldly concerns.
Rom 13:11Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep.A call to spiritual awakening.
Rev 3:3Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief...Reminder of warning for vigilance.

Matthew 24 verses

Matthew 24 38 Meaning

Matthew 24:38 portrays the characteristic state of humanity before the global flood in Noah's time as a direct parallel to the days leading up to the unexpected return of the Son of Man. The verse highlights that people were completely engrossed in routine, seemingly normal activities—eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage—unaware of, or unconcerned with, the imminent divine judgment until the very moment Noah entered the ark and the judgment began. It underscores a pervasive human complacency and a lack of preparedness for a sudden, world-altering event.

Matthew 24 38 Context

Matthew chapter 24 is part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, delivered to His disciples on the Mount of Olives. The discourse responds to their questions about the destruction of the Temple and the signs of His coming (parousia) and the end of the age. Verses 36-41 specifically shift the focus from identifying clear, predictable signs of the exact timing to emphasizing the sudden, unexpected nature of the Son of Man's return, likened to the Flood in Noah's time.

Historically and culturally, the Jewish audience was deeply familiar with the account of Noah's flood as recorded in Genesis. This served as a well-known archetype of widespread human sin, God's patience, divine warning, and ultimate judgment. Jesus' use of this illustration resonated profoundly, immediately conjuring images of humanity's obliviousness to impending doom amidst normal daily life. The context underscores that while certain signs will precede the end, the ultimate moment of return will still be a surprise to the unprepared world, contrasting sharply with popular apocalyptic expectations that might seek precise calculations or a long period of universal panic.

Matthew 24 38 Word analysis

  • For as in those days (ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις - hōsper gar en tais hēmerais): "Hōsper" indicates a strong comparative statement, establishing a direct parallel. The phrase roots the coming event in a historical precedent from their own scriptures.
  • before the flood (προ τοῦ κατακλυσμοῦ - pro tou kataklysmou): The term "kataklysmos" specifically refers to the deluge, a cataclysmic, divine judgment, reinforcing the severity of the coming event being described.
  • they were eating (ἤσθιον - ēsthion): The imperfect tense in Greek signifies continuous or repeated action. It means they were habitually and regularly eating. This isn't about specific gluttony but rather the normal rhythm of life.
  • and drinking (καὶ ἔπινον - kai epinon): Again, imperfect tense, indicating ongoing, ordinary activity. Coupled with "eating," it denotes basic sustenance and social engagement.
  • marrying (γαμοῦντες - gamountes): A participle (masculine plural present active), describing those who were getting married (referring to the men's part). This represents the perpetuation of human society and the planning of future generations. It’s an act of continuity and normalcy.
  • and giving in marriage (καὶ γαμίζοντες - kai gamizontes): A participle (masculine plural present active), typically referring to those who give others in marriage (e.g., parents presenting daughters or facilitating the unions). Together with "marrying," this phrase emphasizes the complete, typical fabric of society functioning normally, completely engrossed in daily life, assuming an uninterrupted future.
  • until (ἄχρι - achri): This preposition marks the abrupt temporal limit, indicating a decisive breaking point where normalcy abruptly ceased.
  • the day when (ἡμέρας ἧς - hēmeras hēs): Highlights a specific, fateful day, the ultimate threshold beyond which life irrevocably changed.
  • Noah (Νῶε - Nōe): The biblical patriarch, a figure of obedience and righteousness, but also a stark reminder of impending divine judgment. His actions and the building of the ark served as a long-standing warning.
  • entered the ark (εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν κιβωτόν - eisēlthen eis tēn kibōton): "Eiselthes" (entered) marks the critical moment of Noah's salvation and the closing of the door, signifying the end of patience and the beginning of judgment for the rest of humanity. The "kibōtos" (ark) itself is an ancient symbol of divine preservation amidst judgment.

Words-group by words-group analysis

  • "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage": These four activities represent the quintessential elements of human, temporal life—sustenance, festivity, procreation, and societal continuity. They are not inherently sinful activities; rather, their significance here lies in their pervasive, exclusive occupation of people's attention, signifying a deep absorption in worldly affairs that blinds them to spiritual realities and the warnings of God's coming judgment. This normal activity, in its all-encompassing nature, becomes the very backdrop to the world's ignorance.
  • "until the day when Noah entered the ark": This phrase marks a precise, dramatic pivot point. It highlights the unexpected suddenness of judgment following an extended period of unconcerned normalcy. The activities ceased abruptly at a specific, irreversible moment—the moment of separation, with salvation (for Noah) and judgment (for the world) commencing simultaneously. It conveys a clear message of limited grace and a final, definite moment of no return.

Matthew 24 38 Bonus section

The Greek verb forms used for "eating," "drinking," "marrying," and "giving in marriage" are imperfect participles (ἤσθιον, ἔπινον, γαμοῦντες, γαμίζοντες). This grammatical nuance conveys a sense of ongoing, habitual action, emphasizing that these were not isolated events but the regular, everyday activities that characterized their lives without interruption. This reinforces the idea of pervasive normalcy and the absence of any external alarm or internal concern leading up to the disaster. The very ordinariness of these activities contributes to the element of surprise for the unprepared.

Matthew 24 38 Commentary

Matthew 24:38 serves as a potent analogy for the circumstances surrounding the return of Christ. The verse clarifies that the period preceding the Second Coming will not be marked by widespread global panic or obvious, universally recognized omens that signal its exact timing. Instead, it will largely resemble the days before the Flood: a time when ordinary life—with its rhythms of eating, drinking, marrying, and carrying on daily routines—will proceed seemingly uninterrupted. The critical point is not that these activities are inherently wrong, but that people were completely consumed by them, becoming oblivious or indifferent to divine warnings and the imminence of judgment. The problem was not the activity itself, but the lack of awareness and preparedness that stemmed from it. The world will be going about its daily business, much like a person occupied with mundane tasks, oblivious to the momentous change about to occur. Noah's entry into the ark represents the definitive, irreversible moment when God's patient grace gives way to swift judgment. For believers, this verse is a stark call to remain vigilant and ready, resisting the temptation to become complacent and engrossed solely in worldly pursuits, lest the Day of the Lord come upon them as a sudden, overwhelming surprise.