Matthew 24:41 kjv
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Matthew 24:41 nkjv
Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
Matthew 24:41 niv
Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
Matthew 24:41 esv
Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
Matthew 24:41 nlt
Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
Matthew 24 41 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 24:36 | "But concerning that day and hour no one knows..." | Unknown time of return |
| Matt 24:37-39 | "...as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming... the flood came and took them all away..." | Suddenness, taking implies judgment like the flood |
| Matt 24:40 | "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left." | Parallel example, identical principle |
| Luke 17:26-30 | "...as it was in the days of Noah... as it was in the days of Lot..." | Parallel account, suddenness and judgment |
| Luke 17:34-35 | "On that night two in one bed... two grinding together..." | Parallel passage, same illustrations |
| Luke 17:37 | "Where, Lord? He said to them, 'Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.'" | Interpretation of "taken" pointing to judgment |
| Gen 7:23 | "...and every living thing... was blotted out from the earth. Only Noah and those with him were left." | Flood narrative, taking/leaving implies judgment/preservation |
| Gen 19:24-26 | "Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur... Lot’s wife looked back... became a pillar of salt." | Lot's deliverance and judgment on others |
| Mal 3:18 | "Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked..." | God's ultimate discernment |
| Eccl 9:11-12 | "time and chance happen to them all... men are snared at an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them." | Suddenness of fate |
| 1 Thess 4:15-17 | "...we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together..." | Different context often linked to "taken," but Matthew's context leans to judgment for taken ones |
| 2 Thess 1:7-10 | "...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire..." | The day of judgment and retribution |
| John 5:28-29 | "all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment." | Distinction in resurrection |
| Acts 17:31 | "...because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed..." | Appointed day of judgment |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | "...do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness..." | Revelation and judgment at Lord's coming |
| Heb 9:27 | "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment..." | Individual appointment with judgment |
| Rev 20:12-15 | "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened... and they were judged..." | Final universal judgment |
| Prov 10:29 | "The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to the evildoers." | Outcome for righteous and wicked |
| Dan 12:1-2 | "...at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt." | Deliverance and judgment distinction |
| Isa 66:15-16 | "For behold, the Lord will come with fire... For by fire will the Lord enter into judgment..." | The Lord's coming with judgment |
| Zech 14:1-5 | "For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle... Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him." | Prophetic scene of God's direct intervention and separation |
Matthew 24 verses
Matthew 24 41 Meaning
Matthew 24:41 portrays the sudden and discerning nature of Christ's return. Two women, engaged in the same ordinary task of grinding grain, illustrate a universal principle: when the Son of Man appears, individuals will be distinctly separated. One will be "taken," signifying removal in judgment or destruction, while the other will be "left," implying preservation or survival into the new era. The passage underscores that outward proximity or common activity does not guarantee a shared destiny in that day.
Matthew 24 41 Context
Matthew chapter 24 is part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, delivered on the Mount of Olives just days before His crucifixion. The disciples had asked Him about the destruction of the temple, the sign of His coming, and the end of the age (Matt 24:3). Jesus' answer provides a sweeping prophecy encompassing Jerusalem's destruction (fulfilled in 70 AD) and a larger, yet-to-be-fulfilled end-time judgment at His glorious return. The immediate context of verse 41 follows Jesus' warning about the unexpected, sudden return of the Son of Man, likened to the days of Noah (Matt 24:37-39) where people were consumed by the flood. The illustrations of "two in the field" (v. 40) and "two grinding at the mill" (v. 41) emphasize the individualized and surprising nature of this final separation. The broader passage serves as an urgent call for watchfulness and readiness (Matt 24:42-44).
Matthew 24 41 Word analysis
- Two women (δύο γυναῖκες, dyo gynaikes): Signifies the commonplace nature of those involved, even ordinary people going about their daily lives. It highlights the universality of the event – it will affect all segments of society, regardless of status or activity.
- will be grinding (ἀλήθουσαι, alēthousai): From alēthō, meaning "to grind grain." This was a traditional, arduous, and essential household chore typically performed by women, often early in the morning to prepare fresh meal for the day. It depicts an ongoing, mundane activity. The imperfect tense in Greek emphasizes this continuous action, stressing that life will proceed as normal up to the moment of separation.
- at the mill (ἐν τῷ μύλωνι, en tō mylōni): Refers to a hand mill, typically consisting of two large, flat stones, a lower stationary one, and an upper stone rotated by a handle. Women would pour grain into a hole in the upper stone and turn it, catching the flour as it emerged. It signifies a very specific, manual, and demanding daily task common in that ancient agricultural society.
- one (μία, mia): The first in the pair.
- will be taken (παραλαμβάνεται, paralambanetai): From paralambanō, meaning "to receive alongside," "take to oneself," or "take away." In the context of Matthew 24, especially given the preceding comparison to Noah's flood where those "taken" were consumed by judgment (Matt 24:39), this implies removal into judgment or destruction. The passive voice suggests divine agency in this taking. This contrasts with common modern interpretations of "rapture" which often associate being "taken" with being lifted to safety; here, it refers to those taken by the consequences of their unreadiness.
- and the other (καὶ ἡ ἑτέρα, kai hē hetera): Refers to the remaining person of the pair.
- left (ἀφίεται, aphietai): From aphiēmi, meaning "to send away," "let go," "forgive," or "permit to remain." In this context, it signifies being allowed to remain behind, preserved or surviving. This individual is the one who, by contrast, enters into the blessings of the coming kingdom, being deemed righteous or prepared. The passive voice again indicates divine determination.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "Two women will be grinding at the mill": This phrase paints a vivid picture of mundane daily life. It emphasizes that the return of the Son of Man will interrupt normal routines without prior warning, necessitating constant spiritual vigilance. It is not an event that singles out specific types of activity, but rather people within common activities.
- "one will be taken and the other left": This core distinction highlights the absolute and decisive nature of the judgment. It is individual and discriminates based on the state of readiness or righteousness before God, irrespective of shared human endeavors or proximity. The separation is instant and final.
Matthew 24 41 Bonus section
The image of women grinding at the mill was particularly poignant in the ancient world, as grain was a staple food and milling was essential. To be "taken" or "left" during such a vital task underscored the radical disruption and the immediate existential consequences of the event. This passage is a strong counter-narrative to any assumption of collective security; shared activities will not prevent individual judgment. It serves as a stark reminder of personal responsibility before God for one's spiritual state and preparedness for the unexpected end. The emphasis is less on what one is doing, and more on how one is living and where one's heart stands with God.
Matthew 24 41 Commentary
Matthew 24:41, mirroring verse 40, emphasizes the absolute nature of the judgment at Christ's return: it will be a decisive separation. People engaged in common, everyday activities will be abruptly and permanently divided. The primary message is one of individualized accountability and the urgent need for preparedness. The "taking" here, viewed contextually with the flood narrative (Matt 24:39), consistently denotes being removed for judgment, while "left" signifies preservation. It is a severe warning against spiritual complacency, urging followers to live in a state of constant readiness, as the moment of separation will be unexpected and discriminate based not on social proximity but on inner spiritual condition.