Luke 21:22
in Luke 21For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
KJV
For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
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This verse in Luke 21
Commentary
12 notes on this verseFor the Jews thought that the abomination of desolation took place when the Romans, in mockery of a Jewish observance, cast a pig's head into the temple. Now mystically, the abomination of desolation is the coming of Antichrist, for with ill-omened sacrilege he pollutes the innermost recesses of the heart, sitting as it is literally in the temple, that he may claim to himself the throne of divine power.
This site's exposition
Jerusalem compassed with armies
on Luke 21:20-22
When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh, and the standing rule requires this read honestly at full historical weight: Eusebius records that Jerusalem's Christians, remembering this word, fled to Pella when the Roman armies under Cestius Gallus withdrew in AD 66 after an initial siege, a strange and unrepeated retreat that gave the church its window to escape before Titus returned to finish the destruction in AD 70. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled, language many historic commentators, Henry and Clarke among them, read as Jerusalem's own judgment for rejecting her Messiah, fulfilled concretely within that generation. Other readers, ancient and modern, hold a fuller or final sense still future, and both readings are named here without a verdict imposed on the text.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(ad Hesych. Ep. 199.) But where Matthew and Mark have written, Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes, Luke adds more clearly, And let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto, for these be the days of vengeance, that all the things which are written may be fulfilled.
Anyone can see that he refers to that city when Christ says, "When you shall see Jerusalem surrounded by an army, then know that its desolation is near." Anyone can see that these words refer to the last coming of the Lord when he says, "When you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near." When he says, "Alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be." This passage is phrased in this way in Matthew and Mark so that it is uncertain whether it is to be understood of the destruction of the city or of the end of the world.… Luke has so arranged it that it seems to refer to the destruction of that city.
The Medieval Church3 voices
For these will be days of vengeance, so that what is written may be fulfilled, especially in the book of the prophet Daniel (Dan. 9:26-27).
And these are the days of vengeance, that is, the days exacting vengeance for our Lord's blood.
Third, regarding the judgment of divine vengeance, he adds: Because these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Now the Lord decreed to destroy Jerusalem in vengeance for the blood of Jesus Christ and of his Prophets; hence …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For these be the days of vengeance,.... Of God's vengeance on the Jewish nation, for their rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah; that all things which are written may be fulfilled; as in Moses and the prophets; see Deu 28:20.
): Those are the days of vengeance so often spoken of by the Old-Testament prophets, which would complete the ruin of that provoking people. All their predictions must now be fulfilled, and the blood of all the Old-Testament martyrs must now be required. All things that are written must be fulfilled at length.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
The subject of the verses before us, is the capturing of the city of Jerusalem by the Romans. It was fit and right that this great event, which wound up the Old Testament dispensation — should be especially described by our Lord's mouth. It was fitting that the last days of that holy city, which had been the seat of God's presence for so many centuries — should receive a special notice in the greatest prophecy which was ever delivered to the Church. We should mark in this passage — our Lord Jesus Christ's perfect knowledge.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The subject of the verses before us, is the capturing of the city of Jerusalem by the Romans. It was fit and right that this great event, which wound up the Old Testament dispensation — should be especially described by our Lord's mouth. It was fitting that the last days of that holy city, which had been the seat of God's presence for so many centuries — should receive a special notice in the greatest prophecy which was ever delivered to the Church. We should mark in this passage — our Lord Jesus Christ's perfect knowledge. He gives us a fearful picture of the miseries which were coming on Jerusalem. Forty years before the armies of Titus encompassed the city — the dreadful circumstances which would attend the siege are minutely described. The distress of weak and helpless women — the slaughter of myriads of Jews — the final scattering of Israel in captivity among all nations — the treading down of the holy city by the Gentiles — are things which our Lord narrates with as much particularity as if He saw them with His own eyes! Foreknowledge like this is a special attribute of God. Of ourselves we "know not what a day may bring forth." (Proverbs 27:1.) To say what will happen to any city or kingdom in forty years from the present time — is far beyond the power of man. The words in Isaiah are very solemn, "I am God — and there is no other. I am God — "and there is none like Me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times — what is still to come. My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." (Isaiah 46:9, 10.) He who could speak with authority of things to come, as our Lord did in this place — must have been true God as well as true man. The Christian should continually keep this perfect knowledge of Christ in mind.
These be the days of vengeance - See on Mat 24:21 (note).
The words behind it
10 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὅτι | hoti | for | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἡμέραι | hemerai | [the] days | G2250 → | 389 times |
| ἐκδικήσεως | ekdikeseos | of avenging | G1557 → | 9 times |
| αὗταί | hautai | these | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| εἰσιν | eisin | are | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλησθῆναι | plesthenai | to fill | G4130 → | 24 times |
| πάντα | panta | all things | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τὰ | ta | which | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γεγραμμένα.¶ | gegrammena | written. | G1125 → | 189 times |
ὅτιfor
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἡμέραι[the] days
hemeraiG2250 →389 times
ἐκδικήσεωςof avenging
ekdikeseosG1557 →9 times
αὗταίthese
hautaiG3778 →1381 times
εἰσινare
eisinG1510 →2333 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
πλησθῆναιto fill
plesthenaiG4130 →24 times
πάνταall things
pantaG3956 →1235 times
τὰwhich
taG3588 →19766 times
γεγραμμένα.¶written.
gegrammenaG1125 →189 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 63:4For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and the year of My redemption had come.
it leads to
- Isaiah 35:4
Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 61:2
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 34:8
For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
- Jeremiah 51:6
Flee from Babylon! Escape with your lives! Do not be destroyed in her punishment. For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He will pay her what she deserves.
- Isaiah 35:4
Through
Jeremiah 51:6Flee from Babylon! Escape with your lives! Do not be destroyed in her punishment. For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He will pay her what she deserves.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 50:8
Flee from the midst of Babylon; depart from the land of the Chaldeans; be like the he-goats that lead the flock.
- Jeremiah 25:14
For many nations and great kings will enslave them, and I will repay them according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands.’”
- Jeremiah 50:8
Through
Hosea 9:7The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived—let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and…
it leads to
- Acts 26:24–25
At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”
- Acts 26:24–25
Through
Isaiah 34:8For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
it leads to
- Isaiah 63:4
For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and the year of My redemption had come.
- Isaiah 63:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
About Luke
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ambrose of Milan, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Augustine of Hippo, LETTER 199; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 21; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke.