Mark 13:19
in Mark 13For those will be days of tribulation unmatched from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never to be seen again.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For those days shall be tribulation, such as there hath not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never shall be.
KJV
For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
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This verse in Mark 13
Commentary
15 notes on this verseA commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
We are taught in these verses the lawfulness of using means to provide for our own personal safety . The language of our Lord Jesus Christ on the subject is clear and unmistakable — "Let those who be in Judea FLEE to the mountains — let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house — let him that is in the field not turn back again — pray you that your flight be not in the winter."
This site's exposition
such as was not from the beginning of the creation
on Mark 13:19-20
Affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be, is language the commentators read two ways: as the ancient idiom of unequaled severity applied to the horror of Jerusalem's fall, an event Josephus's own account of the siege makes almost unbearable to read, or as pointing past AD 70 to a still future tribulation exceeding even that catastrophe. Except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days grounds the limit of the trial in God's own mercy toward those he has chosen, whichever horizon is in view.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(Epist. cxcix. 9.) For Josephus, who has written the history of the Jews, relates that such things were suffered by this people, as are scarcely credible, wherefore it is said, not without cause, that there was not such tribulation from the beginning of the creation until now, nor shall ever be. But although in the time of Antichrist there shall be one similar or greater, we must understand that it is of that people, that it is said that there shall never happen such another. For if they are the first and foremost to receive Antichrist, that same people may rather be said to cause than to suffer tribulation. (ubi sup.) But some persons more fitly understand that the calamities themselves are signified by days, as evil days are spoken of in other parts of holy Scripture; for the days themselves are not evil, but what is done in them. The woes themselves therefore are said to be abridged, because through the patience which God gave they felt them less, and then what was great in itself was abridged.
A commentator
Victorinus of PettauCommentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
proposed
"And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God" He speaks of Elias the prophet, who is the precursor of the times of Antichrist, for the restoration and establishment of the churches from the great and intolerable persecution. We read that these things are predicted in the opening of the Old and New Testament; for He says by Malachi: "Lo, I will send to you Elias the Tishbite, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, according to the time of calling, to recall the Jews to the faith of the people that succeed them." And to that end He shows, as we have said, that the number of those that shall believe, of the Jews and of the nations, is a great multitude which no man was able to number. Moreover, we read in the Gospel that the prayers of the Church are sent from heaven by an angel, and that they are received against wrath, and that the kingdom of Antichrist is cast out and extinguished by holy angels; for He says: "Pray that ye enter not into temptation: for there shall be a great affliction, such as has not been from the beginning of the world; and except the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved." Therefore He shall send these seven great archangels to smite the kingdom of Antichrist; for He Himself also thus said: "Then the Son of man shall send His messengers; and they shall gather together His elect from the four corners of the wind, from the one end of heaven even to the other end thereof." For, moreover, He previously says by the prophet: "Then shall there be peace for our land, when there shall arise in it seven shepherds and eight attacks of men; and they shall encircle Assur," that is, Antichrist, "in the trench of Nimrod," that is, in the nation of the devil, by the spirit of the Church. Similarly when the keepers of the house shall be moved. […]
The Medieval Church3 voices
And He fitly gives the cause for so great a necessity for flight; saying, For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
A commentator
Gregory the Dialogist40 Homilies on the Gospels, Homily 1 · Written before 604.
proposed
Hence we must also consider that these tribulations differ from that final tribulation as much as the person of a herald differs from the power of the judge. Therefore, dearest brothers, think upon that day with all your attention, correct your life, change your ways, overcome evil temptations by resisting them, and punish sins committed with tears. For you will one day behold the coming of the eternal judge with as much greater security as you now anticipate his severity by fearing it.
But the tribulation shall be great, and the days short, for the sake of the elect, lest the evil of this time should change their understanding.
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, nor ever will be. These words properly fit the times of the Antichrist, when not only will there be torments …
(ubi sup.) Or else; these words, In those days shall be affliction, properly agree with the times of Antichrist, when not only tortures more frequent, and more painful than before are to be heaped on the faithful, but also, what is more terrible, the working of miracles shall accompany those who inflict torments. But in proportion as this tribulation shall be greater than those which preceded, by so much shall it be shorter. For it is believed, that during three years and a half, as far as may be conjectured from the prophecy of Daniel and the Revelations of John, the Church is to be attacked.
And in general, the tribulation will be the most grievous of all that have ever been or will be.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
In those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation - May it not be doubted, whether this be yet fully accomplished? Is not much of this affliction still to come?
It was for the elects' sake that those days were shortened; many among them fared the better for the sake of the few among them that believed in Christ, and were faithful to him. There was a promise, that a remnant should be saved ( Isa. x.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
For in those days shall be affliction,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be--Such language is not unusual in the Old Testament with reference to tremendous calamities.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-run:26w-of-40
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
We are taught in these verses the lawfulness of using means to provide for our own personal safety . The language of our Lord Jesus Christ on the subject is clear and unmistakable — "Let those who be in Judea FLEE to the mountains — let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house — let him that is in the field not turn back again — pray you that your flight be not in the winter." Not a word is said to make us suppose that flight from danger, in certain circumstances, is unworthy of a Christian. As to the time prophesied of in the passage before us, men may differ widely. But as to the lawfulness of taking measures to avoid peril, the teaching of the passage is plain. The lesson is one of wide application, and of much usefulness. A Christian is not to neglect the use of means, because he is a Christian, in the things of this life, any more than in the things of the life to come. A believer is not to suppose that God will take care of him, and provide for his needs, if he does not make use of means and the common sense which God has given him, as well as other people. Beyond doubt he may expect the special help of his Father in heaven, in every time of need. But he must expect it in the diligent use of lawful means. To profess to trust God, while we idly sit still and do nothing, is nothing better than fanaticism, and brings religion into contempt. The word of God contains several instructive examples on this subject, to which we shall do well to take heed. The conduct of Jacob, when he went to meet his brother Esau, is a striking case in point. He first prays a most touching prayer, and then sends his brother a carefully arranged present. (Gen. 32:9-13.) The conduct of Hezekiah, when Sennacherib came against Jerusalem, is another case. "With us," he tells the people, "is the Lord our God, to fight our battles."
The words behind it
24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἔσονται | esontai | will be [in] | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| αἱ | hai | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἡμέραι | hemerai | days | G2250 → | 389 times |
| ἐκεῖναι | ekeinai | those | G1565 → | 260 times |
| θλῖψις | thlipsis | tribulation | G2347 → | 44 times |
| οἵα | oia | such as | G3634 → | |
| οὐ | ou | never | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γέγονεν | gegonen | has been | G1096 → | 667 times |
| τοιαύτη | toiaute | [the] like | G5108 → | 56 times |
| ἀπ᾽ | ap᾽ | from [the] | G575 → | 640 times |
| ἀρχῆς | arches | beginning | G746 → | 55 times |
| κτίσεως | ktiseos | of creation | G2937 → | |
| ἣν | hen | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἔκτισεν | ektisen | created | G2936 → | |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἕως | he'os | until | G2193 → | 146 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νῦν | nun | now — | G3568 → | 145 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὐ | ou | certainly | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| γένηται. | genetai | may happen. | G1096 → | 667 times |
ἔσονταιwill be [in]
esontaiG1510 →2333 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
αἱthe
haiG3588 →19766 times
ἡμέραιdays
hemeraiG2250 →389 times
ἐκεῖναιthose
ekeinaiG1565 →260 times
θλῖψιςtribulation
thlipsisG2347 →44 times
οἵαsuch as
oiaG3634 →
οὐnever
ouG3756 →1664 times
γέγονενhas been
gegonenG1096 →667 times
τοιαύτη[the] like
toiauteG5108 →56 times
ἀπ᾽from [the]
ap᾽G575 →640 times
ἀρχῆςbeginning
archesG746 →55 times
κτίσεωςof creation
ktiseosG2937 →
ἣνwhich
henG3739 →1405 times
ἔκτισενcreated
ektisenG2936 →
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
ἕωςuntil
he'osG2193 →146 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
νῦνnow —
nunG3568 →145 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὐcertainly
ouG3756 →1664 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
γένηται.may happen.
genetaiG1096 →667 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
Matthew 24:21For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.
it leads to
- Daniel 12:1
“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning…
- Joel 2:2
a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be…
- Daniel 12:1
Through
Mark 10:6However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’
it leads to
- Genesis 1:27
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
- Genesis 5:2
Male and female He created them, and He blessed them. And in the day they were created, He called them “man.”
- Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
- Genesis 1:27
Through
Daniel 12:1“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning…
it leads to
- Jeremiah 30:7
How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it.
- Matthew 24:21
For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.
- Revelation 16:17–21
Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, “It is done!”
- Jeremiah 30:7
Where this verse is studied
About Mark
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Mark; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Gregory the Dialogist, 40 Homilies on the Gospels, Homily 1; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Pseudo-Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.