Luke 21:5-6

The Signs of the End of the Age

21:5 Now while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and offerings, Jesus said, 21:6 “As for these things that you are gazing at, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!”


tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

sn The Jerusalem temple was widely admired around the world. See Josephus, Ant. 15.11 (15.380-425); J. W. 5.5 (5.184-227) and Tacitus, History 5.8, who called it “immensely opulent.” Josephus compared it to a beautiful snowcapped mountain.

tn For the translation of ἀνάθημα (anaqhma) as “offering” see L&N 53.18.

tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

sn With the statement days will come when not one stone will be left on another Jesus predicted the total destruction of the temple, something that did occur in a.d. 70.

tn Grk “the days will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down.”