Luke 21:5-6

The Signs of the End of the Age

21:5 Now ¹  while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned ²  with beautiful stones and offerings, ³  Jesus ⁴  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. ⁵  All will be torn down!” ⁶ 

Luke 21:24

21:24 They ⁷  will fall by the edge ⁸  of the sword and be led away as captives ⁹  among all nations. Jerusalem ¹⁰  will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. ¹¹ 

[21:5]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[21:5]  ² 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.

[21:5]  ³ tn For the translation of ἀνάθημα (anaqhma) as “offering” see L&N 53.18.

[21:5]  ⁴ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[21:6]  ⁵ 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.

[21:6]  ⁶ tn Grk “the days will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down.”

[21:24]  ⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[21:24]  ⁸ tn Grk “by the mouth of the sword” (an idiom for the edge of a sword).

[21:24]  ⁹ sn Here is the predicted judgment against the nation until the time of Gentile rule has passed: Its people will be led away as captives.

[21:24]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “And Jerusalem.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[21:24]  ¹¹ sn Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled implies a time when Israel again has a central role in God’s plan.