Matthew 24:7-8

24:7 For nation will rise up in arms ¹  against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines ²  and earthquakes ³  in various places. 24:8 All ⁴  these things are the beginning of birth pains.

[24:7]  ¹ tn For the translation “rise up in arms” see L&N 55.2.

[24:7]  ² sn See Isa 5:13-14; 13:6-16; Hag 2:6-7; Zech 14:4.

[24:7]  ³ tc Most witnesses (C Θ 0102 Ë^1,13 Ï) have “and plagues” (καὶ λοιμοί, kai loimoi) between “famines” (λιμοί, limoi) and “earthquakes” (σεισμοί, seismoi), while others have “plagues and famines and earthquakes” (L W 33 pc lat). The similarities between λιμοί and λοιμοί could explain how καὶ λοιμοί might have accidentally dropped out, but since the Lukan parallel has both terms (and W lat have the order λοιμοὶ καὶ λιμοί there too, as they do in Matthew), it seems more likely that scribes added the phrase here. The shorter reading does not enjoy overwhelming support ([א] B D 892 pc, as well as versional witnesses), but it is nevertheless significant; coupled with the internal evidence it should be given preference.

[24:8]  ⁴ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.