The big picture
Mark 13 opens in verse 1 with “And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 19 with “For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the…”, and closes in verse 37 with “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Repeated or prominent terms include days, heaven, heed, house, know. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Mark · King James Version · 37Mark 13:1-8
1–8: As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him…
Mark 13:1–8 opens with “And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner…” and reaches “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus leaving the temple and teaching four disciples about destruction, endurance, watchfulness, and the coming of the Son of man, with particular weight carried by answering, buildings, deceive.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him…” Naming Andrew and James keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Mark 13:1-8
King James Version1And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
2And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
4Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
5And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
6For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
7And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
8For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
Mark 13:9-16
9–16: Take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and…
Mark 13:9–16 opens with “But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye…” and reaches “And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus leaving the temple and teaching four disciples about destruction, endurance, watchfulness, and the coming of the Son of man, with particular weight carried by brother, death, deliver.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Mark 13:9-16
King James Version9But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
10And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
11But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
12Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
13And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judæa flee to the mountains:
15And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
16And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
Mark 13:17-24
17–24: Woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those…
Mark 13:17–24 opens with “But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!” and reaches “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus leaving the temple and teaching four disciples about destruction, endurance, watchfulness, and the coming of the Son of man, with particular weight carried by days, false, shortened.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!” The line’s distinctive content terms include child, days, suck. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.
“For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Mark 13:17-24
King James Version17But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
18And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
19For 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.
20And 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.
21And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
22For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
23But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
24But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
Mark 13:25-32
25–32: The stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall…
Mark 13:25–32 opens with “And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.” and reaches “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus leaving the temple and teaching four disciples about destruction, endurance, watchfulness, and the coming of the Son of man, with particular weight carried by heaven, angels, earth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Mark 13:25-32
King James Version25And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
28Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
29So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
30Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
31Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Mark 13:33-37
33–37: Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Mark 13:33–37 opens with “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” and reaches “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus leaving the temple and teaching four disciples about destruction, endurance, watchfulness, and the coming of the Son of man, with particular weight carried by watch, house, know.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” Naming Take keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Mark 13:33-37
King James Version33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Mark 13:1 begins with “And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”
Where the chapter turns
Mark 13:17 forms a natural hinge: “But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!”
The final note
Mark 13:37 leaves the reader with “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words days, heaven, heed, house, know, watch help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Abram pursue peace?
He names their kinship and offers a practical separation without insisting on first choice.
What can Lot see that Abram cannot yet possess?
Lot sees fertile land; Abram receives a promise of land and descendants still to come.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- hath
- has
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.