No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just issuing a general warning about death; he's directly refuting the idea that sudden disasters only strike the worst sinners. He's telling them that the same kind of unexpected, calamitous end that befell the Galileans and those crushed by the tower awaits everyone who doesn't turn from their ways.
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is responding to people who brought him news of a tragic event: Pilate had violently killed some Galileans and mingled their blood with the sacrifices they were offering. He uses this moment to correct their assumption that such suffering means the victims were worse sinners than others, pointing out that disaster can strike anyone, and that unless they turn from their ways, they too will face a similar destruction.
When disaster strikes, our first instinct is to ask, 'Why them? What did they do to deserve this?' Jesus confronts this very human tendency head-on.
Jesus is clear: the suffering of the Galileans, or the eighteen crushed by the tower of Siloam, wasn't necessarily because they were uniquely sinful. He directly challenges the idea that suffering is always a direct, proportional punishment for individual wrongdoing in this life.
Jesus doesn't just warn about potential disasters; he issues a stark prophecy about a future destiny for those who ignore his call.
The core of Jesus' message here is the absolute necessity of repentance. The word 'repent' in the original language means a radical turning – a change of mind, heart, and direction.
Ask a follow-up
Jesus connects the immediate, tragic events of his day to the impending, catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem, urging people to see these moments not as random accidents or signs of unique sin, but as urgent calls to repentance before a far greater judgment falls.
c. AD 30-33
Pilate's Brutality in Jerusalem
During a pilgrimage or festival, Pilate's soldiers attacked Galileans, likely in or near the temple, and their blood was shed while they were offering sacrifices. This incident sparked conversation among the crowd about divine judgment.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Tower of Siloam Collapse
A tower in the pool of Siloam unexpectedly collapsed, killing eighteen people. Jesus uses this event to further illustrate that such disasters are not necessarily signs of greater sinfulness in the victims.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Call to Repentance
In response to the news of these tragedies, Jesus issues a strong warning, urging his listeners to repent lest they also perish.
c. AD 66-70
Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem
The First Jewish-Roman War culminates in the brutal siege and destruction of Jerusalem by Roman forces under Titus.
AD 70
Fall of Jerusalem
Jerusalem and the Temple are utterly destroyed. Countless inhabitants perish under falling ruins, by the sword, or starvation, fulfilling Jesus' warning in terrifying detail.
This passage echoes Jesus' warning by pointing out that God's judgment is righteous and that those who practice sin will not escape, just as Luke 13:5 warns of perishing if repentance doesn't occur.
Ezekiel 18:30This Old Testament passage directly addresses the idea of individual accountability for sin and the call to repent to turn away from transgressions, paralleling Jesus' urgent message in Luke 13:5.
Matthew 24:44Similar to Luke 13:5, this verse emphasizes the unexpected nature of judgment and the constant need for readiness, stating, 'Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.'
Luke 13:6-9This parable immediately follows Jesus' warning and illustrates the theme of fruitfulness and the consequences of barrenness, reinforcing the urgency of repentance conveyed in verse 5.
clarkeLuke 13:5: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
Ye shall all likewise perish - Ὡσαυτως, ὁμοιως, In a like way, in the same manner. This prediction of our Lord was literally fulfilled. When the city was taken by the Romans, multitudes of the priests, etc., who were going on with their sacrifices, were slain, and their blood mingled with the blood of their victims; and multitudes were buried under the ruins of the walls, houses, and temple. See Josephus, War,…
pulpitLuke 13:5: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
Verse 5. - Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. The words were indeed prophetic to the letter. Thousands of Jews perished in the last terrible war by the swords of the Roman legionaries, like the Galilaeans of ver. 1; not a few met their death in the capital among the ruins of the burning fallen houses. We know that Jerusalem in its entirety was destroyed, and the loss of life in the siege, and especia…
Jesus isn't just issuing a general warning about death; he's directly refuting the idea that sudden disasters only strike the worst sinners. He's telling them that the same kind of unexpected, calamitous end that befell the Galileans and those crushed by the tower awaits everyone who doesn't turn from their ways.
Jesus is responding to people who brought him news of a tragic event: Pilate had violently killed some Galileans and mingled their blood with the sacrifices they were offering. He uses this moment to correct their assumption that such suffering means the victims were worse sinners than others, pointing out that disaster can strike anyone, and that unless they turn from their ways, they too will face a similar destruction.
Jesus is responding to people who brought him news of a tragic event: Pilate had violently killed some Galileans and mingled their blood with the sacrifices they were offering. He uses this moment to correct their assumption that such suffering means the victims were worse sinners than others, pointing out that disaster can strike anyone, and that unless they turn from their ways, they too will face a similar destruction.
"No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”" — Jesus isn't just issuing a general warning about death; he's directly refuting the idea that sudden disasters only strike the worst sinners. He's telling them that the same kind of unexpected, cala…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026