Luke 21:11
There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Greek word translated "terrors" is unique to Luke and suggests not just sights but any kind of frightening phenomenon, even imagined ones. This highlights that the signs aren't solely external events but also internal, psychological experiences of fear and dread. Therefore, these "terrors" encompass both objective calamities and the subjective dread they inspire.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' awe at the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, warning them that not one stone will be left upon another and that it will be torn down. This sets the stage for his prophecy about the signs of the end times, which includes widespread natural disasters and terrifying celestial events, leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and His ultimate return.
Understand the original words
seismos · Greek Noun
The shaking of the earth, often used in biblical literature to signify God’s presence, judgment, or the upheaval of the created order during the end times.
limos · Greek Noun
Extreme scarcity of food, often cited in Scripture as a manifestation of judgment or divine displeasure, and a recurring feature in prophecies regarding the end of the age.
loimos · Greek Noun
Widespread, deadly diseases or plagues; in prophetic contexts, these are frequently associated with divine judgment and the signs preceding the return of Christ.
phobētron · Greek Noun
A state of intense fear or dread; in the apocalyptic context, these refer to manifestations that cause terror among the nations.
Jesus' words in Luke 21:11 point to a confluence of natural disasters and unsettling phenomena that characterized the period leading up to the fall of Jerusalem. These were not just isolated incidents but a pattern of 'troubled times' that would have amplified the fear and urgency of his disciples.
c. 44 BC - AD 79
Roman Empire Experiences Significant Earthquakes
This period, leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem, was marked by numerous documented earthquakes across the Roman world, including in Crete, Asia Minor, and Italy. These natural disasters created widespread fear and instability.
AD 41-54
Famines and Pestilences Plague the Empire
Historical records from Roman historians like Tacitus and Suetonius mention recurring famines and outbreaks of disease during the reign of Emperor Claudius. These events would have been keenly felt by the populace.
c. AD 60s
Cosmic Disturbances and Omens Reported
During this tumultuous era, there were widespread reports of unusual celestial phenomena, strange births, and alarming visions. These were often interpreted as divine warnings or signs of impending doom.
AD 66-70— this verse
Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem
This passage directly parallels Luke's account, describing the same signs of earthquakes, famines, and pestilences as indicators of the end times.
Isaiah 19:17The term 'fearful sights' or 'terrors' finds a conceptual echo in this Old Testament prophecy, which speaks of God bringing terror to Egypt through terrifying events.
Acts 11:28This verse records a prophecy of a great famine throughout the world by Agabus, demonstrating that famines were recognized as significant, divinely foretold events in the early church period.
Revelation 6:8This passage describes the fourth horseman of the apocalypse, whose name is Death, and Hades follows him, with authority given to them over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts, linking these scourges to divine judgment.
vincentLuke 21:11: "And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven."
EarthquakesSee on Mark 13:7.Famines and pestilences (λιμοὶ καὶ λοιμοὶ)Some texts reverse the order of the words. A paronomasia or combination of like-sounding words: limoi, loimoi. Especially common in Paul's epistles.Fearful sights (φοβητρά)Only here in New Testament, and rare in classical Greek. In Septuagint, Isaiah 19:17. Not confine…
barnesLuke 21:11: "And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven."
Fearful sights - See Matthew 24:7 .
The Greek word translated "terrors" is unique to Luke and suggests not just sights but any kind of frightening phenomenon, even imagined ones. This highlights that the signs aren't solely external events but also internal, psychological experiences of fear and dread. Therefore, these "terrors" encompass both objective calamities and the subjective dread they inspire.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' awe at the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, warning them that not one stone will be left upon another and that it will be torn down. This sets the stage for his prophecy about the signs of the end times, which includes widespread natural disasters and terrifying celestial events, leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and His ultimate return.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' awe at the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, warning them that not one stone will be left upon another and that it will be torn down. This sets the stage for his prophecy about the signs of the end times, which includes widespread natural disasters and terrifying celestial events, leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and His ultimate return.
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sēmeion · Greek Noun
Miraculous or extraordinary events intended to point beyond themselves, often serving as authenticating proofs of God's authority or warnings of impending judgment.
The First Jewish-Roman War culminated in the brutal siege and catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. This event was accompanied by immense suffering, famine, widespread death, and terrifying spectacles.
"There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven." — The Greek word translated "terrors" is unique to Luke and suggests not just sights but any kind of frightening phenomenon, even imagined ones. This highlights that the signs aren't solely external ev…
