They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is the profound implication in "trodden down." It's not just about being conquered, but about being deliberately oppressed and treated with contempt, like a conquered captive whose neck is under the conqueror's foot. This imagery paints a vivid picture of Jerusalem's suffering, but it also points to a future hope: this oppressive dominion has a divinely appointed limit, "until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is responding to his disciples' questions about the destruction of the temple and the signs of his return. He has just described the imminent devastation coming upon Jerusalem, foretelling its conquest by Roman armies and the scattering of its people. This verse expands on that destruction, describing the tragic fate of the people and the prolonged subjugation of their holy city by non-Jewish powers until a future appointed time.
Jesus paints a grim picture of destruction, speaking of literal conquest. But what does it mean for the city and its people to be 'led captive among all nations'?
Jesus' words here vividly describe the devastating fall of Jerusalem.
A Devastating End
The phrase 'fall by the edge of the sword' doesn't just mean death in battle. Commentators suggest it could evoke the image of a sword's 'mouth' consuming people, like a monstrous maw. This speaks to the sheer scale of the slaughter. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD was catastrophic, with immense loss of life and tens of thousands taken into captivity.
Scattered Among Nations
Being 'led captive among all nations' signifies a complete scattering and dispersal of the Jewish people. They would lose their homeland, their temple, and their central place of worship, becoming strangers in foreign lands. This wasn't just a temporary exile; it marked a profound shift in their national and spiritual existence, a consequence of their rejection of God's offered redemption.
The city of Jerusalem itself is described as being 'trampled underfoot.' What does this imagery convey, and what does it mean for this trampling to have an end?
The imagery of Jerusalem being 'trampled underfoot by the Gentiles' is deeply evocative.
The Weight of Oppression
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This phrase signifies more than just foreign rule; it implies contempt, subjugation, and a state of dishonor. It’s like a conquered people or city being literally stepped on, utterly powerless. For centuries after 70 AD, Jerusalem indeed suffered this fate, passing through the hands of various empires, each leaving its mark of oppression.
An Appointed Time
Crucially, Jesus adds, 'until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.' This is not an eternal curse. It indicates that this period of Gentile dominion over Jerusalem has a divinely appointed limit. It's a phase within God's larger plan, a period allocated for specific purposes before a restoration. This 'fulfilling' is linked to the larger narrative of God's dealings with both the Gentiles and Israel, as Paul later echoes in Romans, suggesting a time when Gentile inclusion will reach its peak, paving the way for Israel's ultimate restoration.
Understand the original words
Hierousalēm · Greek Noun
The holy city of God, symbolizing the center of Jewish worship and the focal point of God's interaction with His people; in prophecy, its destruction signifies the end of an era of covenantal transition.
ethnē · Greek Noun
A term referring to non-Jewish peoples (nations), often highlighting their role as instruments of judgment or the recipients of the gospel message after the transition of the covenant to the church.
Jesus' prophecy in Luke 21:24 points directly to the catastrophic fall of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70. The timeline shows this wasn't an isolated event but the climax of centuries of exile and oppression, fulfilling ancient warnings and initiating a prolonged period of 'Gentile times' – Jerusalem's subjugation under foreign powers until a future fulfillment.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and marking the beginning of a pattern of foreign domination and exile for the Israelites.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and First Temple
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem, razes the First Temple, and exiles a significant portion of the Jewish population to Babylon.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Following the Babylonian exile, Cyrus the Great of Persia allows the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, though Jerusalem remains under foreign rule.
c. 167-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
A rebellion against the Seleucid Empire (a successor to Alexander the Great's empire) leads to a brief period of Jewish independence, but the region remains a prize for larger powers.
63 BC
Roman Conquest of Judea
Roman general Pompey conquers Jerusalem, bringing Judea under Roman dominion and ushering in a new era of foreign control that intensifies local tensions.
AD 66-73— this verse
First Jewish-Roman War
A massive revolt against Roman rule erupts, leading to a brutal siege of Jerusalem and the eventual destruction of the Second Temple.
AD 132-135
Bar Kokhba Revolt
Another major Jewish revolt against Roman rule results in the final expulsion of Jews from Jerusalem and its renaming as Aelia Capitolina, further solidifying Gentile control.
This passage speaks of a covenant being confirmed for a 'week' and then a desolation being decreed, which many scholars connect to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple foretold by Jesus.
Zechariah 12:1-3Zechariah prophesies that Jerusalem will become a 'cup of staggering' and a 'burdensome stone' for all surrounding nations, highlighting the ongoing struggle and contention over the city that echoes the 'trampling' mentioned in Luke.
Romans 11:25-26Paul directly echoes the phrase 'the times of the Gentiles' by speaking of a hardening that has come upon Israel 'until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,' linking the Gentile dominion to a future restoration of Israel.
Revelation 11:2This passage in Revelation describes the 'holy city' being trodden underfoot by the Gentiles for a specific period, paralleling the imagery and concept of Gentile control over Jerusalem found in Luke's Gospel.
vincentLuke 21:24: "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."
Edge (στόματι)Lit., the mouth. So Wyc. Either in the sense of the foremost part, or picturing the sword as a devouring monster. In Hebrews 11:33, Hebrews 11:34, the word is used in both senses: "the mouths of lions;" "the edge of the sword."Led away captiveSee on captives, Luke 4:18.Trodden…
barnesLuke 21:24: "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."
Shall fall ... - No less than one million one hundred thousand perished in the siege of Jerusalem. Shall be led away captive - More than 90,000 were led into captivity. See the notes at Matthew 24. Shall be trodden down by the Gentiles - Shall be in possession of the Gentiles, or be subject…
What's easy to miss is the profound implication in "trodden down." It's not just about being conquered, but about being deliberately oppressed and treated with contempt, like a conquered captive whose neck is under the conqueror's foot. This imagery paints a vivid picture of Jerusalem's suffering, but it also points to a future hope: this oppressive dominion has a divinely appointed limit, "until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
Jesus is responding to his disciples' questions about the destruction of the temple and the signs of his return. He has just described the imminent devastation coming upon Jerusalem, foretelling its conquest by Roman armies and the scattering of its people. This verse expands on that destruction, describing the tragic fate of the people and the prolonged subjugation of their holy city by non-Jewish powers until a future appointed time.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' questions about the destruction of the temple and the signs of his return. He has just described the imminent devastation coming upon Jerusalem, foretelling its conquest by Roman armies and the scattering of its people. This verse expands on that destruction, describing the tragic fate of the people and the prolonged subjugation of their holy city by non-Jewish powers until a future appointed time.
"They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." — What's easy to miss is the profound implication in "trodden down." It's not just about being conquered, but about being deliberately oppressed and treated with contempt, like a conquered captive whos…
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Last reviewed October 2026