Mark 13:17

13:17 The intensity of the coming disaster is illustrated by the suffering of the most vulnerable. In that day, the joy of motherhood (see Luke 1:25, 57-59) would be accompanied by terrible trouble.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

And pray ye that your flight be not in winter. When days are short, roads bad, the weather inclement; and when to lodge in mountains, is very incommodious, and uncomfortable. The Persic version adds, "neither on the sabbath day"; See Gill on Mat 24:20.

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Mark 13:19

mar 13:19

mar 13:19

mar 13:19For in those days shall be affliction,.... What with the close siege of the Romans; the fury of the zealots, and seditious; the rage of different parties among the Jews themselves; the ravage of the sword, both within and without, together with dreadful plagues and famines:

such as was not from the beginning of the creation, which God created, unto this time, neither shall be; of which there never was the like in any age, and cannot be paralleled in any history, since the beginning of time, or the world was made, or any thing in it, down to that period; nor ever will the like befall any one particular nation under the heavens, to the end of the world; See Gill on Mat 24:21.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

Ver. 17. {See Trapp on "Mat 24:19"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! Women in this condition would be specially objects of pity, for they would be more exposed to danger. The words, "Woe to them (ouai)!" are an exclamation of pity, as, though it was said, "Alas! for them." Josephus (7:8) mentions that some mothers, constrained by hunger during the siege, devoured their own infants!

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The horrors of the devastation:

v. 17. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

v. 18. And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

v. 19. For 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.

v. 20. And 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.

The prophecy of Christ here becomes so vivid that the apostles had the whole picture before their mind’s eye; the precipitate flight, the fear and terror, the greatest hardships falling upon those that are by nature least able to bear them. The condition of those that had but recently become or were about to become mothers would be most pitiful, since they would be severely handicapped for hurried departure. And so far as they all were concerned, they should implore God most earnestly that their flight should not take place in the winter when the season’s unpleasantness would be an added inconvenience. Jesus uses a very strong figure at this point: The days will be tribulation. The people would be so completely submerged and overwhelmed with the horror of it all that they would be able to see nothing but these fears and fightings; there would be such nameless misfortunes and trials that all calamitous experiences of the entire human race would thereby be eclipsed. The siege and destruction of Jerusalem was the bloodiest spectacle which the world has ever seen, and the actual affliction of those days was not been equaled since. If it had not been for the merciful shortening of those days out, of regard for them that were God’s own, none would be saved. Note: Both the creation and the work of redemption are here ascribed to God by Jesus; He has created the whole creation, and He loves, and will care for, His believers, He will hear their intercession for others out of loving kindness.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

are with child

This is a polite way to say that someone is pregnant. AT: "are pregnant" (See: Euphemism)

Pray that it

"Pray that these times" or "Pray that these things"

the winter

"the cold season" or "the cold, rainy season." This refers to the time of year when it is cold and unpleasant and difficult to travel.

such as has not been

"greater than there has ever been." This describes how great and terrible the tribulation will be. There has never been a tribulation as terrible as this one will be.

no, nor ever will be again

"and greater than there will ever be again" or "and after that tribulation, there will never again be a tribulation like it"

had shortened the days

"had shortened the time." It may be helpful to specify which "days" are referred to. AT: "had reduced the days of suffering" or "had shortened the time of suffering" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

no flesh would be saved

The word "flesh" refers to people, and "saved" refers to physical salvation. AT: "no one would be saved" or "everyone would die" (See: Synecdoche)

for the sake of the elect

"in order to help the elect"

the elect, those whom he chose

The phrase "those whom he chose" means the same thing as "the elect." Together, they emphasize that God chose these people. (See: Doublet)

translationWords

woe

day

tribulation

God

world

lord

flesh

save

chosen one

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

17. οὐαί. This “woe” is the same in all three; but “woe” is not the best translation. In passages like Matthew 23 and Luk 6:24-26 the word suggests an imprecation; “Alas for” is better both here and Mar 14:21, as elsewhere in N.T. The word is freq. in Rev., Is., Jer. Cf. Epict. Dis. iii. 19 sub init. where the ἰδιώτης says οὐαί μοι διὰ τὸ παιδάριον,

θηλαζούσαις. Used both of the mothers (here) and of the children (Mat 21:16); so also in LXX. [3021] here has θηλαζομέναις. “Alas for those women who are unable quickly to fly from home!”

[3021] Codex Bezae. 6th cent. Has a Latin translation (d) side by side with the Greek text, and the two do not quite always agree. Presented by Beza to the University Library of Cambridge in 1581. Remarkable for its frequent divergences from other texts. Contains Mark, except Mar 16:15-20, which has been added by a later hand. Photographic facsimile, 1899.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.