Mark 13:27

Greek (Tischendorf 8th ed.)

English Translation

Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.

World English Bible · Public Domain

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ἄκρου

ákron

G206

“end”

Noun, Genitive, Singular, Neuter

Appears 6× in the Greek New Testament
First appears at Matthew 24:31

Full Thayer's Definition

Origin: neuter of an adj. probably akin to the base of G188

TDNT: None

1. the farthest bounds, uttermost parts, end, highest, extreme a. of the earth b. of heaven

About this verse

These counts appear in no published source. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged text and Lemma’s own curated glosses. What Lemma adds →

19: words
15: distinct lemmas
Gospels: section

Notable vocabulary

The rarest word here is ἄκρου end G206 — appearing just 6 times in the whole Greek New Testament.

Shared distinctive vocabulary

ἄκρου end G206 occurs in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. Also found in:

Repetition

Words recur within this verse:

ἄκρου end G206 ×2
τοὺς the G3588 ×3
καὶ and G2532 ×2

Cross-references

Topical passages linked to Mark 13:27 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — connected by theme and wording, ordered by reader-vote popularity; previews shown in the World English Bible.

Zechariah 2:6 Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,' says Yahweh; 'for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the sky,' says Yahweh.
Matthew 24:31 He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
Deuteronomy 30:4 If [any of] your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of the heavens, from there will Yahweh your God gather you, and from there will he bring you back:
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to him, we ask you
Revelation 7:1–3 After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree.
Matthew 13:41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity,
Mark 13:20 Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.
Luke 16:22 It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.

Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until he comes to whom it belongs. To him will the obedience of the peoples be.
Isaiah 65:9 I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains; and my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
Matthew 12:42 The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 13:49 So will it be in the end of the world. The angels will come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous,
Matthew 24:22 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24:24 For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
Matthew 25:31–32 "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
Mark 13:22 For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

Luke 18:7 Won't God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
John 10:16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.
John 11:52 and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Romans 8:33 Who could bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who justifies.
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
1 Thessalonians 4:14–17 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones' sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
1 Peter 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled in his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Revelation 7:5–9 Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand, Of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, Of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand,
Revelation 15:6–7 The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their breasts.

Cross-references courtesy of OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

Where the printed editions differ

1 variant

Places in this verse where the major printed Greek editions disagree on the wording in a way that affects the translation — a comparison of editions, not a manuscript-by-manuscript collation. The editions are the modern critical texts (Nestlé-Aland 28/27, SBL, Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Tyndale House) and the traditional texts behind the KJV (the Textus Receptus and the Byzantine/Majority text). It is not a claim about which reading is original.

Extra text

αὐτοῦ

“of him”

In TRByz Not in NA28NA27TynSBLWHTreg

αὐτοῦ (autou) 'of him' is only in traditional manuscripts (TR+Byz)

Textual data: Translators Amalgamated Greek New Testament (STEPBible TAGNT) · CC BY 4.0.

Commentary

Notes on Mark 13:27 from classic Christian and Jewish commentators (each source and its license shown beneath its notes). The classic Christian expositions comment on the surrounding passage and are grouped to its opening verse, so a note may address several verses; the Jewish commentaries on the Tanakh (Rashi and others) are per-verse, so they appear only where the commentator wrote on this verse.

Lemma curates 59 commentaries, every one of them public domain or Creative Commons licensed, each selected and text-cleaned for this edition rather than reprinted as found. About our sources →

Commentary source

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Tyndale Open Resources

13:27 The Son of Man, at his coming, will gather his chosen people—those who believe in him and follow him—from all over the world (see Zech 2:6) and from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven (see Deut 13:7; 30:4; Isa 42:10; 62:11). This hope is expressed frequently in the Old Testament (e.g., Ps 107:2-3; Isa 11:11-16; 27:12-13; 43:5-13; 49:12; 60:1-9; Jer 31:10). For Mark’s readers, this passage would have provided encouragement to endure and remain faithful despite the persecutions foretold in Mark 13:9-13. The Son of Man’s coming will also bring judgment on the unrighteous (8:38; 13:32-37; Matt 13:41-43; 24:36-51; 25:1-12, 31-46).

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

Bengel's Gnomon

Johann Albrecht Bengel

Mar 13:27. Ἀπʼ ἄκρου) This is an abbreviated mode of expression, in this sense, from the uttermost part of the heaven (sky) and earth in the east, even to the uttermost part of the heaven and earth in the west. [O blessed general assembly, of which who would not desire to form a member?—V. g.]

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Expositor's Greek Testament

ed. W. Robertson Nicoll

Mar 13:27 . ἀπʼ ἄκρου γῆς , etc. ( cf. expression in Mt.), from the extremity of the earth to the extremity of heaven. The earth is conceived as a flat surface, and the idea is from one end of the earth to the other, where it touches the heavens. But they touch at both ends, so that Mt.’s expression is the more accurate. Either from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth , or from one end of the heaven to, etc.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(27) Then shall he send his angels.—Note the absence of the “trumpet,” which is prominent in St. Matthew.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne

27. then shall he send his angels] As the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father (Joh_1:18), alone ever declared or manifested Him to His creatures, so to Him God hath delegated the universal and ultimate judgment of mankind, that “as in our nature He performed all that was requisite to save us, as in our nature He was exalted to God’s right hand to rule and bless us, so He shall in our nature appear to judge us.” Barrow’s Sermons; comp. also Pearson On the Creed, Art. vii.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

John Gill's Exposition

So ye, in like manner,.... This is an accommodation of the parable to the present case:

when ye shall see these things come to pass; the signs preceding the destruction of Jerusalem, and especially the abomination of desolation, or the Roman army surrounding it:

know that it, or he is nigh, even at at the doors; either that the destruction of Jerusalem is near; or that the son of man is just ready to come to take vengeance on it; or as Luke says, Luk 21:31, the kingdom of God is nigh at hand; or a more glorious display of the kingly power of Christ, in the destruction of his enemies, and a greater spread of his Gospel in the Gentile world; See Gill on Mat 24:33.

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

Trapp's Complete Commentary

John Trapp

27 And 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.

Ver. 27. {See Trapp on "Mat 24:31"}

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.

The Pulpit Commentary

And then shall he send forth the angels. This represents the great harvest at the end of the world, when the angel-reapers shall be sent forth to separate the wicked from the just. The elect will be gathered from the four winds (ek twn pessarwn anemwn); literally, out of the four winds the winds representing figuratively every corner of the world; or, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. At its extremities, in the horizon, there appears to be the end alike of earth and of heaven, as though earth and heaven joined, and the heaven terminated by melting into the earth and becoming one with it. The expression simply means, "from horizon to horizon," or from every part of the earth.

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

Scofield Reference Notes

C. I. Scofield

angel

(See Scofield "Heb 1:4")

The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges

27. [2969][2970][2971] omit αὐτοῦ after ἀγγέλους. It may come from Mt.

[2969] 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.

[2970] Codex Regius. 8th cent. An important witness. At Paris. Contains Mar 1:1 to Mar 10:15; Mar 10:30 to Mar 15:1; Mar 15:20 to Mar 16:20, but the shorter ending is inserted between Mar 16:8 and Mar 16:9, showing that the scribe preferred it to the longer one.

[2971] Codex Athous Laurae. 8th cent. Like N and Σ, it is written in silver letters on purple vellum. Contains Mar 9:5 to Mar 16:20, and, as in L, the shorter ending is inserted between Mar 16:8 and Mar 16:9. As in Δ, the text of Mark is specially good.

27. ἀποστελεῖ τ. ἀγγέλους. See crit. note. Although αὐτοῦ is probably not genuine, we may translate “His Angels”; cf. Mar 4:26; Mar 4:36, Mar 6:32, Mar 7:2. It is of more moment to make clear that the elect are His than that the Angels are (Joh 6:37; Joh 6:39; Joh 10:14; Joh 10:16; Joh 10:27-29; Joh 17:2; Joh 17:6; Joh 17:9; Joh 17:24).

ἐκ τεσσάρων ἀνέμων. A colloquial expression found in both O.T. and N.T. It occurs in a papyrus of the second cent. A.D. (Deissmann, Bib. St. p. 248). The sentence is an echo of Deu 30:4 and Zec 2:6. The meaning is obvious. Cf. Jer 29:14; Jer 32:37.

ἀπʼ ἄκρου γῆς κ.τ.λ. The meaning of this is less obvious. “From the ends of heavens to their ends” (Mt.) means “throughout the whole extent of the heavens.” But here the antithesis between earth and heaven, while it gives a great impression of vastness, is less easy to understand. It seems to mean “throughout space in all directions.” However remote a corner of the universe may be, if any of the elect are there, they will be remembered and gathered in. Cf. 2Ma 1:27; 2Ma 2:7. For Christ’s mention of Angels see on Mar 8:38 and Mar 12:25.

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.

Alford’s Greek Testament

Henry Alford

27.] ἀπʼ ἀκροῦ γῆς, from the extremity of the visible plane of the earth, shall the collecting begin: and shall proceed ἕως ἀκροῦ οὐρανοῦ, to the point where the sky touches that plane on the other side.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

International Critical Commentary

27. κ. τότε ἀποστελεῖ τοὺς ἀγγέλους, κ. ἐπισυνάξει τ. ἐκλεκτοὺς, etc.—And then he will send forth the angels, and will gather (his) elect. This gathering of the elect is the process of establishing the kingdom, and has been going on from the beginning. All the processes by which men are brought to the acknowledgment of Christ and the obedience of the kingdom belong to the gathering of the elect. The angels represent the invisible heavenly agencies in an earthly event. The introduction of them means that there is that invisible, Divine side to a human transaction. Back of all that men are doing for the conversion of the world, is the Lord Christ with the hosts of heaven, see J. 1:51. As for the time, it begins then, at the time of the consummation of the Jewish age, because Judaism was the great obstacle at that time to the universal spread of the kingdom. Under its influence, Christianity threatened to become a mere appendage of Judaism, to have the particularism, formalism, and legalism of that religion grafted upon it in such a way that it could never become a universal religion. With the removal of this obstacle, could begin, not the gathering of the elect, but the gathering of them from the four quarters of the world, the universal gathering.

Omit αὐτοῦ, his, after τοὺς ἀγγέλους, Tisch. Treg. WH. RV. BDL mss. Lat. Vet. Omit αὐτοῦ after ἐκλεκτοὺς, Tisch. Treg. (WH.) DL 1, 28, 91, 299, mss. Lat. Vet. Tisch. regards αὐτοῦ as taken from Mat 24:31.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament

Marvin R. Vincent

From the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven [απ ακρου γης εως ακρου ουρανου] . From the outermost border of the earth, conceived as a flat surface, to where the outermost border of the heaven sets a limit to the earth. Compare Mt 24:31. Mark's expression is more poetical.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Lesson kit

Teaching starters — assembled from the data on this page, not authored interpretation. Every prompt links to the verse data it draws on. Edit before teaching.

Mark, in the Gospels, opens this verse with 19 words (15 distinct Greek lemmas). Its most distinctive word is ákron (“end”). A historical commentator’s framing appears above. Read the whole chapter for the surrounding context.

Discussion questions

How does “end” (ákron) shape what this verse is saying?
Matthew 24:31 shares the word «end» with this verse. How do the two illuminate each other?
“end” occurs 2× in this one verse. What is the effect of the repetition?
These translations render this verse differently. What is at stake in choosing one wording over another?
Reading how Tyndale Open Study Notes and Bengel's Gnomon read this verse, where do the two commentators agree and where do they part?

Things to notice

These translations choose different wording for 12 words in this verse.
“end” occurs 2× in this single verse.
15 distinct Greek lemmas span 19 words in this verse.