Luke 21:20-22

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Luke 21:20 sn See Luke 19:41-44. This passage refers to the events associated with the fall of Jerusalem, when the city is surrounded by armies.
2. Luke 21:20 tn Grk “her,” referring to the city of Jerusalem (the name “Jerusalem” in Greek is a feminine noun).
3. Luke 21:20 sn The phrase its desolation is a reference to the fall of the city, which is the only antecedent present in Luke’s account. The parallels to this in Matt 24:15 and Mark 13:14 refer to the temple’s desolation, though Matthew’s allusion is clearer. They focus on the parallel events of the end, not on the short term realization in a.d. 70. The entire passage has a prophetic “two events in one” typology, where the near term destruction (a.d. 70) is like the end. So the evangelists could choose to focus on the near time realization (Luke) or on its long term fulfillment, which mirrors it (Matthew, Mark).
4. Luke 21:21 sn Fleeing to the mountains is a key OT image: Gen 19:17; Judg 6:2; Isa 15:5; Jer 16:16; Zech 14:5.
5. Luke 21:21 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
6. Luke 21:21 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
7. Luke 21:22 tn Or “of punishment.” This is a time of judgment.
8. Luke 21:22 tn The passive construction with the infinitive πλησθῆναι (plēsthēnai) has been translated as an active construction for simplicity, in keeping with contemporary English style.