But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
Parallel translations
- WEB But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see God’s Kingdom.”
- BSB But I tell you truthfully, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
- NKJV But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”
- NASB But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
- NLT I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus says some standing there will not die before they see God's kingdom. The promise points to an imminent display of His kingly glory.
Overview
This saying is variously understood among faithful Christians: many take it as pointing to the Transfiguration that immediately follows, a preview of the kingdom's glory; others connect it to the resurrection, Pentecost, or the coming of the kingdom in power. In context, the Transfiguration in the next verses is the most natural fulfillment. Either way, it assures the disciples that God's reign would soon be unmistakably manifested.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 16:28Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
- Mark 9:1And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
- John 21:22–23Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
- Luke 2:26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
- John 8:51–52Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
- Luke 22:18For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
- Heb 2:9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
- Mark 14:25Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
- John 16:7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
- John 8:59Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
- John 14:2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Resources, by level
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 9:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.