Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.
- KJV Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
- NKJV Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
- NASB And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
- NLT “A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.
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
Persecution will even divide families, with relatives betraying one another to death. Loyalty to Christ may cost the closest earthly bonds.
Overview
Jesus foretells that the gospel will sometimes split households, as devotion to him exposes deeper allegiances (Micah 7:6). Such betrayal is among the most painful trials, yet Jesus warned his people so they would not be caught off guard. Following Christ may mean loving him above family, trusting that he is worth even this cost.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Matt 10:21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
- Luke 12:52–53From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.
- Luke 21:16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.
- Matt 24:10At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,
- Mic 7:4–6The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a hedge of thorns. The day for your watchmen has come, the day of your visitation. Now is the time of their confusion.
- Ezek 38:21And I will summon a sword against Gog on all My mountains, declares the Lord GOD, and every man’s sword will be against his brother.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 13:12 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
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