No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Parallel translations
- WEB But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
- KJV But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
- NKJV “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
- NASB But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
- NLT “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
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
No one knows the day or hour — not the angels, nor even the Son, but only the Father. The timing of the end is hidden from all but God.
Overview
Jesus rules out date-setting absolutely; even he, in his earthly mission, did not disclose the exact time, submitting to the Father's plan. This reflects the mystery of the incarnation, in which the eternal Son took a true human nature with its limitations. The practical lesson is plain: since the time is unknown, the only fitting response is constant watchfulness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 24:36–42No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
- Acts 1:7Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.
- Matt 25:13Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
- Rev 3:3Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.
- 1 Th 5:1–2Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you.
- Mark 13:26–27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
- Matt 25:6At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
- 2 Pet 3:10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
- Matt 25:19After a long time the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them.
- Rev 1:1This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,
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 13:32 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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