Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes.
Parallel translations
- KJV Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
- BSB And let no one in the field return for his cloak.
- NKJV And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.
- NASB And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.
- NLT A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat.
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
The one in the field must not return for his cloak. It reinforces the need for immediate, unhesitating flight.
Overview
Like the person on the rooftop, the field worker must not turn back even for a garment. The repeated image underscores how pressing the moment will be. The lesson is that nothing earthly should hinder swift obedience when the warned-of catastrophe arrives.
Cross-references & the web
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 24:18 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.