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 no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
- KJV But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
- NKJV “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
- NASB “But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of 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 even the angels or the Son, but the Father alone. The timing of the end is hidden by God's design.
Overview
Jesus deliberately withholds the date of his coming, redirecting attention from speculation to readiness. In his earthly mission the Son willingly submitted to the Father's plan, not exercising independent knowledge of the appointed hour. This rebukes all attempts to predict the day and humbles human curiosity. The unknown timing is meant to keep every generation watchful.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Mark 13:32No 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 24:44For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.
- 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.
- 1 Th 5:2For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
- Matt 24:42Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.
- Rev 16:15“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”
- 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.
- Zech 14:7It will be a day known only to the LORD, without day or night; but when evening comes, there will be light.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 24:36 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.