Mark 13:20

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

If the Lord had not shortened those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has shortened them.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ εἰ μὴ Κύριος ἐκολόβωσεν τὰς ἡμέρας, οὐκ ἂν ἐσώθη πᾶσα σάρξ: ἀλλὰ διὰ τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς, οὓς ἐξελέξατο, ἐκολόβωσεν τὰς ἡμέρας.

Transliteration

And if not Kyrios ekolobōsen the hēmeras, not an esōthē all sarx: but because-of the eklektous, whom exelexato, he ekolobōsen the hēmeras.

Grammar Details

• *Kyrios*: nominative, masculine, singular - Lord
• *ekolobōsen*: aorist, indicative, active, 3rd singular - shortened/cut short
• *hēmeras*: accusative, feminine, plural - days
• *an*: particle indicating unreality of condition - would
• *esōthē*: aorist, indicative, passive, 3rd singular - was saved
• *sarx*: nominative, feminine, singular - flesh
• *eklektous*: accusative, masculine, plural - elect/chosen ones
• *exelexato*: aorist, indicative, middle, 3rd singular - chose/selected

Word Meanings

• *Kyrios*: Lord/Master
• *ekolobōsen*: shortened/cut short/curtailed
• *hēmeras*: days/time periods
• *esōthē*: was saved/rescued/preserved
• *sarx*: flesh/body/human being
• *eklektous*: elect/chosen ones/selected
• *exelexato*: chose/selected/picked out

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he has chosen, he has shortened the days.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} except{G1487} the{G3361} Lord{G2962} had shortened{G2856} the days,{G2250} no{G3756} flesh{G4561} would{G3956} have been saved;{G302} but{G235} for{G1223} the elect's sake,{G1588} whom{G3739} he chose,{G1586} he shortened{G2856} the days.{G2250}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} except{G1508} that the Lord{G2962} had shortened{G2856}{(G5656)} those days{G2250}, no{G3756}{G3956} flesh{G4561} should be{G302} saved{G4982}{(G5681)}: but{G235} for{G1223} the elect's sake{G1588}, whom{G3739} he hath chosen{G1586}{(G5668)}, he hath shortened{G2856}{(G5656)} the days{G2250}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And excepte yt the Lorde shuld shorten those dayes no ma shuld be saved. But for the electes sake which he hath chosen he hath shortened those dayes.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And yf ye LORDE had not shortened those dayes, there shulde no man be saued. But for the electes sake whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened those dayes.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And except that the Lorde had shortened those dayes, no flesh shoulde be saued: but for the elects sake, which he hath chosen, he hath shortened those dayes.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And except that the Lorde shoulde shorten those dayes, no fleshe shoulde be saued: But for the electes sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened those dayes.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and if the Lord did not shorten the days, no flesh had been saved; but because of the chosen, whom He did choose to Himself, He did shorten the days.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And except the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect's sake, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And except the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect's sake, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And if the Lord had not made the time short, no flesh would have been kept from destruction; but because of the saints he has made the time short.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved. But because of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut them short.

Referenced Verses

• Isa 65:8-9 : 8 This is what the LORD says: 'As new wine is found in a cluster and someone says, "Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it," in the same way, I will act for the sake of my servants and not destroy them all.' 9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah those who will inherit my mountains. My chosen ones will inherit it, and my servants will dwell there.
• Zech 13:8-9 : 8 In all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but one-third will be left in it. 9 This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’
• Matt 24:22 : 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.
• Rom 11:28-32 : 28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and His calling are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all.
• Isa 1:9 : 9 Unless the LORD of hosts had left us a few survivors, we would have been like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.
• Isa 6:13 : 13 Yet a tenth will remain in the land, and it will once again be ravaged. Like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains when it is felled, the holy seed is its stump.
• Rom 11:5-7 : 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer based on works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The chosen obtained it, but the rest were hardened.
• Rom 11:23-24 : 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from a wild olive tree and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more easily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?