Mark 13:20

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.

📖 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 Thus says the LORD, 'As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, 'Do not destroy it, for a blessing is in it,' so will I do for my servants' sake, that I may not destroy them all. 9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah an inheritor of my mountains; my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
• Zech 13:8-9 : 8 And it shall come to pass that in all the land, says the LORD, two-thirds shall be cut off and die, but one-third shall be left in it. 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will test them as gold is tested; they shall call on my name, and I will hear them; I will say, It is my people, and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
• Matt 24:22 : 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
• Rom 11:28-32 : 28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown to you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
• Isa 1:9 : 9 Except the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sodom, and we would have been like Gomorrah.
• Isa 6:13 : 13 But yet a tenth will be in it, and it will return, and be consumed; as a terebinth tree or as an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.
• Rom 11:5-7 : 5 Even so then, at this present time there is also a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. 7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
• Rom 11:23-24 : 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?