Luke 21:22

For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples and the surrounding crowds in the temple, explaining the imminent siege of Jerusalem. He marks the coming crisis as a divinely appointed period of judgment preceding the temple's destruction.

The words — ἐκδικήσεως (ekdikēseōs) means "of vengeance" or "of avenging," and πλησθῆναι (plēsthēnai) means "to be fulfilled." The text states these are the days when God's written judgments will be brought to completion.

The thread — The motif of fixed seasons of divine retribution runs through Hosea 9:7 and Isaiah 34:8, where God's judgment is described as a determined time of recompense. The verse frames the current crisis as the fulfillment of prophetic writings rather than a new or arbitrary event.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that historical catastrophe operates under divine sovereignty and prophetic fulfillment. It calls the reader to understand present turmoil as the execution of established judgment, not random misfortune.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ὅτιhotifor ἡμέραιhēmerai[the] days ἐκδικήσεωςekdikēseōsof avenging αὗταίhautaithese εἰσινeisinare τοῦtou<the>πλησθῆναιplēsthēnaito fill πάνταpantaall things τὰtawhich γεγραμμένα.¶gegrammenawritten.

King James Version

For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Cross-references

Hosea 9:7 The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived—let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.
Isaiah 65:12 I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”
Isaiah 34:8 For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
Isaiah 63:4 For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and the year of My redemption had come.
Jeremiah 51:6 Flee from Babylon! Escape with your lives! Do not be destroyed in her punishment. For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He will pay her what she deserves.
2 Peter 2:9 if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
Mark 13:19 For those will be days of tribulation unseen from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never to be seen again.
2 Peter 3:7 And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
Deuteronomy 32:43 Rejoice, O heavens, with Him, and let all God’s angels worship Him. Rejoice, O nations, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His children. He will take vengeance on His adversaries and repay those who hate Him; He will cleanse His land and His people.