Mark 13:12

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples during the Olivet discourse, immediately following instructions about impending arrest and the Spirit’s aid in defense. He describes the breakdown of family bonds as a direct consequence of his name.

The words — παραδώσει (paradōsei) means “will deliver up,” and εἰς θάνατον (eis thanaton) translates literally to “to death.” The text states that family members will hand one another over to execution.

The thread — This pattern of familial betrayal appears in Matthew 10:21, Luke 12:52, and Ezekiel 38:21. Each passage uses domestic division to illustrate widespread conflict.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that loyalty to Christ will fracture natural relationships. It requires the reader to expect persecution from kin and to endure without compromise.

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

καὶkaiAnd παραδώσειparadōseiwill deliver up δὲdenow ἀδελφὸςadelphosbrother ἀδελφὸνadelphonbrother εἰςeisto θάνατονthanatondeath καὶkaiand πατὴρpatērfather τέκνον,teknonchild,καὶkaiand ἐπαναστήσονταιepanastēsontaiwill rise up τέκναteknachildren ἐπὶepiagainst γονεῖςgoneisparents καὶkaiand θανατώσουσινthanatōsousinwill put to death αὐτούς.autousthem.

King James Version

Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

Cross-references

Matthew 10:21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
Luke 12:52 From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.
Ezekiel 38:21 And I will summon a sword against Gog on all My mountains, declares the Lord GOD, and every man’s sword will be against his brother.
Micah 7:4 The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a hedge of thorns. The day for your watchmen has come, the day of your visitation. Now is the time of their confusion.
Matthew 24:10 At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,
Luke 21:16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.