Mark 13:15

Let no one on the housetop go back inside to retrieve anything from his house.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples during the Olivet Discourse, giving immediate tactical instructions for the moment the abomination of desolation appears in Judea.

The words — δώματος (dōmatos) translates literally to "housetop," and καταβάτω (katabatō) is a command meaning "he should come down," describing the physical descent from a flat roof.

The thread — The text's directive runs parallel to Mark 13:16 regarding the field and is echoed in Luke 17:31 with identical phrasing about refusing to retrieve possessions.

Why it lands — The text commands unhesitating flight from elevated dwellings, requiring the reader to abandon property retrieval and prioritize immediate obedience over material preservation.

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

ὁhothe [one]δὲdeand ἐπὶepiupon τοῦtouthe δώματοςdōmatoshousetop μὴmēnot καταβάτωkatabatōhe should come down εἰςeisinto τὴνtēn<the>οἰκίανoikianhouse μηδὲmēdenor εἰσελθάτωeiselthatōshould go in ἆραίaraito take τιtianything ἐκekout of τῆςtēsthe οἰκίαςoikiashouse αὐτοῦ·autouof him;

King James Version

And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:

Cross-references

Luke 17:31 On that day, let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions. Likewise, let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind.
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Philippians 3:7 But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
Genesis 19:15 At daybreak the angels hurried Lot along, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.”
Genesis 19:22 Hurry! Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” That is why the town was called Zoar.
Genesis 19:26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Job 2:4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life.
Proverbs 6:4 Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.
Proverbs 22:3 The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
Matthew 24:16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.