Bible Strands
Mark 13:21
At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to his disciples concerning the period of tribulation immediately preceding the end. He warns them against accepting claims of the Messiah's immediate, localized presence.
The words — The Greek term ἴδε (ide) translates literally as "behold" or "look," emphasizing a sudden, visible claim. It is paired with ὧδε (hōde), meaning "here," to denote a specific, localized location.
The thread — This warning appears identically in Matthew 24:23 and parallels the deception warning in Luke 21:8. It directly follows the statement about the Lord cutting short the days of tribulation in Mark 13:20 and precedes the description of false Christs performing signs in Mark 13:22.
Why it lands — The text commands immediate rejection of any localized claims about the Christ's presence during the tribulation. It requires the reader to refuse deception rather than investigate or validate the reported location.
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
King James Version
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
Cross-references
- Matthew 24:23 At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.
- Luke 21:8 Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.
- Matthew 24:5 For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
- Deuteronomy 13:1 If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,
- Luke 17:23 People will tell you, ‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’ Do not go out or chase after them.
- John 5:43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you have not received Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him.