Bible Strands
Mark 13:4
“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to be fulfilled?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Peter, James, John, and Andrew ask Jesus privately while He sits on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple. They request the timing of the temple's destruction and the specific sign indicating its fulfillment.
The words — The Greek εἰπὸν (eipon) issues the command "do tell," and ἡμῖν (hēmin) identifies the recipients as "us." The demonstrative ταῦτα (tauta) points directly to the previously mentioned temple events, while ἔσται (estai) fixes the inquiry in the future tense.
The thread — This question parallels the disciples' private inquiry in Matthew 24:3 and echoes their later request about restoring the kingdom to Israel in Acts 1:6. The timeline focus aligns with Daniel 12:6's demand to know the duration until prophetic completion.
Why it lands — The text requires identifying the exact moment of fulfillment and the accompanying visible sign before drawing conclusions. It forces the reader to separate historical events from their prophetic markers without relying on speculation.
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
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
Cross-references
- Acts 1:6 So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
- Matthew 24:3 While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
- Daniel 12:6 One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long until the fulfillment of these wonders?”
- John 21:21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
- Daniel 12:8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”
- Luke 21:7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”