Bible Strands
Mark 13:8
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples on the Mount of Olives, responding to their inquiry about the timing of his return and the end of the age. He speaks this warning immediately after noting that wars and rumors of wars must occur but do not yet signal the conclusion.
The words — The Greek verb ἐγερθήσεται (egerthēsetai) literally means "will be raised up," describing the sudden mobilization of political powers. The noun ἔθνος (ethnos) denotes nations or kingdoms that turn against one another in conflict.
The thread — The designation of these events as "the beginning of birth pains" directly parallels Matthew 24:8. The imagery of sudden, labor-like distress also resonates with the anguish described in Psalms 48:6 and Isaiah 37:3.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to observe global conflict and disaster without panic. It instructs the audience to recognize these occurrences as necessary precursors to the end, not as grounds for alarm.
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
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
Cross-references
- Psalms 48:6 Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.
- Matthew 24:8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
- Isaiah 37:3 to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.
- Haggai 2:22 I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn chariots and their riders; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:3 While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
- Isaiah 19:2 “So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
- Jeremiah 6:24 We have heard the report; our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.
- Jeremiah 13:21 What will you say when He sets over you close allies whom you yourself trained? Will not pangs of anguish grip you, as they do a woman in labor?
- Jeremiah 22:23 O inhabitant of Lebanon, nestled in the cedars, how you will groan when pangs of anguish come upon you, agony like a woman in labor.”
- Jeremiah 25:32 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Behold! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.”