Matthew 24:22

If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples concerning the unprecedented tribulation period he just described. He explains that a divine interruption will occur within that timeframe.

The words — ἐκολοβώθησαν (ekolobōthēsan) carries the literal sense of "was shortened" or "cut short." It modifies ἡμέραι (hēmerai), meaning "days," indicating a forced termination of the distress period.

The thread — The identical truncation of days appears in Matthew 24:22 and Mark 13:20. Paul later references the elect in 2 Timothy 2:10, and Matthew 24:24 immediately follows with the warning about false signs.

Why it lands — The text states that without divine limitation, no one would survive, but God shortens the days for the elect. A reader must acknowledge the impossibility of human endurance in that tribulation and submit to God's sovereign control over its duration.

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 except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Cross-references

Mark 13:20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has cut them short.
2 Timothy 2:10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
Matthew 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
Matthew 24:31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Luke 18:7 Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them?
Isaiah 65:8 This is what the LORD says: “As the new wine is found in a cluster of grapes, and men say, ‘Do not destroy it, for it contains a blessing,’ so I will act on behalf of My servants; I will not destroy them all.
Zechariah 14:2 For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.
Romans 9:11 Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand,
Romans 11:25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.