Matthew 24:30

At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus speaks to his disciples on the Mount of Olives, answering their question about the timing of his return (Matt 24:3). The verse sits between the cosmic disturbances of v. 29 and the gathering of the elect in v. 31.

The words — Sēmeion (σημεῖον) means a visible mark or token that identifies what it signals; here it is the sign that belongs to the Son of Man himself. Phanēsetai (φανήσεται) is a future passive of phainō, "will become visible" — the appearance is not the subject acting but being revealed.

The thread — "Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven" is drawn directly from Daniel 7:13, where the figure receives dominion before the Ancient of Days. Luke 21:27 preserves the same language in the parallel account, and Revelation 1:7 extends the scope: "every eye will see Him."

Why it lands — The verse removes any possibility of missing the event; it is public, visible, and universal in its audience. A reader is placed among "all the tribes" who will see it, not as a spectator but as one who must respond.

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 shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Cross-references

Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.
Daniel 7:13 In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.
Luke 21:27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Matthew 26:64 “You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
Mark 13:26 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Zechariah 12:10 Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
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?”
2 Thessalonians 1:7 and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels