Mark 13:20

18 Pray that this will not occur in the winter.

19 For those will be days of tribulation unmatched from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never to be seen again.

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.

21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.

22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
WEB
Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.
ASV
And except the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect`s sake, whom he chose, he shortened the days.
DARBY
and if [the] Lord had not cut short those days, no flesh should have been saved; but on account of the elect whom he has chosen, he has cut short those days.
BLB
And if the Lord did not shorten the days, not any flesh would have been saved; but because of the chosen whom He chose, He shortened the days.
ÅB
Og dersom ikke Herren forkortet de dager, da ble intet kjød frelst; men for de utvalgtes skyld, for deres skyld som han har utvalgt, har han forkortet de dager.
OTB
Hvis Herren ikke hadde forkortet de dagene, ville ingen liv bli frelst; men for de utvalgtes skyld, som Han har valgt, har Han forkortet dem.
B1930
Og dersom ikke Herren forkortet de dager, da blev intet kjød frelst; men for de utvalgtes skyld, for deres skyld som han har utvalgt, har han forkortet de dager.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 65:8–9

    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.

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 13:8–9

    And in all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but a third will be left in it.

    Read in context
  • Romans 11:28–32

    Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 1:9

    Unless the LORD of Hosts had left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 6:13

    And though a tenth remains in the land, it will be burned again. As the terebinth and oak leave stumps when felled, so the holy seed will be a stump in the land.”

    Read in context
  • Romans 11:5–7

    In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

    Read in context
  • Romans 11:23–24

    And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

    Read in context