Mark 13:20

18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

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.

21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

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

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

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 65:8–9

    Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 13:8–9

    And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

    Read in context
  • Romans 11:28–32

    As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 1:9

    Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 6:13

    But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

    Read in context
  • Romans 11:5–7

    Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

    Read in context
  • Romans 11:23–24

    And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

    Read in context