The Meaning of Luke 21:35 Explained

Luke 21:35

KJV: For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

YLT: for as a snare it shall come on all those dwelling on the face of all the land,

Darby: for as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell upon the face of the whole earth.

ASV: for'so'shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  as  a snare  shall it come  on  all  them that dwell  on  the face  of the whole  earth. 

What does Luke 21:35 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 21:29-38 - The Need Of Constant Watchfulness
The summer of the world is yet before us! This is but the springtide, when the seeds are beginning to sprout, but the winds are cold. Ah, halcyon days of unbroken summer glory, make haste to break!
In a limited significance, our Lord's words were fulfilled within forty years of their utterance; but we are still to see how much more is contained in them than has yet been realized. In the meanwhile let us beware of His warning. Note that cares endanger our soul's health equally with surfeiting and drunkenness. It is impossible to live as we should apart from constant watching and prayer. The snare is so deftly laid that we may be entangled in it, before we are fully aware. But, oh how great the honor to be one day accounted "to stand before the Son of man!" See 1 Kings 10:8.
These last hours of our Lord's ministry were very full. The days were days of activity, interspersed with snatches of blessed intercourse with the beloved group at Bethany; while the nights were spent on Olivet in prayer. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 21

1  Jesus commends the poor widow
5  He foretells the destruction of the temple, and of the city Jerusalem;
25  the signs also which shall be before the last day
34  He exhorts them to be watchful

Greek Commentary for Luke 21:35

As a snare []
Join with the previous sentence: “come suddenly as a snare.” Compare entangle, Matthew 22:15. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 21:35

Romans 11:9 Table [τραπεζα]
For what is on the table, “a feast.” A snare (εις παγιδα — eis pagida). From πηγνυμι — pēgnumi to make fast, old word for snares for birds and beasts. See Luke 21:35. Εις — Eis in predicate with γινομαι — ginomai is a translation-Hebraism. A trap Old word for hunting of wild beasts, then a trap. Only here in N.T. A stumbling-block (εις σκανδαλον — eis skandalon). A third word for trap, snare, trap-stick or trigger over which they fall. See note on 1 Corinthians 1:23; Romans 9:33. A recompense Late word from double compound verb ανταποδιδωμι — antapodidōmi to repay (both αντι — anti and απο — apo). Ancient Greeks used ανταποδοσις — antapodosis In lxx and Didache. In N.T. only here (bad sense) and Luke 14:12 (good sense). [source]
Romans 11:9 A snare [εις παγιδα]
From πηγνυμι — pēgnumi to make fast, old word for snares for birds and beasts. See Luke 21:35. Εις — Eis in predicate with γινομαι — ginomai is a translation-Hebraism. [source]
1 Timothy 3:7 Reproach [ονειδισμον]
Late word from ονειδιζω — oneidizō See note on Romans 15:3. The snare of the devil (παγιδα του διαβολου — pagida tou diabolou). Here subjective genitive, snare set by the devil. Παγις — Pagis old word from πηγνυμι — pēgnumi to make fast. So a snare for birds (Luke 21:35), any sudden trap (Romans 11:9), of sin (1 Timothy 6:9), of the devil (1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 2:26). Ancients used it of the snares of love. The devil sets special snares for preachers (conceit 1 Timothy 3:6, money 1 Timothy 6:9, women, ambition). [source]
1 Timothy 3:7 The snare of the devil [παγιδα του διαβολου]
Here subjective genitive, snare set by the devil. Παγις — Pagis old word from πηγνυμι — pēgnumi to make fast. So a snare for birds (Luke 21:35), any sudden trap (Romans 11:9), of sin (1 Timothy 6:9), of the devil (1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 2:26). Ancients used it of the snares of love. The devil sets special snares for preachers (conceit 1 Timothy 3:6, money 1 Timothy 6:9, women, ambition). [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 21:35 mean?

It will come for upon all those sitting the face of all the earth
ἐπεισελεύσεται γὰρ ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς καθημένους πρόσωπον πάσης τῆς γῆς

ἐπεισελεύσεται  It  will  come 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐπεισέρχομαι 
Sense: to come to arrive.
ἐπὶ  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
τοὺς  those 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
καθημένους  sitting 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: κάθημαι  
Sense: to sit down, seat one’s self.
πρόσωπον  the  face 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πρόσωπον  
Sense: the face.
πάσης  of  all 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
γῆς  earth 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: γῆ  
Sense: arable land.