The Meaning of Mark 13:33 Explained

Mark 13:33

KJV: Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

YLT: Take heed, watch and pray, for ye have not known when the time is;

Darby: Take heed, watch and pray, for ye do not know when the time is:

ASV: Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Take ye heed,  watch  and  pray:  for  ye know  not  when  the time  is. 

What does Mark 13:33 Mean?

Verse Meaning

For the fourth time, Jesus urged His disciples to take heed (Gr. blepete, Mark 13:5; Mark 13:9; Mark 13:23). He underlined this warning by adding, "Be vigilant" (Gr. agrypneite). Watchfulness is necessary because we do not know the exact time of Jesus" return.
In view of God"s revelations concerning the Rapture, the Tribulation, and the Second Coming, were Jesus" exhortations to remain watchful unnecessarily urgent? Christians who know their Bibles are aware that many events will precede the Second Coming. Is it realistic or necessary to live as though Jesus" return is imminent?
Jesus" return was not less than seven years away from His departure from the earth because the Old Testament prophesied the Tribulation before the messianic kingdom ( Daniel 9:24-27). Therefore the12disciples to whom Jesus gave this discourse could have been only a few years away from His return. They needed to be vigilant. That generation of disciples and all succeeding generations of disciples learned later that Jesus would return for His own at the Rapture before He comes at the Second Coming ( 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Thus while His second coming is at least seven years away, His return at the Rapture will be sooner. Pretribulationists believe it could be at any moment. Therefore all that Jesus said about the importance of being vigilant anticipating His return is applicable to and relevant for us.

Context Summary

Mark 13:14-37 - "watch!"
The fall of Jerusalem, Mark 13:14-23. This abomination had been predicted by Daniel, Daniel 9:27, Josephus says that the Romans brought their standards into the Temple, and offered sacrifices to them, and proclaimed Titus emperor. Probably there is to be a yet further fulfillment of these significant words. Houses in the East are, for the most part, provided with staircases outside the wall, so that the occupants, seeing the approach of danger, could flee without going through their homes, Mark 13:15. The ungodly owe more than they realize to the elect who dwell among them, Mark 13:20. Let us not be deceived by the appearance of false doctrines or teachers; there are also false Christs, Mark 13:22.
The second advent, Mark 13:24-27. These signs may refer to the disorganization of political rule, or to literal convulsions of the elements. The ministry of angels was very real to Jesus, and their function in the future ages is clearly defined. As Enoch was translated before the deluge, so will the saints be gathered before the final sorrows, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. It would seem as if Christ's coming is to bring summer to our world. This generation may refer to the fact that the Jewish people would remain as a distinct people. Our Lord had so emptied Himself, that in His human nature He knew not the hour, and was content to know only as the Father told Him. He has now resumed the glory of the knowledge which He had before all worlds. Have we each one found our work? Let us watch! [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 13

1  Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple;
9  the persecutions for the gospel;
10  that the gospel must be preached to all nations;
14  that great calamities shall happen to the Jews;
24  and the manner of his coming to judgment;
32  the hour whereof being known to none, every man is to watch and pray

Greek Commentary for Mark 13:33

Watch [ἀγρυπνεῖτε]
The word is derived from ἀγρεύω , do hunt, and ὕπνος ,sleep. The picture is of one in pursuit of sleep, and therefore wakeful, restless. Wyc.'s rendering of the whole passage is striking: See! wake ye and pray ye! [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 13:33

Mark 13:35 Watch [γρηγορεῖτε]
A different word from that in Mark 13:33. See also Mark 13:34. The picture in this word is that of a sleeping man rousing himself. While the other word conveys the idea of simple wakefulness, this adds the idea of alertness. Compare Mark 14:38; Luke 12:37; 1 Peter 5:8. The apostles are thus compared with the doorkeepers, Mark 13:34; and the night season is in keeping with the figure. In the temple, during the night, the captain of the temple made his rounds, and the guards had to rise at his approach and salute him in a particular manner. Any guard found asleep on duty was beaten, or his garments were set on fire. Compare Revelation 16:15: “Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments. ” The preparations for the morning service required all to be early astir. The superintending priest might knock at the door at any moment. The Rabbis use almost the very words in which scripture describes the unexpected coming of the Master. “Sometimes he came at the cockcrowing, sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later. He came and knocked and they opened to him” (Edersheim, “The Temple”). [source]
Luke 21:36 Watch []
See on Mark 13:33. [source]
2 Corinthians 6:5 Watchings [ἀγρυπνίαις]
Only here and 2 Corinthians 11:27. See on the kindred verb, Mark 13:33. For the historical facts, see Acts 16:25; Acts 20:7-11, Acts 20:31; 2 Thessalonians 3:8. [source]
Ephesians 6:18 Watching thereunto [εἰς αὐτὸ ἀγρυπνοῦντες]
Compare Colossians 4:2. For watching, see on Mark 13:33, Mark 13:35. Thereunto, unto prayer, for occasions of prayer, and to maintain the spirit of prayer. One must watch before prayer, in prayer, after prayer. [source]
Colossians 4:2 Watching [γρηγοροῦντες]
See on Mark 13:35; see on 1 Peter 5:8. In Ephesians 6:18, ἀγρυπνοῦντες watchingis used, on which see Mark 13:33. [source]
Hebrews 13:17 They watch [ἀγρυπνοῦσιν]
See on Mark 13:33, and comp. Luke 21:36; Ephesians 6:18. [source]
Hebrews 13:17 Obey [πειτεστε]
Present middle imperative of πειτω — peithō with dative case. Submit Present active imperative of υπεικω — hupeikō old compound to yield under, to give up. Here only in N.T. They watch Present active indicative of αγρυπνεω — agrupneō old verb (from αγρεω — agreō to search, υπνος — hupnos sleep), to seek after sleep, to be sleepless, be watchful (Mark 13:33). As they that shall give account Regular Greek idiom with ως — hōs and the future participle. For λογον αποδιδωμι — logon apodidōmi to render account, see Matthew 12:36. These leaders as good shepherds recognize keenly their responsibility for the welfare of the flock. And not with grief “And not groaning” (cf. Romans 8:23). Unprofitable Old double compound adjective (alpha privative and λυσιτελης — lusitelēs and this from λυω — luō to pay, and τελος — telos tax, useful or profitable as Luke 17:2), not profitable, not advantageous, by litotes, hurtful, pernicious. Common rhetorical litotes, here only in N.T. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 13:33 mean?

Take heed watch not you know for when the time is
Βλέπετε ἀγρυπνεῖτε οὐκ οἴδατε γὰρ πότε καιρός ἐστιν

Βλέπετε  Take  heed 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: βλέπω  
Sense: to see, discern, of the bodily eye.
ἀγρυπνεῖτε  watch 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀγρυπνέω  
Sense: to be sleepless, keep awake, watch.
οἴδατε  you  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
καιρός  time 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: καιρός  
Sense: due measure.