Luke 21:32

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 21:32 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished.
Luke 21:32 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
32Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Verily I say unto you, this generation, etc.] (See Gill on “<402434>Matthew 24:34”). (See Gill on “<402435>Matthew 24:35”). All the Oriental versions read here as there, “all these things”; before related.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“This generation--not "this nation," as some interpret it, which, though admissible in itself, seems very unnatural here. It is rather as in Luk 9:27.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The account of the destruction of Jerusalem contained in this chapter has been fully considered in the notes at Matthew 24:0. All that will be necessary here will be an explanation of a few words that did not occur in that chapter. Luke 21:9 Commotions - Insurrections. Subjects rising against their rulers. Luke 21:11 Fearful sights - See Matthew 24:7. Luke 21:12, Luke 21:13 Synagogues, and into prisons - See the notes at Mark 13:9-10. Luke 21:14 Settle it, therefore, in your hearts - Fix it firmly in your minds - so firmly as to become a settled principle - that you are always to depend on God for aid in all your trials. See Mark 13:11. Luke 21:15 A mouth - Eloquence, ability to speak as the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Till all things be effected - All that has been spoken of the destruction of Jerusalem, to which the question, Luk 21:7, relates: and which is treated of from Luke 21:8-24. Luke 21:34”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:32 this generation will not pass from the scene: This saying is puzzling—Jesus seems to have predicted that he would come again before the first generation of his disciples died out. There are three main interpretations: (1) the reference is to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 when Jesus “came” in judgment against the nation of Israel; (2) “this generation” is not Jesus’ contemporaries, but a future generation alive when these signs begin coming to fulfillment; (3) the term generation could be translated “race,” referring to the Jewish race that will not disappear before Christ returns.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Luk 11:50, Luk 11:51; Mat 16:28, Mat 23:36, Mat 24:34; Mar 13:30 Luke 21:33”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification