Matthew 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Original Language Analysis
μετὰ
after
G3326
μετὰ
after
Strong's:
G3326
Word #:
3 of 32
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἡμερῶν
days
G2250
ἡμερῶν
days
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
7 of 32
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
ἐκείνων
of those
G1565
ἐκείνων
of those
Strong's:
G1565
Word #:
8 of 32
that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
12 of 32
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἡ
G3588
ἡ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δώσει
give
G1325
δώσει
give
Strong's:
G1325
Word #:
16 of 32
to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
17 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτῆς
G846
αὐτῆς
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
19 of 32
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
20 of 32
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
21 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀστέρες
the stars
G792
ἀστέρες
the stars
Strong's:
G792
Word #:
22 of 32
a star (as strown over the sky), literally or figuratively
ἀπὸ
from
G575
ἀπὸ
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
24 of 32
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
25 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
οὐρανῶν
heaven
G3772
οὐρανῶν
heaven
Strong's:
G3772
Word #:
26 of 32
the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of god); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the gospel (christianity)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
27 of 32
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αἱ
G3588
αἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
28 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δυνάμεις
the powers
G1411
δυνάμεις
the powers
Strong's:
G1411
Word #:
29 of 32
force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
30 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Amos 8:9And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:Joel 3:15The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.Isaiah 13:10For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.Isaiah 24:23Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.Isaiah 34:4And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.2 Peter 3:10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.Revelation 8:12And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.Joel 2:10The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:Amos 5:20Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
Historical Context
Isaiah and Joel used identical cosmic imagery to describe historical judgments on Babylon and locust plagues. First-century Jews would recognize this as covenant lawsuit language—God vindicating His people by overthrowing oppressors. The 'tribulation' likely references both the Roman destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70) and future tribulation before Christ's final return.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Old Testament apocalyptic language help you understand Jesus's prophecy without demanding wooden literalism?
- What 'powers of the heavens'—cultural authorities, institutions, ideologies—do you see being shaken in our time?
- How does the cosmic scope of Christ's return reshape your view of His sovereignty over all creation?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened—This cosmic upheaval language (thlipsis, θλῖψις = tribulation/pressure) draws directly from Isaiah 13:10, 34:4, Joel 2:10, 31, and echoes throughout Jewish apocalyptic. The sun (hēlios, ἥλιος), moon (selēnē, σελήνη), and stars (asteres, ἀστέρες) represent created authorities collapsing before the Creator's glory.
The powers of the heavens shall be shaken (dynameis, δυνάμεις)—not merely celestial bodies, but spiritual powers and earthly kingdoms. This is theophanic language: God's appearing disrupts all created order. Whether literal cosmological events or apocalyptic metaphor for political collapse, the meaning is clear—human power structures dissolve when the King arrives.