Matthew 24:39
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 19
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἔγνωσαν
knew
G1097
ἔγνωσαν
knew
Strong's:
G1097
Word #:
3 of 19
to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed)
ἕως
until
G2193
ἕως
until
Strong's:
G2193
Word #:
4 of 19
a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place)
ἦλθεν
came
G2064
ἦλθεν
came
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
5 of 19
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
8 of 19
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἦρεν
away
G142
ἦρεν
away
Strong's:
G142
Word #:
9 of 19
to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e., weigh
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
13 of 19
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 #:
14 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
παρουσία
the coming
G3952
παρουσία
the coming
Strong's:
G3952
Word #:
15 of 19
a being near, i.e., advent (often, return; specially, of christ to punish jerusalem, or finally the wicked); (by implication) physically, aspect
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
16 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
υἱοῦ
of the Son
G5207
υἱοῦ
of the Son
Strong's:
G5207
Word #:
17 of 19
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
Cross References
John 3:20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.Matthew 24:37But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.Acts 13:41Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.Proverbs 24:12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?Proverbs 29:7The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.2 Peter 3:5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
Historical Context
Genesis 7:17-24 describes the flood lifting the ark while destroying everything else. Only eight souls survived. Jewish tradition emphasized the sudden onset—after seven days of delay, the floodgates opened without further warning. Jesus uses this as a warning to first-century Israel (facing AD 70 judgment) and to all generations before His return. The parallel is exact: warning given, warning ignored, judgment executed.
Questions for Reflection
- What biblical warnings are you in danger of 'knowing' intellectually but not responding to practically?
- How does the reality of Noah's flood as historical judgment inform your confidence in future eschatological judgment?
- In what ways might you be treating Christ's return warnings the way Noah's generation treated his ark-building?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And knew not until the flood came—The Greek ouk egnōsan (οὐκ ἔγνωσαν = they did not know/perceive) indicates willful ignorance, not lack of information. They had 120 years of warning, visual evidence of the ark, and Noah's preaching (2 Peter 2:5), yet chose not to know. And took them all away (kai ēren hapantas, καὶ ἦρεν ἅπαντας)—the flood 'took' them in judgment, lifting them off the earth in death.
So shall also the coming of the Son of man be—the terrifying parallel is complete. Christ's parousia will find a world absorbed in earthly pursuits, ignoring clear signs, mocking warnings. The 'taking away' in judgment contrasts with believers being 'caught up' to meet the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The flood didn't take the righteous; it took the wicked in destruction.