King James Version

What Does Luke 17:26 Mean?

Luke 17:26 in the King James Version says “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” — study this verse from Luke chapter 17 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.”

Luke 17:26 · KJV

Context

24

For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

25

But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

26

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

27

They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

28

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. Jesus draws a parallel between Noah's era and His second coming. The phrase as it was in the days of Noe (καθὼς ἐγένετο ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Νῶε, kathōs egeneto en tais hēmerais Nōe) references Genesis 6-8, when humanity's wickedness provoked God's judgment through the flood. The comparison—so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man (οὕτως ἔσται καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, houtōs estai kai en tais hēmerais tou huiou tou anthrōpou)—establishes eschatological typology.

What characterized Noah's generation? Verse 27 details: eating, drinking, marrying—normal life pursued with no thought of coming judgment. Genesis 6:5 describes comprehensive wickedness: 'every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.' Yet the specific point here isn't extraordinary depravity but ordinary complacency—life as usual despite prophetic warning (2 Peter 2:5 calls Noah a 'preacher of righteousness'). People ignored Noah's ark-building and preaching, assuming stability would continue indefinitely.

The pattern repeats at Christ's return: people will pursue normal activities—business, pleasure, relationships—oblivious to impending judgment. The problem isn't eating or marrying per se but spiritual apathy that ignores God's warnings. Like Noah's contemporaries, the last generation will dismiss 'doomsday preaching' as fanaticism, continuing in sin until suddenly, unexpectedly, the day of reckoning arrives (Matthew 24:37-39). The warning: don't be lulled by normalcy into forgetting accountability to God.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Genesis 6-9 records the flood narrative. God saw that 'the wickedness of man was great in the earth' (Genesis 6:5) and determined to destroy all flesh except Noah's family (eight people) and representative animals. Noah built the ark over many years—tradition suggests 120 years (Genesis 6:3)—providing extended opportunity for repentance. Yet only his family entered the ark; everyone else perished in the flood (Genesis 7:21-23).

First-century Jews knew this history well. Jesus assumes His audience's familiarity with Noah. The comparison would resonate: just as antediluvian humanity ignored God's messenger and warning, so Jesus' generation was ignoring Him. Peter later develops this typology (1 Peter 3:20-21, 2 Peter 2:5, 3:3-7), arguing that as God judged the ancient world with water, He will judge the present world with fire. Both Noah's flood and the final judgment follow the same pattern: God warns, people scoff, judgment comes suddenly, the faithful remnant is saved, the disobedient perish. The application to Christ's hearers was urgent: don't repeat history's tragic folly by ignoring God's final messenger.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the comparison to Noah's generation challenge the assumption that life will continue indefinitely without divine intervention?
  2. What does spiritual complacency look like in contemporary culture's pursuit of normal life (career, family, pleasure) while ignoring eternal realities?
  3. How should knowing that the world was once destroyed by flood affect your view of God's coming judgment by fire (2 Peter 3:7)?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 18 words
καὶ1 of 18

“And”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

καθὼς2 of 18

“as”

G2531

just (or inasmuch) as, that

ἐγένετο3 of 18

“it was”

G1096

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)

ἐν4 of 18

“in”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

ταῖς5 of 18
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἡμέραις6 of 18

“the days”

G2250

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

τοῦ7 of 18
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Νῶε8 of 18

“of Noe”

G3575

no, (i.e., noch), a patriarch

οὕτως9 of 18

“so”

G3779

in this way (referring to what precedes or follows)

ἔσται10 of 18

“shall it be”

G2071

will be

καὶ11 of 18

“And”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἐν12 of 18

“in”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

ταῖς13 of 18
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἡμέραις14 of 18

“the days”

G2250

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

τοῦ15 of 18
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

υἱοῦ16 of 18

“of the Son”

G5207

a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship

τοῦ17 of 18
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀνθρώπου·18 of 18

“of man”

G444

man-faced, i.e., a human being

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 17:26 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Luke 17:26 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 24:37-39Genesis 7:7-23Luke 17:24Hebrews 11:7Luke 17:222 Peter 2:5

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