King James Version

What Does Luke 17:27 Mean?

Luke 17:27 in the King James Version says “They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, ... — study this verse from Luke chapter 17 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

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.

Luke 17:27 · KJV


Context

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;

29

But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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. Jesus details Noah-era normalcy: They did eat, they drank (ἤσθιον, ἔπινον, ēsthion, epinon)—imperfect tenses indicating continuous action. They married wives, they were given in marriage (ἐγάμουν, ἐγαμίζοντο, egamoun, egamizonto)—ongoing social activities. These aren't sins but ordinary human life. The problem: they did these things until the day that Noe entered into the ark (ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας εἰσῆλθεν Νῶε εἰς τὴν κιβωτόν, achri hēs hēmeras eisēlthen Nōe eis tēn kibōton)—right up to the moment of judgment, with no preparation, no repentance, no seeking God.

And the flood came, and destroyed them all (καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ κατακλυσμὸς καὶ ἀπώλεσεν πάντας, kai ēlthen ho kataklysmos kai apōlesen pantas). The aorist tense marks sudden, decisive action. The verb apollymi (ἀπώλεσεν, destroyed) indicates complete, irrevocable ruin—the same word used for eternal perdition (Matthew 10:28, John 3:16). All (πάντας, pantas) emphasizes totality—only Noah's family (eight people) survived.

The warning is sobering: normal life isn't sinful, but living as if this world is all that matters is spiritual suicide. Noah's contemporaries weren't necessarily more wicked than other generations—they simply ignored God while pursuing temporal goods. When judgment came, their normalcy provided no protection. So will it be at Christ's return: those absorbed in earthly pursuits without regard for God will be swept away. The solution isn't abandoning normal life but living it with eternity in view, like Noah who 'prepared an ark to the saving of his house' (Hebrews 11:7).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Genesis 7:11-24 describes the flood's catastrophic arrival. God Himself shut Noah's family in the ark (Genesis 7:16), then 'the windows of heaven were opened' and 'the fountains of the great deep were broken up' (Genesis 7:11). Water covered even the highest mountains (Genesis 7:19-20); every living thing died except those in the ark (Genesis 7:21-23). The judgment was global, sudden, and inescapable for the unprepared.

Jesus' point to His first-century audience was pointed: as Noah preached for decades while building the ark, Jesus was preaching the kingdom and warning of coming judgment. Would His generation heed the warning or, like Noah's contemporaries, dismiss it while pursuing normal life? History records their choice: the religious establishment rejected Jesus, leading to both His crucifixion and Jerusalem's destruction (AD 70)—a preview of final judgment. The pattern continues: every generation faces the choice to prepare (repent, believe the gospel) or ignore God's warnings while life seems stable. Suddenly, unexpectedly, the flood of judgment will come—this time by fire (2 Peter 3:7, 10-12).

Reflection Questions

  1. How can believers maintain healthy engagement in normal life (work, marriage, daily needs) while avoiding spiritual complacency about eternal realities?
  2. What does it mean practically to live with the urgency of Noah, preparing the 'ark' of salvation while others pursue normalcy?
  3. How should the totality of judgment ('destroyed them all') motivate evangelistic urgency in your relationships?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 19 words
ἤσθιον1 of 19

They did eat

G2068

used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by g5315; to eat (usually literal)

ἔπινον2 of 19

they drank

G4095

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

ἐγάμουν3 of 19

they married wives

G1060

to wed (of either sex)

ἐξεγαμίζοντο4 of 19

they were given in marriage

G1547

to marry off a daughter

ἄχρι5 of 19

until

G891

(of time) until or (of place) up to

ἧς6 of 19

that

G3739

the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that

ἡμέρας7 of 19

the day

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

εἰσῆλθεν8 of 19

entered

G1525

to enter (literally or figuratively)

Νῶε9 of 19

Noe

G3575

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

εἰς10 of 19

into

G1519

to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases

τὴν11 of 19
G3588

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

κιβωτόν12 of 19

the ark

G2787

a box, i.e., the sacred ark and that of noah

καὶ13 of 19

and

G2532

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

ἦλθεν14 of 19

came

G2064

to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

15 of 19
G3588

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

κατακλυσμὸς16 of 19

the flood

G2627

an inundation

καὶ17 of 19

and

G2532

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

ἀπώλεσεν18 of 19

destroyed

G622

to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively

ἅπαντας19 of 19

them all

G537

absolutely all or (singular) every one


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 17:27 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 17:27 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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