King James Version

What Does Luke 21:25 Mean?

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;”

Context

But woe unto them that are with child , and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

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Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(25-33) **And there shall be signs in the sun.**—See Notes on Matthew 24:29-35, Mark 13:24-31, where the “signs” are defined as the “sun being darkened, and the moon not giving her light.” **Distress of nations.**—The Greek for the first noun means literally, *constraint,* the sense of being hemmed in, as when we say “in great straits.” It is used by St. Paul in 2Corinthians 2:4, and not elsewhere in the New Testament. The word for “perplexity” is used by St. Luke only. **The sea and the waves roaring.**—The better MSS. give a different punctuation and reading, *with perplexity from the roar of the sea, and of the surge,* or *wave.* In the common reading we have another instance of agreement with St. Paul, in 1Corinthians 13:1, where the word is rendered “tinkling”—better, *echoing,* or *resounding.* Assuming, as has been suggested above, that St. Luke’s report is of the nature of a paraphrase, we may, perhaps, connect this feature in it with his own experience. To one who had known the perils of waters narrated in Acts 27, no picture of the more dread phenomena of nature could be complete without “the sea and the waves roaring.”

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

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 21:25 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.