Matthew 24:17

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

Complete Jewish Bible:

If someone is on the roof, he must not go down to gather his belongings from his house;

Berean Standard Bible:

Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house.

American Standard Version:

let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Let him which is on^{G1909} the housetop^{G1430} not^{G3361} come down^{G2597} to take^{G142} any thing^{G5100} out of^{G1537} his^{G846} house^{G3614}:

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Commentary for Matthew 24:17

Matthew 24:17 is part of the Olivet Discourse, a significant eschatological passage in the New Testament where Jesus speaks about the end times and the coming destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The verse reads, "Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:" This directive is part of Jesus' instructions to his followers concerning the suddenness and urgency of the events that will precede his return.

In the historical context, housetops in ancient Israel were often flat and used for various activities, including rest, prayer, and drying clothes or food. Being on the housetop could indicate a moment of rest or reflection. Jesus' warning not to come down to retrieve belongings underscores the immediacy of the coming cataclysm. It suggests that there will be no time to gather possessions when the predicted events begin to unfold. This verse emphasizes the themes of preparedness, urgency, and the fleeting nature of material attachments in light of imminent divine judgment.

The broader context of Matthew 24 includes Jesus' teachings on the signs of the end of the age, the arrival of false prophets, and the necessity for his followers to remain vigilant and ready for his return. The verse serves as a metaphorical call to spiritual readiness, urging believers to live in a state of constant anticipation, not bound by earthly concerns, but focused on the kingdom of God and the return of Christ. It reflects the apocalyptic literature common in Jewish and early Christian thought, which often used vivid imagery to convey the urgency of repentance and the reality of divine intervention in history.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G1909
   There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐπί
   Transliteration: epí
   Pronunciation: ep-ee'
   Description: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
   
2. Strong's Number: G1430
   There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δῶμα
   Transliteration: dōma
   Pronunciation: do'-mah
   Description: from (to build); properly, an edifice, i.e. (specially) a roof:--housetop.
   
3. Strong's Number: G3361
   There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: μή
   Transliteration: mḗ
   Pronunciation: may
   Description: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas οὐ expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas οὐ expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also ἐὰν μή, ἵνα μή, οὐ μή, μῆκος, μηκύνω, μήν, μὴ οὐκ.
   
4. Strong's Number: G2597
   There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καταβαίνω
   Transliteration: katabaínō
   Pronunciation: kat-ab-ah'-ee-no
   Description: from κατά and the base of βάσις; to descend (literally or figuratively):--come (get, go, step) down, fall (down).
   
5. Strong's Number: G142
   There are 168 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: αἴρω
   Transliteration: aírō
   Pronunciation: ah'-ee-ro
   Description: a primary root; 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 anchor); by Hebraism (compare נָשָׂא) to expiate sin:--away with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose, make to doubt, put away, remove, take (away, up).
   
6. Strong's Number: G5100
   There are 419 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: τὶς
   Transliteration: tìs
   Pronunciation: tis
   Description: an enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object:--a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever).
   
7. Strong's Number: G1537
   There are 761 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐκ
   Transliteration: ek
   Pronunciation: ex
   Description: a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, …ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.
   
8. Strong's Number: G846
   There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: αὐτός
   Transliteration: autós
   Pronunciation: ow-tos'
   Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
   
9. Strong's Number: G3614
   There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: οἰκία
   Transliteration: oikía
   Pronunciation: oy-kee'-ah
   Description: from οἶκος; properly, residence (abstractly), but usually (concretely) an abode (literally or figuratively); by implication, a family (especially domestics):--home, house(-hold).