Luke 17:27

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

They did eat {G2068}, they drank {G4095}, they married wives {G1060}, they were given in marriage {G1547}, until {G891} the day {G2250} that {G3739} Noe {G3575} entered {G1525} into {G1519} the ark {G2787}, and {G2532} the flood {G2627} came {G2064}, and {G2532} destroyed {G622} them all {G537}.

Complete Jewish Bible

People ate and drank, and men and women married, right up until the day Noach entered the ark; then the flood came and destroyed them all.

Berean Standard Bible

People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

American Standard Version

They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 17:27 powerfully illustrates the suddenness and totality of divine judgment through the historical event of Noah's Flood. Jesus depicts a world engrossed in the mundane activities of daily life—eating, drinking, marrying—completely oblivious to the impending catastrophe. This verse serves as a stark warning, emphasizing that life's ordinary routines can blind humanity to spiritual realities and the unexpected arrival of God's decisive intervention, which, in the days of Noah, culminated in universal destruction.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of Jesus' extended discourse to His disciples concerning the nature and timing of His second coming, often referred to as the "coming of the Son of Man." Beginning in [Luke 17:20](/luke/17-20 "Luke 17:20 - The Kingdom of God Is Within You"), Jesus corrects misconceptions about the visible arrival of God's kingdom, then transitions to describing His future, unexpected return. [Luke 17:26](/luke/17-26 "Luke 17:26 - The Days of Noah") explicitly introduces the comparison to "the days of Noe," setting the stage for the detailed description of human activity in verse 27. The narrative continues to parallel this with the "days of Lot" in [Luke 17:28-29](/luke/17-28-29 "Luke 17:28-29 - The Days of Lot and the Destruction of Sodom"), reinforcing the theme of a sudden, unexpected judgment interrupting ordinary life. The entire passage, from [Luke 17:20-37](/luke/17-20-37 "Luke 17:20-37 - The Coming of the Kingdom and the Son of Man"), serves as an eschatological warning, urging vigilance and preparedness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical event of Noah's Flood, recounted in [Genesis 6-9](/genesis/6-9 "Genesis 6-9 - The Account of Noah's Flood"), was a foundational narrative within Jewish tradition, serving as a prime example of divine judgment against human wickedness. Jesus' audience would have been intimately familiar with this story. The activities mentioned—eating, drinking, marrying—were not inherently sinful but represented the ordinary, legitimate pursuits of life in first-century Jewish society. However, in the context of Noah's time, these activities, when pursued exclusively and without regard for God's warnings (delivered through Noah, as implied in [2 Peter 2:5](/2_peter/2-5 "2 Peter 2:5 - Noah, a Preacher of Righteousness")), indicated a profound spiritual complacency and an absorption in worldly affairs that rendered people oblivious to the impending divine intervention. The "ark" was a physical manifestation of God's provision for salvation, a stark contrast to the world's preoccupation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major theological and narrative themes within Luke's Gospel and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the **suddenness and unexpectedness of divine judgment**, echoing the call for vigilance found throughout Jesus' teachings (e.g., [Luke 12:40](/luke/12-40 "Luke 12:40 - Be Ready for the Son of Man")). It highlights **human complacency and worldly preoccupation**, illustrating how an exclusive focus on temporal matters can blind individuals to eternal realities and God's impending actions. The implicit theme of **divine patience preceding judgment** is also present; while not explicit in this verse, the broader narrative of Noah's Flood in [Genesis 6:3](/genesis/6-3 "Genesis 6:3 - God's Spirit Will Not Always Strive with Man") suggests a period of grace before the flood came. Finally, it underscores the **importance of heeding divine warnings and spiritual preparedness**, contrasting the fate of the unprepared multitude with Noah's obedience and salvation, a theme central to the parables of the kingdom (e.g., [Matthew 25:1-13](/matthew/25-1-13 "Matthew 25:1-13 - The Parable of the Ten Virgins")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **married wives (Greek, _gaméō'_):** From γάμος (gamos), meaning "to wed." This verb signifies the act of entering into marriage for either a man or a woman. In the context of Luke 17:27, it highlights the normalcy and continuity of social life and procreation, which were fundamental aspects of human society. Jesus uses this word to emphasize that the people were engaged in the most common and essential human activities, utterly unaware of the impending divine judgment.
* **entered (Greek, _eisérchomai'_):** From εἰς (eis) and ἔρχομαι (érchomai), meaning "to enter (literally or figuratively)." This verb describes Noah's decisive action of going into the ark. It marks the precise moment when the period of grace and warning ended, and the time for judgment began. The contrast between the world's continued mundane activities and Noah's obedient "entering" is stark, underscoring the distinction between those who heed God's warning and those who do not.
* **destroyed (Greek, _apóllymi'_):** From ἀπό (apo) and the base of ὄλεθρος (olethros), meaning "to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose)." This powerful verb describes the complete and utter annihilation brought about by the flood. It signifies not just death, but a comprehensive undoing or ruin. Its use here emphasizes the finality and totality of God's judgment upon the unheeding world, serving as a severe warning for those who ignore the signs of His coming.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage":** This phrase describes the full spectrum of ordinary human existence. "Eating and drinking" represent the basic necessities and pleasures of life, while "marrying and being given in marriage" denote the continuation of family and society. These activities, though not inherently sinful, are presented as the sole focus of the people, indicating a profound absorption in earthly matters that rendered them oblivious to spiritual warnings and the impending divine judgment. The repetitive structure emphasizes the continuous and pervasive nature of this worldly preoccupation.
* **"until the day that Noe entered into the ark":** This clause marks the critical turning point. It highlights the sudden and unexpected cessation of normal life. The word "until" signifies a clear boundary—a period of grace and normalcy that abruptly ended when Noah, in obedience to God, completed his task and entered the ark. This act of entering the ark was the final, visible sign before the judgment, yet it was ignored by the vast majority.
* **"and the flood came":** This simple yet potent statement describes the immediate and catastrophic consequence of the world's unpreparedness. The "flood" represents God's overwhelming judgment, a direct divine intervention that brought an end to the existing order. The swiftness implied by "came" underscores the suddenness of the judgment, leaving no time for repentance or escape once it began.
* **"and destroyed them all":** This final clause reveals the devastating outcome. The judgment was comprehensive and absolute, affecting "them all"—everyone outside the ark. This emphasizes the totality of God's righteous wrath against a world given over to its own devices, serving as a dire warning about the inescapable nature of divine judgment for those who remain unrepentant and unprepared.

#### Literary Devices
Jesus employs several potent **literary devices** in this verse to convey His message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically a form of **analogy**, where the historical event of Noah's Flood is directly compared to the future coming of the Son of Man. This comparison highlights shared characteristics: a period of normal human activity, a sudden divine intervention, and a catastrophic outcome for the unprepared. The list of mundane activities ("eat, drank, married wives, were given in marriage") functions as **Synecdoche**, where a part (these specific actions) represents the whole (the entirety of human life and its preoccupations). This repetitive listing also creates a sense of **Accumulation**, emphasizing the pervasive and unbroken nature of worldly focus. The phrase "until the day that Noe entered into the ark" creates a dramatic **Anticlimax** followed by a swift **Climax**: the seemingly endless normalcy is abruptly shattered by the decisive action of Noah, immediately followed by the overwhelming "flood" and universal "destruction." This structure heightens the sense of sudden, inescapable judgment. Finally, there is a subtle **Irony** in the fact that the very activities that signify life and continuity (eating, drinking, marrying) become the backdrop for sudden and complete death, underscoring the world's obliviousness to its true spiritual state.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 17:27 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of God's judgment and the human condition. It underscores the divine prerogative to intervene decisively in human history, often at unexpected moments, to bring about justice. The verse highlights humanity's propensity for spiritual blindness, where the comforts and routines of daily life can become a veil, obscuring the eternal realities and the warnings of God. It implicitly teaches that while God is patient, His patience has a limit, and His judgment, when it comes, is comprehensive and inescapable for those who have ignored His call to repentance and preparedness. The contrast between Noah's obedience and the world's indifference becomes a timeless paradigm for responding to God's warnings.

* [Matthew 24:37-39](/matthew/24-37-39 "Matthew 24:37-39 - The Days of Noah and the Coming of the Son of Man")
* [2 Peter 3:3-7](/2_peter/3-3-7 "2 Peter 3:3-7 - Scoffers and the Certainty of Judgment")
* [Genesis 7:1-7](/genesis/7-1-7 "Genesis 7:1-7 - Noah Enters the Ark")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 17:27 is not merely a historical anecdote but a timeless spiritual warning for every generation. It challenges us to examine the depth of our engagement with the world versus our readiness for eternity. The call is not to abandon daily life, but to reorient our hearts and priorities so that even amidst eating, drinking, and marrying, our ultimate allegiance and hope remain fixed on Christ's return. Are we so engrossed in the temporal that we become oblivious to the eternal? This verse urges a spiritual vigilance that transcends mere routine, prompting us to live with an active awareness of God's sovereignty and the potential imminence of His coming. It reminds us that true security is found not in the stability of our daily routines, but in our relationship with God and our obedience to His word, just as Noah found safety in the ark.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "normal" daily activities might be subtly distracting me from spiritual vigilance and preparedness for Christ's return?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper awareness of eternal realities while still faithfully engaging with my responsibilities in the present world?**
* **In what ways am I, like the people in Noah's day, potentially ignoring or downplaying God's warnings for the future?**
* **What steps can I take today to ensure my heart and life are aligned with God's will, so I am found ready when He comes?**

### FAQ

**What is the main point Jesus is making by referring to Noah's Flood in Luke 17:27?**

Answer: The main point Jesus is making is to emphasize the **suddenness and unexpectedness of His second coming**, paralleling it with the swift and devastating arrival of the Flood in Noah's day. He highlights that people were engrossed in their ordinary, everyday activities, completely oblivious to the impending divine judgment, until it was too late. This serves as a powerful warning to His disciples and to all believers to remain spiritually vigilant and prepared, rather than being caught off guard by worldly preoccupations. The normalcy of life is not inherently bad, but an exclusive focus on it can lead to spiritual blindness concerning God's ultimate plan and timing.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Luke 17:27 describes a past judgment and warns of a future one, its fulfillment is profoundly Christ-centered. The "day that Noe entered into the ark" foreshadows the ultimate "ark" of salvation: Jesus Christ Himself. Just as Noah's obedience in entering the physical ark saved him and his family from the flood, so faith in Jesus Christ, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), is the means by which humanity escapes the coming judgment. The flood "destroyed them all," but in Christ, believers are offered eternal life and refuge from the wrath to come ([1 Thessalonians 1:10](/1_thessalonians/1-10 "1 Thessalonians 1:10 - Jesus Delivers Us from the Wrath to Come")). Jesus' warning about being unprepared for His coming echoes His call for repentance and belief in the Gospel ([Mark 1:15](/mark/1-15 "Mark 1:15 - Repent and Believe the Gospel")), which is the true entry into God's provision. Ultimately, the judgment described in Luke 17:27 points to the necessity of a relationship with the resurrected Christ, who alone is the way, the truth, and the life ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")), and the one who will return as the righteous Judge ([Acts 17:31](/acts/17-31 "Acts 17:31 - God Has Appointed a Day to Judge the World")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 12:19

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.

Luke 12:20

But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

1 Thessalonians 5:1

¶ But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

1 Thessalonians 5:3

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Luke 16:19

¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Luke 16:23

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Isaiah 22:12

And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: