Luke 17:37

And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body [is], thither will the eagles be gathered together.

And {G2532} they answered {G611} and said {G3004} unto him {G846}, Where {G4226}, Lord {G2962}? And {G1161} he said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Wheresoever {G3699} the body {G4983} is, thither {G1563} will {G4863} the eagles {G105} be gathered together {G4863}.

They asked him, “Where, Lord?” He answered, “Wherever there’s a dead body, that’s where the vultures gather.”

“Where, Lord?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.”

And they answering say unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Where the body is, thither will the eagles also be gathered together.

Context of Luke 17:37

Luke 17:37 concludes a significant discourse by Jesus concerning the coming of the Son of Man, often understood as His Second Coming and the associated events of judgment and salvation. His disciples, having heard descriptions of this future event – its suddenness, its sweeping nature (like the days of Noah and Lot), and its undeniable visibility (like lightning flashing across the sky) – naturally ask, "Where, Lord?" They are seeking a specific geographical location for these climactic events. Jesus' enigmatic reply uses a vivid natural analogy to shift their focus from a physical place to the undeniable nature of the event itself.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Inevitability and Visibility of Christ's Return: Jesus' analogy underscores that His return will not be hidden or confined to a secret location. Just as scavengers are drawn to a carcass from afar, so too will the signs and the reality of the Son of Man's presence be universally evident. It will be a clear, unmistakable manifestation for all to witness.
  • Divine Judgment: The imagery of a "body" attracting "eagles" (or vultures) often carries connotations of death, decay, and judgment in biblical prophecy. This implies that where spiritual decay or ripe conditions for judgment exist, there divine judgment will surely manifest. It speaks to the certainty of God's justice being enacted.
  • Focus on Readiness, Not Location: By responding with an analogy rather than a place, Jesus redirects their attention from speculative curiosity about "where" to the more critical spiritual reality of "what" is happening and the need for preparedness. The focus is not on a specific geographical point, but on the undeniable nature of the event itself and its implications for humanity. This parallels the emphasis on watchfulness and readiness found elsewhere in His teachings.

Linguistic Insights

The key to understanding this verse lies in the original Greek words:

  • "Body" (Greek: sōma - σῶμα): While sōma generally means "body," in contexts where birds of prey are mentioned, it often refers to a corpse or carrion. This is crucial for the analogy.
  • "Eagles" (Greek: aetos - ἀετός): The Greek word aetos can refer to either an eagle or a vulture. Given the context of a "body" or carcass, most scholars agree that "vultures" is the more appropriate translation here. Vultures are scavengers that gather where there is carrion, making the analogy stark and fitting. The imagery is of a gathering around something dead, signifying a place of judgment or spiritual decay. This same proverb is found in Matthew 24:28.

Significance and Application

Luke 17:37 serves as a powerful reminder that the return of Jesus Christ and the accompanying events of judgment and transformation will be universally apparent. It will not be a private event or confined to a single location, but rather a global phenomenon as evident as vultures gathering around a carcass. For believers, this verse underscores the importance of spiritual discernment and readiness rather than preoccupation with specific times or places. It encourages believers to live lives of faithful expectation, understanding that the signs of the times will be clear for those who have eyes to see, preparing them for the ultimate coming of their Lord.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 24:28

    For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

  • Job 39:29

    From thence she seeketh the prey, [and] her eyes behold afar off.

  • Job 39:30

    Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain [are], there [is] she.

  • Revelation 19:17

    And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

  • Revelation 19:18

    That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great.

  • Zechariah 13:8

    And it shall come to pass, [that] in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off [and] die; but the third shall be left therein.

  • Zechariah 13:9

    And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It [is] my people: and they shall say, The LORD [is] my God.

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