Mark 13:16

KJV

And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} let {G1994} him that is {G5607} in {G1519} the field {G68} not {G3361} turn {G1519}{G1994} back {G3694} again {G1994} for to take up {G142} his {G846} garment {G2440}.

Complete Jewish Bible

if someone is in the field, he must not turn back to get his coat.

Berean Standard Bible

And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

American Standard Version

and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 13:16, part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, issues an urgent command to those in the field during a time of severe tribulation: do not turn back, not even to retrieve a garment. This instruction underscores the absolute necessity of immediate and unhesitating flight in the face of impending divine judgment, emphasizing that survival depends on swift obedience and the abandonment of all worldly attachments.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 13:16 is embedded within Jesus' significant eschatological discourse delivered on the Mount of Olives, often called the [Olivet Discourse](/mark/13 "Mark 13 - Jesus' Prophecy of the End Times"). Specifically, it falls within a section (verses 14-23) that describes the "abomination of desolation" and the subsequent "great tribulation." Jesus' preceding words in [Mark 13:14-15](/mark/13-14-15 "Mark 13:14-15 - The Abomination of Desolation and Urgent Flight") instruct those in Judea to flee to the mountains without delay, even from the rooftop. Verse 16 extends this urgency to those in the fields, reinforcing the idea that no time should be wasted on retrieving personal belongings, however seemingly essential. The entire passage highlights a critical, life-or-death moment requiring immediate, decisive action.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While having ultimate eschatological implications, Jesus' immediate warning in [Mark 13](/mark/13 "Mark 13 - The Olivet Discourse") is widely understood to refer primarily to the Roman siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The "field" (Greek: _agros_) refers to the agricultural areas surrounding Jerusalem, implying that those working or living outside the city's walls would also need to flee. A "garment" (Greek: _himation_) was typically an outer cloak, a common and often essential possession used for warmth, protection, and even as bedding. To leave it behind signifies an extreme level of urgency, where even basic necessities must be abandoned for the sake of survival. The historical fulfillment saw many Christians in Jerusalem escape before the final siege, heeding this very warning.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the Olivet Discourse and the broader New Testament. Foremost is the theme of **Urgency and Immediacy**, emphasizing that in times of divine judgment or critical spiritual moments, there is no room for hesitation or delay. It also highlights **Decisive Action**, demanding unwavering resolve and a complete lack of attachment to earthly comforts or possessions, as seen in the broader teaching on priorities in [Matthew 6:19-21](/matthew/6-19-21 "Matthew 6:19-21 - Treasures in Heaven"). The instruction to abandon the garment underscores **Detachment from Material Possessions**, teaching that earthly goods must be readily sacrificed for the sake of life, both physical and spiritual. Finally, it reinforces the critical importance of **Heeding Divine Warnings**, serving as a merciful forewarning from Jesus to His followers, urging them to be spiritually prepared and responsive to prophetic signs, a theme echoed in passages like [Luke 21:34-36](/luke/21-34-36 "Luke 21:34-36 - Be Watchful and Pray").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **epistréphō (Greek, _epistréphō'_):** This word, translated "turn back again," means to revert, turn around, or return. In Mark 13:16, its use powerfully conveys the absolute prohibition against any deviation from the path of urgent flight. It implies a complete reversal of direction or purpose, stressing that there should be no thought of returning for anything once the command to flee has been given. The emphasis is on forward, unhindered movement away from danger.
* **aírō (Greek, _aírō'_):** Translated "take up," this root word means to lift up, take up or away, or remove. In this context, it specifically refers to the act of picking up or retrieving the garment. The prohibition against "taking up" highlights that even the seemingly simple act of bending down to retrieve something, however valuable or necessary in normal circumstances, would constitute a fatal delay in this dire situation. It underscores the extreme urgency where every second counts.
* **himátion (Greek, _himátion'_):** This term refers to an "outer garment" or "cloak." In ancient Palestine, the _himation_ was a large, rectangular piece of cloth worn over the tunic, serving as a coat during the day and often as a blanket at night. It was a common, often essential, possession. Jesus' specific mention of such a fundamental item underscores the severity of the crisis: even the most basic and necessary personal belongings must be abandoned without hesitation for the sake of survival.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And let him that is in the field":** This clause specifies the target audience for this particular instruction. While the previous verse (Mark 13:15) addressed those on the housetop, this extends the warning to individuals who might be working or residing in the rural areas surrounding Jerusalem. It emphasizes that no one, regardless of their immediate location outside the city, is exempt from the urgent need for flight when the signs appear.
* **"not turn back again":** This is a strong negative imperative, prohibiting any reversal of direction or any thought of returning. It underscores the absolute necessity of immediate and continuous flight away from the impending danger. There is to be no lingering, no reconsideration, and no deviation from the path of escape. The command is unequivocal: once the flight begins, it must be forward-moving and uninterrupted.
* **"for to take up his garment":** This final phrase illustrates the extreme urgency by specifying the seemingly minor item that must be abandoned. The "garment," though a valuable and practical possession, is presented as an unacceptable cause for delay. This detail highlights that in a moment of critical divine judgment, even the most basic material comforts or necessities must be readily forsaken for the sake of life itself. It is a vivid picture of radical detachment and singular focus on escape.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 13:16 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of extreme urgency. **Hyperbole** is evident in the command not to turn back even for a "garment." This exaggeration emphasizes the absolute immediacy required, as a garment, though valuable, is a relatively minor possession compared to life itself. The instruction suggests that any delay, no matter how brief or for what reason, would be catastrophic. **Metonymy** or **Synecdoche** is present as the "garment" serves as a stand-in for all material possessions and worldly attachments. By forbidding the retrieval of this common item, Jesus teaches a broader principle of radical detachment from all earthly goods when faced with divine judgment or a call to urgent action. Furthermore, the use of the **Imperative Mood** ("let him... not turn back") lends an authoritative and non-negotiable tone to the command, stressing the absolute necessity of obedience. The vivid imagery of someone fleeing and not looking back also creates a powerful **Visual Metaphor** for decisive, unhesitating spiritual readiness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 13:16, while historically rooted in the impending destruction of Jerusalem, transcends its immediate context to convey profound theological truths applicable to all believers. It underscores God's merciful warnings to His people in times of impending judgment, demanding an immediate and uncompromising response. The verse highlights the spiritual principle that in moments of crisis or divine calling, our attachment to earthly comforts and possessions must be secondary to our obedience and spiritual preservation. It teaches that true readiness involves a radical detachment from anything that might hinder our swift response to God's voice, prioritizing eternal realities over temporal comforts. This principle of urgent, decisive action in the face of spiritual danger is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, calling believers to live in a state of vigilance and readiness for Christ's return and for the challenges of living faithfully in a fallen world.

* [Luke 17:31](/luke/17-31 "Luke 17:31 - Parallel Warning on the Roof")
* [Matthew 24:17-18](/matthew/24-17-18 "Matthew 24:17-18 - Parallel Warning on the Housetop and Field")
* [Hebrews 12:1-2](/hebrews/12-1-2 "Hebrews 12:1-2 - Laying Aside Every Weight")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 13:16 serves as a powerful spiritual challenge for believers today, urging us to cultivate a life of readiness and detachment from worldly encumbrances. While we may not face a literal Roman siege, we constantly encounter spiritual battles and divine calls that demand immediate and decisive obedience. This verse prompts us to examine what "garments"—what comforts, possessions, relationships, or even personal ambitions—we might be unwilling to abandon for the sake of following Christ fully or responding to His urgent promptings. It calls us to prioritize God's kingdom above all else, ensuring that our hearts are not so entangled with earthly things that they hinder our swift response to His will. Living in this state of spiritual preparedness means actively seeking to shed anything that weighs us down, enabling us to run the race with endurance and respond without hesitation when God calls us to action, warns us of danger, or reveals His purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "garments"—worldly attachments, comforts, or even perceived necessities—might be hindering my immediate and decisive obedience to God's call today?**
* **How does this verse challenge my priorities regarding material possessions versus spiritual readiness and responsiveness to divine warnings?**
* **In what areas of my life do I need to cultivate a greater sense of urgency and decisive action in response to God's promptings or the signs of the times?**

### FAQ
**Why is a "garment" specifically mentioned as something not to retrieve?**

Answer: The mention of a "garment" (an outer cloak, a common and often essential possession) highlights the extreme urgency of the situation. It symbolizes that in a time of dire judgment, even the most basic and seemingly necessary personal belongings must be abandoned without hesitation. The point is not about the value of the garment itself, but about the absolute prohibition against any delay whatsoever, emphasizing that life and escape are paramount over any material comfort or possession. This detail underscores the severity of the impending crisis and the need for immediate, unencumbered flight, as seen in the parallel account in [Matthew 24:18](/matthew/24-18 "Matthew 24:18 - Not to Turn Back for a Garment").

**Does this warning apply only to the historical destruction of Jerusalem?**

Answer: While Jesus' words in [Mark 13](/mark/13 "Mark 13 - The Olivet Discourse") have a primary historical fulfillment in the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, their principles extend beyond that singular event. Biblical scholars often interpret the Olivet Discourse as having multiple layers of fulfillment: immediate (70 AD), ongoing throughout history, and ultimate (at the end of the age). Therefore, the warning to flee without delay and abandon material attachments serves as a timeless spiritual principle for all believers. It speaks to the need for spiritual vigilance, readiness for Christ's return, and the willingness to prioritize obedience to God's warnings above all worldly comforts in any time of spiritual crisis or divine judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 13:16, with its urgent call to abandon all for the sake of immediate flight and preservation, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the radical demands of discipleship and the very nature of Christ's mission. Jesus Himself exemplified this principle of absolute detachment and singular focus. His call to "follow me" often meant leaving behind livelihoods, families, and all earthly securities, as seen in the immediate response of the first disciples who left their nets to follow Him [Matthew 4:19-22](/matthew/4-19-22 "Matthew 4:19-22 - Calling of the First Disciples"). More profoundly, Christ's own journey to the cross was the ultimate act of abandoning all "garments"—His divine glory, earthly comfort, and even His very life—for the sake of humanity's salvation. He "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant" [Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ's Humiliation"), refusing to cling to anything that would hinder His mission of redeeming a lost world. The urgency of the warning in Mark 13:16 thus foreshadows the urgency of responding to the gospel call, which demands a similar radical commitment and detachment from anything that would prevent us from following the Lamb wherever He goes [Revelation 14:4](/revelation/14-4 "Revelation 14:4 - Following the Lamb"). In Christ, we see the perfect embodiment of one who did not "turn back" for any personal gain or comfort, but pressed forward to accomplish the Father's will, securing our eternal escape from judgment.

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.