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Monday, April 28th, 2025
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Read the Bible

Literal Standard Version

Matthew 24:43

and know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief comes, he had watched, and did not permit his house to be broken through;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Jesus Continued;   Temptation;   Watchfulness;   Scofield Reference Index - Day (of Jehovah);   Thompson Chain Reference - Future, the;   Knowledge;   Mysteries-Revelations;   Watches;   The Topic Concordance - Alertness;   Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ;   End of the World;   Servants;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Parables;   Second Coming of Christ, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Parable;   Prophecy;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Day of the lord;   Jesus christ;   Judgment;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Jesus Christ;   Second Coming of Christ;   Watchfulness;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Jews;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Goodman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jesus Christ;   Judgment;   Kingdom of God;   Olives, Mount of;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Doctrines;   Family;   Gospels (2);   Honesty ;   House;   Householder;   Parable;   Parousia (2);   Readiness;   Thief ;   Time;   Virgin Birth;   Watch;   Watching;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Goodman;   House;   Knowledge;   Watches, Night;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Jerusalem;   Matthew;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Goodman;   Master;   Thief;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Christianity in Its Relation to Judaism;   Jesus of Nazareth;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But know this: If the homeowner had known what time
King James Version (1611)
But know this, that if the good man of the house had knowen in what watch the thiefe would come, he would haue watched, and would not haue suffered his house to be broken vp.
King James Version
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
English Standard Version
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
New American Standard Bible
"But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
New Century Version
Remember this: If the owner of the house knew what time of night a thief was coming, the owner would watch and not let the thief break in.
Amplified Bible
"But understand this: If the head of the house had known what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
Legacy Standard Bible
But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
Berean Standard Bible
But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
Contemporary English Version
Homeowners never know when a thief is coming, and they are always on guard to keep one from breaking in.
Complete Jewish Bible
But you do know this: had the owner of the house known when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Darby Translation
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched and not have suffered his house to be dug through [into].
Easy-to-Read Version
What would a homeowner do if he knew when a thief was coming? You know he would be ready and not let the thief break in.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Of this be sure, that if the good man of the house knewe at what watch the thiefe would come, he woulde surely watch, and not suffer his house to be digged through.
George Lamsa Translation
But know this much, that if the master of the house knew at what watch of the night the thief comes, he would keep awake and would not let his house be plundered.
Good News Translation
If the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come, you can be sure that he would stay awake and not let the thief break into his house.
Lexham English Bible
But understand this: that if the master of the house had known what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
Literal Translation
But know this, that if the housemaster had known in what watch the thief comes, he would have watched and not have allowed his house to be dug through.
American Standard Version
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through.
Bible in Basic English
But be certain of this, that if the master of the house had had knowledge of the time when the thief was coming, he would have been watching, and would not have let his house be broken into.
Hebrew Names Version
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
International Standard Version
But be sure of this: if the owner of the house had known at what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into.Luke 12:39; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; 16:15;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But this know; that if the master of the house knew in what watch the thief would come, he would have been watching, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
Murdock Translation
But know this, that if the lord of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have been awake, and would not have suffered his house to be broken into.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Of this yet be sure, that yf the good man of the house, knewe what watche the thiefe woulde come, he woulde surely watche, and not suffer his house to be broken vp.
English Revised Version
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through.
World English Bible
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But ye know this, that if the housholder had known, in what watch the thief would have come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broke open.
Weymouth's New Testament
But of this be assured, that if the master of the house had known the hour at which the robber was coming, he would have kept awake, and not have allowed his house to be broken into.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But wite ye this, that if the hosebonde man wiste in what our the thefe were to come, certis he wolde wake, and suffre not his hous to be vndurmyned.
Update Bible Version
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken through.
Webster's Bible Translation
But know this, that if the master of the house knew in what watch the thief would come, he would watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken up.
New English Translation
But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into.
New King James Version
But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
New Living Translation
Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into.
New Life Bible
But understand this: If the owner of a house had known when the robber was coming, he would have watched. He would not have allowed his house to have been broken into.
New Revised Standard
But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But there is, one thing, ye know - That, if the householder, had known, in what watch, the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert, and not have suffered his house to be dug through.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But this know ye, that, if the goodman of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would certainly watch and would not suffer his house to be broken open.
Revised Standard Version
But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Of this be sure that yf the good man of the housse knewe what houre the thefe wolde come: he wolde suerly watche and not suffre his housse to be broke vppe.
Young's Literal Translation
and this know, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief doth come, he had watched, and not suffered his house to be broken through;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But be sure of this, that yf the good man of the house knewe what houre the thefe wolde come, he wolde surely watch, and not suffre his house to be broken vp.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but this you conceive, that if a man knew at what hour of the night the thief would come, he would set a watch, and not suffer his house to be broke open.
THE MESSAGE
Routine History Jesus then left the Temple. As he walked away, his disciples pointed out how very impressive the Temple architecture was. Jesus said, "You're not impressed by all this sheer size, are you? The truth of the matter is that there's not a stone in that building that is not going to end up in a pile of rubble." Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approached and asked him, "Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the time's up?" Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, ‘I am Christ, the Messiah.' They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming. "They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating each other. "In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes. "Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come. "But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up in the Temple sanctuary. The prophet Daniel described this. If you've read Daniel, you'll know what I'm talking about. If you're living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; if you're working in the yard, don't return to the house to get anything; if you're out in the field, don't go back and get your coat. Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Hope and pray this won't happen during the winter or on a Sabbath. "This is going to be trouble on a scale beyond what the world has ever seen, or will see again. If these days of trouble were left to run their course, nobody would make it. But on account of God's chosen people, the trouble will be cut short. "If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, ‘Here's the Messiah!' or points, ‘There he is!' don't fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I've given you fair warning. "So if they say, ‘Run to the country and see him arrive!' or, ‘Quick, get downtown, see him come!' don't give them the time of day. The Arrival of the Son of Man isn't something you go to see. He comes like swift lightning to you! Whenever you see crowds gathering, think of carrion vultures circling, moving in, hovering over a rotting carcass. You can be quite sure that it's not the living Son of Man pulling in those crowds. "Following those hard times, Sun will fade out, moon cloud over, Stars fall out of the sky, cosmic powers tremble. "Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he'll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole. "Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you'll know he's at the door. Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out. "But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows. "The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah's. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away. "The Son of Man's Arrival will be like that: Two men will be working in the field—one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill—one will be taken, one left behind. So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up. "Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won't be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation. "But if that person only looks out for himself, and the minute the Master is away does what he pleases—abusing the help and throwing drunken parties for his friends—the Master is going to show up when he least expects it and make hash of him. He'll end up in the dump with the hypocrites, out in the cold shivering, teeth chattering."
Simplified Cowboy Version
You got to keep a sharp watch. If you knew what time a horse thief was comin', you would be ready with your rifle.

Contextual Overview

32And from the fig tree learn the allegory: when its branch may have already become tender, and it may put forth the leaves, you know that summer [is] near, 33so also you, when you may see all these, you know that it is near—at the doors. 34Truly I say to you, this generation may not pass away until all these may come to pass. 35The heaven and the earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. 36And concerning that day and the hour no one has known—not even the messengers of the heavens—except My Father only; 37and as the days of Noah—so will also be the coming of the Son of Man; 38for as they were, in the days before the flood, eating, and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the Ark, 39and they did not know until the flood came and took all away, so will also be the coming of the Son of Man. 40Then two [men] will be in the field: one is received, and one is left; 41two [women] will be grinding in the mill: one is received, and one is left.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

goodman: Matthew 20:11, Proverbs 7:19

had: Luke 12:39, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6, 2 Peter 3:10, 2 Peter 3:11

would not: Exodus 22:2, Exodus 22:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 32:1 - delayed Job 24:16 - In the dark Psalms 90:4 - and as Matthew 14:25 - the fourth watch Matthew 24:3 - the sign Revelation 3:3 - I will Revelation 16:15 - I come

Cross-References

Genesis 24:13
behold, I am standing by the fountain of water, and daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water;
Genesis 24:14
and it has been, the young person to whom I say, Please incline your pitcher and I drink, and she has said, Drink, and I also water your camels)—her [whom] You have decided for Your servant, for Isaac; and by it I know that You have done kindness with my lord."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But know this,.... Or you do know this: this may be illustrated by supposing a case well known to men, and in which common prudence would direct a man how to behave:

that if the good man of the house, or householder, or master of the family,

had known in what watch the thief would come; whether at the first, second, third, or fourth watch; for the night was divided into four watches; had he any previous notice given by any of the associates of the thief, or by those that had overheard, or by any means had got intelligence of his design and measures, and the time of his pursuing them,

he would have watched; in every watch either in person, or by employing others, or both:

and would not have suffered his house to be broken up: or "dug through"; see Job 24:16 concerning which, there is a law in

Exodus 22:2 and is explained by the Jewish canonists thus:

"He that comes in by digging, whether by day or by night, there is no blood for him (i.e. to be shed for him, if he is killed); but if the master of the house, or any other man kill him, they are free; and every man has power to kill him, whether on a weekday, or on a sabbath day; and with whatsoever death he can put him to, as it is said, there is no blood for him, Exodus 22:2. And one that comes in, במחתרת, "by digging", or a thief that is found in the midst of a man's roof, or in his court, or within his hedge, whether in the day or in the night, (may be killed;) and wherefore is it called digging? because it is the way of most thieves to come in by digging in the night x.''

Wherefore no doubt since the master of the house had such a law on his side, he would never suffer, if possible, his house to be entered by digging, when he had, especially, any previous notice of it. Now the application of this case, or parabolical way of speaking, is to the coming of Christ, and the watchfulness of every good man who has notice of it, that he may not be surprised with it, but be in a readiness to receive him. The coming of the son of man, is here represented by the coming of the thief in the night: but when he is compared to a thief, this is not to be understood in a bad sense, in which Satan is called one, who comes to kill and to destroy the souls of men; and likewise heretics and false teachers, and everyone that climbs up, and gets into the church of God in a wrong way; but this only respects the manner of Christ's coming, which is like that of a thief, secretly, suddenly, and at unawares. The "good man of the house", or householder, is every Christian, or believer in Christ, who has a house to look after, his own soul, the spiritual affairs and everlasting salvation of it, things of moment and concern unto him: and as the Christians, before the destruction of Jerusalem, had notices of Christ's coming in that way, by our Lord's predictions, by the hints the apostles gave, to refresh their memories with them, and by the signs of the times and voices that were heard; so the saints have of Christ's coming to judgment: wherefore as it became the one, so it does the other, to watch, to be upon their guard, to be in a readiness, to have their loins girt about, and their lights burning, and they like men that wait for their Lord; that so when he comes, their houses may not be broken up, may not be surprised, and the several powers and faculties of their souls may not be thrown into disorder and confusion; wherefore it follows,

x Mairmon. Hilch. Genibah, c. 9. sect. 7, 8.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But know this ... - If a man knew the hour, or “about the hour,” when a robber would come, he would be ready for him. So you know not the exact hour, but you know it is near, when the Son of man will come. He will come suddenly, as a thief comes, without giving previous warning, 1Th 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15. “Goodman.” See the notes at Matthew 20:11.

Thief - A robber. A thief, with us, means one who takes goods without doing violence - secretly, silently. The original word means one who does it by housebreaking, or by highway violence, Luke 10:30.

Broken up - Broken into either by the doors or windows. See the notes at Matthew 6:19.

In what watch - In which of the four quarters of the night. See the notes at Matthew 14:25.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 43. If the good man of the house had known — "As a master of a family who expected a thief at any time of the night, would take care to be awake, and ready to protect his house; so do ye, who know that the Son of man will come. Though the day and hour be uncertain, continue always in a state of watchfulness, that he may not come upon you unawares." WAKEFIELD.


 
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