Luke 17:37

THE MESSAGE

Trying to take all this in, the disciples said, "Master, where?" He told them, "Watch for the circling of the vultures. They'll spot the corpse first. The action will begin around my dead body."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Where, Lord?” they asked him.

King James Version (1611)
And they answered, and said vnto him, Where, Lord? And he said vnto them, Wheresoeuer the body is, thither will the Eagles be gathered together.

King James Version
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.

English Standard Version
And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."

New American Standard Bible
And responding, they said to Him, "Where, Lord?" And He said to them, "Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered."

New Century Version
The followers asked Jesus, "Where will this be, Lord?" Jesus answered, "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather."

Amplified Bible
And they asked Him, "Where, Lord?" He answered, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will be gathered."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And answering they said to Him, "Where, Lord?" And He said to them, "Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered."

Legacy Standard Bible
And answering they *said to Him, "Where, Lord?" And He said to them, "Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered."

Berean Standard Bible
"Where, Lord?" they asked. Jesus answered, "Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather."

Contemporary English Version
Then Jesus' disciples spoke up, "But where will this happen, Lord?" Jesus said, "Where there is a corpse, there will always be buzzards."

Complete Jewish Bible
They asked him, "Where, Lord?" He answered, "Wherever there's a dead body, that's where the vultures gather."

Darby Translation
And answering they say to him, Where, Lord? And he said to them, Where the body [is], there the eagles will be gathered together.

Easy-to-Read Version
The followers asked Jesus, "Where will this be, Lord?" Jesus answered, "It's like looking for a dead body—you will find it where the vultures are gathering above."

Geneva Bible (1587)
And they answered, and saide to him, Where, Lord? And he said vnto them, Wheresoeuer the body is, thither shall also the egles bee gathered together.

George Lamsa Translation
They answered and said to him, Our Lord, to what place? He said to them, Wherever the corpse is, there will the eagles gather.

Good News Translation
The disciples asked him, "Where, Lord?" Jesus answered, "Wherever there is a dead body, the vultures will gather."

Lexham English Bible
And they answered and said to him, "Where, Lord?" So he said to them, "Where the dead body is, there also the vultures will be gathered."

Literal Translation
And answering, they said to Him, Where, Lord? And He said to them, Where the body is , there the eagles will be gathered together.

American Standard Version
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.

Bible in Basic English
And they, answering him, said, Where, Lord? And he said to them, Where the body is, there will the eagles come together.

Hebrew Names Version
They answering, asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there will the vultures also be gathered together."

International Standard Version
Then they asked him, "Where, Lord, will this take place?"will this take place">[fn] He told them, "Wherever there's a dead body, there the vultures will gather."Job 1:39:30; Matthew 24:28;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
They answered and said to him, Where, our Lord? He saith to them, Where the body is, there will be assembled the eagles.

Murdock Translation
They answered, and said to him: Whither, our Lord? He said to them: Where the body is, there will the eagles assemble themselves.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And they aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: Where Lorde? He sayde vnto the: Whersoeuer the body shalbe, thyther wyll also the Egles be gathered together.

English Revised Version
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.

World English Bible
They answering, asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there will the vultures also be gathered together."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And they answering said to him, Where Lord? And he said to them, Wheresoever the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

Weymouth's New Testament
"Where, Master?" they inquired. "Where the dead body is," He replied, "there also will the vultures flock together."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Which seide to hym, Where euer the bodi schal be, thidur schulen be gaderid togidere also the eglis.

Update Bible Version
And answering they say to him, Where, Lord? And he said to them, Where the body [is], there will the eagles also be gathered together.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they answered and said to him, Where Lord? And he said to them, Wherever the body [is], thither will the eagles be collected.

New English Translation
Then the disciples said to him, "Where, Lord?" He replied to them, "Where the dead body is, there the vultures will gather."

New King James Version
And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."

New Living Translation
"Where will this happen, Lord?" the disciples asked. Jesus replied, "Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near."

New Life Bible
Then they asked Jesus, "Where will this happen?" He said to them, "Birds also gather where there is a dead body."

New Revised Standard
Then they asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, answering, they say unto him - Where, Lord? And, he, said unto them - Where the body is, there, the vultures also, will be gathered together.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Who said to them: Wheresoever the body shall be, thither will the eagles also be gathered together.

Revised Standard Version
And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And they answered and sayde to him: wheare Lorde? And he sayd vnto the: whersoever ye body shalbe thyther will the egles resoorte.

Young's Literal Translation
And they answering say to him, `Where, sir?' and he said to them, `Where the body [is], there will the eagles be gathered together.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And they answered, and sayde vnto him: Where LORDE? He sayde vnto the: Where so euer ye deed carcase is there wil ye Aegles be gathered together.

Mace New Testament (1729)
then they ask'd him, where, Lord, will this happen? he reply'd, wherever the carcase is, there will the eagles hover together.

Simplified Cowboy Version
"Where will this happen, Boss?" the cowboys asked him.Jesus said, "Just like buzzards gather around the dead, these signs will gather when the end is close."

Contextual Overview

²⁰Jesus, grilled by the Pharisees on when the kingdom of God would come, answered, "The kingdom of God doesn't come by counting the days on the calendar. Nor when someone says, ‘Look here!' or, ‘There it is!' And why? Because God's kingdom is already among you." ²²He went on to say to his disciples, "The days are coming when you are going to be desperately homesick for just a glimpse of one of the days of the Son of Man, and you won't see a thing. And they'll say to you, ‘Look over there!' or, ‘Look here!' Don't fall for any of that nonsense. The arrival of the Son of Man is not something you go out to see. He simply comes. "You know how the whole sky lights up from a single flash of lightning? That's how it will be on the Day of the Son of Man. But first it's necessary that he suffer many things and be turned down by the people of today. "The time of the Son of Man will be just like the time of Noah—everyone carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ship. They suspected nothing until the flood hit and swept everything away. "It was the same in the time of Lot—the people carrying on, having a good time, business as usual right up to the day Lot walked out of Sodom and a firestorm swept down and burned everything to a crisp. That's how it will be—sudden, total—when the Son of Man is revealed. "When the Day arrives and you're out working in the yard, don't run into the house to get anything. And if you're out in the field, don't go back and get your coat. Remember what happened to Lot's wife! If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you'll lose it, but if you let that life go, you'll get life on God's terms. "On that Day, two men will be in the same boat fishing—one taken, the other left. Two women will be working in the same kitchen—one taken, the other left." Trying to take all this in, the disciples said, "Master, where?" He told them, "Watch for the circling of the vultures. They'll spot the corpse first. The action will begin around my dead body." ²⁵A Kernel of Faith He said to his disciples, "Hard trials and temptations are bound to come, but too bad for whoever brings them on! Better to wear a millstone necklace and take a swim in the deep blue sea than give even one of these dear little ones a hard time! "Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it's personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, ‘I'm sorry, I won't do it again,' forgive him." The apostles came up and said to the Master, "Give us more faith." But the Master said, "You don't need more faith. There is no ‘more' or ‘less' in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,' and it would do it. "Suppose one of you has a servant who comes in from plowing the field or tending the sheep. Would you take his coat, set the table, and say, ‘Sit down and eat'? Wouldn't you be more likely to say, ‘Prepare dinner; change your clothes and wait table for me until I've finished my coffee; then go to the kitchen and have your supper'? Does the servant get special thanks for doing what's expected of him? It's the same with you. When you've done everything expected of you, be matter-of-fact and say, ‘The work is done. What we were told to do, we did.'" It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus said, "Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?" Then he said to him, "Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you." Jesus, grilled by the Pharisees on when the kingdom of God would come, answered, "The kingdom of God doesn't come by counting the days on the calendar. Nor when someone says, ‘Look here!' or, ‘There it is!' And why? Because God's kingdom is already among you." He went on to say to his disciples, "The days are coming when you are going to be desperately homesick for just a glimpse of one of the days of the Son of Man, and you won't see a thing. And they'll say to you, ‘Look over there!' or, ‘Look here!' Don't fall for any of that nonsense. The arrival of the Son of Man is not something you go out to see. He simply comes. "You know how the whole sky lights up from a single flash of lightning? That's how it will be on the Day of the Son of Man. But first it's necessary that he suffer many things and be turned down by the people of today. ²⁶"The time of the Son of Man will be just like the time of Noah—everyone carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ship. They suspected nothing until the flood hit and swept everything away. ²⁸"It was the same in the time of Lot—the people carrying on, having a good time, business as usual right up to the day Lot walked out of Sodom and a firestorm swept down and burned everything to a crisp. That's how it will be—sudden, total—when the Son of Man is revealed. ³¹"When the Day arrives and you're out working in the yard, don't run into the house to get anything. And if you're out in the field, don't go back and get your coat. Remember what happened to Lot's wife! If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you'll lose it, but if you let that life go, you'll get life on God's terms. ³⁴"On that Day, two men will be in the same boat fishing—one taken, the other left. Two women will be working in the same kitchen—one taken, the other left." Trying to take all this in, the disciples said, "Master, where?" He told them, "Watch for the circling of the vultures. They'll spot the corpse first. The action will begin around my dead body." ³⁶A Kernel of Faith He said to his disciples, "Hard trials and temptations are bound to come, but too bad for whoever brings them on! Better to wear a millstone necklace and take a swim in the deep blue sea than give even one of these dear little ones a hard time! "Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it's personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, ‘I'm sorry, I won't do it again,' forgive him." The apostles came up and said to the Master, "Give us more faith." But the Master said, "You don't need more faith. There is no ‘more' or ‘less' in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,' and it would do it. "Suppose one of you has a servant who comes in from plowing the field or tending the sheep. Would you take his coat, set the table, and say, ‘Sit down and eat'? Wouldn't you be more likely to say, ‘Prepare dinner; change your clothes and wait table for me until I've finished my coffee; then go to the kitchen and have your supper'? Does the servant get special thanks for doing what's expected of him? It's the same with you. When you've done everything expected of you, be matter-of-fact and say, ‘The work is done. What we were told to do, we did.'" It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus said, "Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?" Then he said to him, "Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you." Jesus, grilled by the Pharisees on when the kingdom of God would come, answered, "The kingdom of God doesn't come by counting the days on the calendar. Nor when someone says, ‘Look here!' or, ‘There it is!' And why? Because God's kingdom is already among you." He went on to say to his disciples, "The days are coming when you are going to be desperately homesick for just a glimpse of one of the days of the Son of Man, and you won't see a thing. And they'll say to you, ‘Look over there!' or, ‘Look here!' Don't fall for any of that nonsense. The arrival of the Son of Man is not something you go out to see. He simply comes. "You know how the whole sky lights up from a single flash of lightning? That's how it will be on the Day of the Son of Man. But first it's necessary that he suffer many things and be turned down by the people of today. "The time of the Son of Man will be just like the time of Noah—everyone carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ship. They suspected nothing until the flood hit and swept everything away. "It was the same in the time of Lot—the people carrying on, having a good time, business as usual right up to the day Lot walked out of Sodom and a firestorm swept down and burned everything to a crisp. That's how it will be—sudden, total—when the Son of Man is revealed. "When the Day arrives and you're out working in the yard, don't run into the house to get anything. And if you're out in the field, don't go back and get your coat. Remember what happened to Lot's wife! If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you'll lose it, but if you let that life go, you'll get life on God's terms. "On that Day, two men will be in the same boat fishing—one taken, the other left. Two women will be working in the same kitchen—one taken, the other left." ³⁷ Trying to take all this in, the disciples said, "Master, where?" He told them, "Watch for the circling of the vultures. They'll spot the corpse first. The action will begin around my dead body."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

wheresoever: Job 39:29, Job 39:30, Daniel 9:26, Daniel 9:27, Amos 9:1-4, Zechariah 13:8, Zechariah 13:9, Zechariah 14:2, Matthew 24:28, 1 Thessalonians 2:16, Revelation 19:17, Revelation 19:18

Reciprocal: Habakkuk 1:8 - they Luke 21:35 - dwell

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And they answered and said unto him, where, Lord?.... That is, either the Pharisees put this question to Christ, who demanded of him when the kingdom of God would come, Luke 17:20 or rather the disciples, to whom Christ more especially directed his discourse,

Luke 17:22 who hearing of the distinction that would be made of persons in these dismal times, ask where it should be; not where the persons would be left, but whither the others would be taken, and by whom: and he said unto them,

wheresoever the body is; the carcass of the Jewish nation, as at Jerusalem chiefly, and in whatsoever place:

thither will the eagles be gathered together; the Roman army, whose ensign was the eagle; these will come, seize upon them, and take them and devour them, as they did: the Persic version renders it, "vultures"; Luke 17:22- :. These words can by no means be understood of sinners fleeing to Christ for eternal life and salvation; nor of the gathering of saints to him, at the last day; for how fitly soever such persons may be compared to "eagles", the word "body", or "carcass", as in Matthew 24:28 and which is so read in some copies here, is not so suitable to Christ; and especially at his glorious appearing; and besides, the words are an answer to a question, where such persons would be, who would be taken and destroyed, when others would be left, or preserved; and manifestly refer to the body, or carcass of the Jewish people at Jerusalem, and other fortified places; where they should think themselves safe, but should not be so, the Roman armies gathering about them, and seizing them as their prey: it is yet a more strange interpretation, which is proposed by a very learned man i; that by the "eagle" is meant, Christ; and by "the body", or "carcass", the church in the times of antichrist; and by "gathering" to it, the coming of Christ: for though Christ may be said to bear and carry his people, as the eagle bears and carries its young upon its wings, which he observes from

Exodus 19:4 yet not a single eagle, but "eagles", in the plural number, are here mentioned; which shows, that not a single person, as Christ, but many are here intended, even legions of Roman soldiers: nor can the church of Christ be compared to a dead and filthy carcass, in the worst of times, even in the times of antichrist; for however forlorn, distressed, and afflicted her condition is, she is kept alive, and in some measure pure from antichristian pollutions; and is represented by a woman, to whom two wings of a great eagle are given (wherefore she should rather be designed by the eagles) to fly with into the wilderness, where she is preserved and nourished for a time, and times, and half a time,

Revelation 12:14. Nor is Christ's coming ever expressed by the gathering of him to his people; but on the other hand, they are always said to be gathered unto him; see 2 Thessalonians 2:1.

i Teelmaunus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 24:26.

Where, Lord? - Where, or in what direction, shall these calamities come? The answer implies that it would be where there is the most “guilt and wickedness.” Eagles flock where there is prey. So, said he, these armies will flock to the place where there is the most wickedness; and by this their thoughts were directed at once to Jerusalem, the place of eminent wickedness, and the place, therefore, where these calamities might be expected to begin.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 17:37. Where, Lord? — In what place shall all these dreadful evils fall? The answer our Lord gives in a figure, the application of which they are to make themselves. Where the dead carcass is, there will be the birds of prey - where the sin is, there will the punishment be. Matthew 24:28.

Thither will the eagles (or vultures) be gathered together. The jackal or chakal is a devourer of dead bodies; and the vulture is not less so: it is very remarkable how suddenly these birds appear after the death of an animal in the open field, though a single one may not have been seen on the spot for a long period before. The following chapter seems to be a continuation of this discourse: at least it is likely they were spoken on the same occasion. Both contain truths which the reader should carefully ponder, and receive in the spirit of prayer and faith, that he may not come into the same condemnation into which these have fallen.