Matthew 24:40

Weymouth New Testament

Then will two men be in the open country: one will be taken away, and one left behind.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.

King James Version (1611)
Then shall two be in the field, the one shalbe taken, and the other left.

King James Version
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

English Standard Version
Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.

New American Standard Bible
"At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.

New Century Version
Two men will be in the field. One will be taken, and the other will be left.

Amplified Bible
"At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then there will be two in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left.

Berean Standard Bible
Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.

Contemporary English Version
Two men will be in the same field, but only one will be taken. The other will be left.

Complete Jewish Bible
Then there will be two men in a field — one will be taken and the other left behind.

Darby Translation
Then two shall be in the field, one is taken and one is left;

Easy-to-Read Version
Two men will be working together in the field. One will be taken and the other will be left.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then two shall be in the fieldes, the one shalbe receiued, and the other shalbe refused.

George Lamsa Translation
Then two men will be in the field, one will be taken away and the other left.

Good News Translation
At that time two men will be working in a field: one will be taken away, the other will be left behind.

Lexham English Bible
Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left.

Literal Translation
At that time two will be out in the field; the one is taken away, and the one is left;

American Standard Version
Then shall two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left:

Bible in Basic English
Then two men will be in the field; one is taken, and one let go;

Hebrew Names Version
Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left;

International Standard Version
At that time two people will be in the field. One will be taken, and the other will be left behind.Luke 17:34;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Then two shall be in the field; one shall be taken, and one be left.

Murdock Translation
Then will two [fn] be in the field; the one will be taken, and the other left.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then shall two be in the fielde, the one receaued, and the other refused.

English Revised Version
Then shall two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left:

World English Bible
Then will two men be in the field: one is taken, and one is left;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Then shall two be in the field: one is taken, and one is left. Two women shall be grinding in the mill;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Thanne tweyne schulen be in o feeld, oon schal be takun, and another left;

Update Bible Version
Then shall two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left:

Webster's Bible Translation
Then will two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

New English Translation
Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left.

New King James Version
Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.

New Living Translation
"Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left.

New Life Bible
"Two men will be working in a field. One will be taken and the other will be left.

New Revised Standard
Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then, shall there be two men in the field, - one, is taken near, and, one, is left behind:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then two shall be in the field. One shall be taken and one shall be left.

Revised Standard Version
Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then two shalbe in the feldes the one shalbe receaved and the other shalbe refused

Young's Literal Translation
Then two men shall be in the field, the one is received, and the one is left;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The shal two be in the felde: the one shal be receaued,and the other shalbe refused:

Mace New Testament (1729)
of two persons, who shall be then in the field, one shall be taken, and the other left.

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
"Two cowboys will be gatherin' cattle and one will be taken and the other left right there in the saddle.

Contextual Overview

³² "Now learn from the fig-tree the lesson it teaches. As soon as its branches have now become soft and it is bursting into leaf, you all know that summer is near. ³³ So you also, when you see all these signs, may be sure that He is near--at your very door. ³⁴ I tell you in solemn truth that the present generation will certainly not pass away without all these things having first taken place. ³⁵ Earth and sky will pass away, but it is certain that my words will not pass away. ³⁶ "But as to that day and the exact time no one knows--not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. ³⁷ `For as it was in the time of Noah, so it will be at the Coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ At that time, before the Deluge, men were busy eating and drinking, taking wives or giving them, up to the very day when Noah entered the Ark, ³⁹ nor did they realise any danger till the Deluge came and swept them all away; so will it be at the Coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Then will two men be in the open country: one will be taken away, and one left behind. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken away, and one left behind.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the one: 2 Chronicles 33:12-24, Luke 17:34-37, Luke 23:39-43, 1 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Peter 2:5, 2 Peter 2:7-9

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:25 - God Psalms 64:7 - suddenly Acts 9:7 - General

Cross-References

Hebrews 1:14
Are not all angels spirits that serve Him--whom He sends out to render service for the benefit of those who, before long, will inherit salvation?

Revelation 22:8
I John heard and saw these things; and when I had heard and seen them, I fell at the feet of the angel who was showing me them--to worship him.

Revelation 22:16
"I Jesus have sent My angel for him solemnly to declare these things to you among the Churches. I am the Root and the offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then shall two be in the field,.... About their proper business, of husbandry, ploughing, or sowing, or any other rural employment:

the one shall be taken; not by the preaching of the Gospel, into the kingdom of God, or Gospel dispensation; though such a distinction God makes, by the ministry of the word, accompanied by his Spirit and power; nor by angels, to meet Christ in the air, and to be introduced into his kingdom and glory; but by the eagles, the Roman army, and either killed or carried captive by them:

and the other left; not in a state of nature and unregeneracy, as many are, to whom the Gospel is preached; nor with devils at the last day, to be thrust down by them into the infernal regions; but by the Romans, being by some remarkable providence, or another, delivered out of their hands; which was the case of some few, and these of the meaner sort; and therefore persons of a rural life and occupation are instanced in.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Then shall two be in the field ... - The calamity will come suddenly. There will be no escape for those whom it overtakes.

One shall be taken - The word “taken” may mean either to be taken away from the danger - that is, rescued, as Lot was Luke 17:28-29, or to be taken away “by death.” Probably the latter is the meaning.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 24:40-41. Then shall two men - two women - one shall be taken, and the other left. — The meaning seems to be, that so general should these calamities be, that no two persons, wheresoever found, or about whatsoever employed, should be both able to effect their escape; and that captivity and the sword should have a complete triumph over this unhappy people.

Two women shall be grinding — Women alone are still employed in grinding the corn in the east; and it is only when despatch is required, or the uppermost millstone is heavy, that a second woman is added. See Wakefield, and Harmer, Obs. vol. i. 253. That they were formerly thus employed, see Exodus 11:5, and the note there. See also Isaiah 47:2.