Luke 21:26
New International Version
People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

New Living Translation
People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

English Standard Version
people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Berean Standard Bible
Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Berean Literal Bible
men fainting from fear and expectation of that which is coming on the earth. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

King James Bible
Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

New King James Version
men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

New American Standard Bible
people fainting from fear and the expectation of the things that are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

NASB 1995
men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

NASB 1977
men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Legacy Standard Bible
men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the POWERS OF THE HEAVENS will be shaken.

Amplified Bible
people fainting from fear and expectation of the [dreadful] things coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Christian Standard Bible
People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the celestial powers will be shaken.

American Standard Version
men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

Contemporary English Version
People will be so frightened that they will faint because of what is happening to the world. Every power in the sky will be shaken.

English Revised Version
men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
People will faint as they fearfully wait for what will happen to the world. Indeed, the powers of the universe will be shaken.

Good News Translation
People will faint from fear as they wait for what is coming over the whole earth, for the powers in space will be driven from their courses.

International Standard Version
People will faint from fear and apprehension because of the things that are to come on the inhabited world, because the powers of heaven will be shaken.

Majority Standard Bible
Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

NET Bible
People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

New Heart English Bible
people will be fainting from fear, and from expectation of the things which are coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Webster's Bible Translation
Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for apprehension of those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Weymouth New Testament
while men's hearts are fainting for fear, and for anxious expectation of what is coming on the world. For the forces which control the heavens will be disordered and disturbed.

World English Bible
men fainting for fear and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
men fainting at heart from fear, and expectation of the things coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Berean Literal Bible
men fainting from fear and expectation of that which is coming on the earth. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Young's Literal Translation
men fainting at heart from fear, and expectation of the things coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

Smith's Literal Translation
Men losing breath for fear and expectation of things coming on the habitable globe: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved;

Catholic Public Domain Version
men withering away out of fear and out of apprehension over the things that will overwhelm the whole world. For the powers of the heavens will be moved.

New American Bible
People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

New Revised Standard Version
People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And upheaval that takes life out of men, because of fear of what is to come on earth; and the powers of the universe will be shaken.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And an earthquake which drives out the souls of the children of men by the terror of whatever is going to come on the earth, and the hosts of the Heavens shall be shaken.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
men's hearts failing on account of the fearful expectation of the things that are coming on the land; for the hosts of the heavens shall be shaken.

Godbey New Testament
the souls of men failing from fear, and expectation of those things coming upon the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Haweis New Testament
men terrified to death with fear, and expectation of the calamities coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Mace New Testament
men dying with fear under the apprehension of those calamities, which are coming upon the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Weymouth New Testament
while men's hearts are fainting for fear, and for anxious expectation of what is coming on the world. For the forces which control the heavens will be disordered and disturbed.

Worrell New Testament
men fainting for fear and for expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Worsley New Testament
and men ready to die for fear and apprehension of the things that are coming upon the land; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Return of the Son of Man
25There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. 26Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.…

Cross References
Matthew 24:29-31
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ / At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. / And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Mark 13:24-26
But in those days, after that tribulation: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; / the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ / At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Revelation 6:15-17
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. / And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. / For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

Isaiah 13:10-13
For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. / I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless. / I will make man scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir. ...

Joel 2:30-31
I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. / The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.

Revelation 1:7
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.

Daniel 7:13-14
In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. / And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Zephaniah 1:14-16
The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. / That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, / a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.

Isaiah 34:4
All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree.

Revelation 11:13
And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand were killed in the quake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Ezekiel 32:7-8
When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. / All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you, and I will bring darkness upon your land,’ declares the Lord GOD.

Haggai 2:6-7
For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. / I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts.

Revelation 16:18-20
And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake the likes of which had not occurred since men were upon the earth—so mighty was the great quake. / The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath. / Then every island fled, and no mountain could be found.

Isaiah 24:19-23
The earth is utterly broken apart, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken violently. / The earth staggers like a drunkard and sways like a shack. Earth’s rebellion weighs it down, and it falls, never to rise again. / In that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven above and the kings of the earth below. ...

Jeremiah 4:23-26
I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void; I looked to the heavens, and they had no light. / I looked at the mountains, and behold, they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. / I looked, and no man was left; all the birds of the air had fled. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

hearts.

Leviticus 26:36
And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.

Deuteronomy 28:32-34,65-67
Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long: and there shall be no might in thine hand…

Hebrews 10:26,27
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, …

for the.

Matthew 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Mark 13:25
And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

2 Peter 3:10-12
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up…

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Anxious Apprehension Apprehensive Bodies Control Die Disordered Earth Expectation Failing Faint Fainting Fear Forces Habitable Hearts Heaven Heavenly Heavens Moved Powers Ready Shaken Strength Terror World
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Anxious Apprehension Apprehensive Bodies Control Die Disordered Earth Expectation Failing Faint Fainting Fear Forces Habitable Hearts Heaven Heavenly Heavens Moved Powers Ready Shaken Strength Terror World
Luke 21
1. Jesus commends the poor widow.
5. He foretells the destruction of the temple, and of the city Jerusalem;
25. the signs also which shall be before the last day.
34. He exhorts them to be watchful.














men will faint
The phrase "men will faint" is derived from the Greek word "apopsychō," which means to expire or to lose heart. This expression captures the overwhelming dread and helplessness that will grip humanity. In a historical context, this reflects the human condition when faced with events beyond their control, echoing the fear experienced during times of great calamity or divine judgment. The imagery here is vivid, suggesting a collapse of courage and spirit, a theme consistent with prophetic literature that warns of the end times.

from fear and anxiety
The Greek words "phobos" (fear) and "prosmonē" (anxiety) are used here. "Phobos" is often associated with terror or reverence, depending on the context, while "prosmonē" implies a state of anxious anticipation. This duality of fear and anxiety underscores the psychological turmoil that will accompany the eschatological events. Historically, fear has been a powerful motivator and a common response to the unknown, especially in the context of divine intervention or cosmic disturbances.

over what is coming upon the earth
This phrase points to the anticipation of catastrophic events. The Greek "erchomenōn" (coming) suggests an impending arrival, emphasizing the certainty and inevitability of these occurrences. The earth, in biblical terms, often represents the realm of human existence, and the phrase indicates a global impact. This aligns with prophetic warnings found throughout Scripture, where the earth is subject to divine judgment and transformation.

for the powers of the heavens
The "powers" (Greek: "dynameis") refer to the celestial forces or heavenly bodies. In ancient cosmology, these were often seen as stable and unchanging, representing order in the universe. The mention of these powers being affected signifies a profound disruption of the natural order, a theme that resonates with apocalyptic literature where cosmic upheaval accompanies divine intervention.

will be shaken
The Greek word "saleuthēsontai" (shaken) conveys a sense of instability and disturbance. This shaking is not merely physical but also symbolic of a spiritual and cosmic realignment. In biblical prophecy, such shaking often precedes the establishment of God's kingdom, serving as a prelude to divine judgment and renewal. The imagery of shaking is consistent with the prophetic tradition, where it signifies God's active involvement in the affairs of the world, leading to a new creation.

(26) Men's hearts failing them for fear.--The verb so rendered is used by St. Luke only in the New Testament. Its literal meaning is to breathe out the soul, and it was, therefore, a word which would naturally enter into the vocabulary of a physician, both in its primary and figurative sense. The mental state which it expresses exactly agrees with that described in Acts 27:20, in connection with the tempest.

For looking after those things.--Literally, for expectation, the noun being used only by St. Luke in the New Testament.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Men
ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

will faint
ἀποψυχόντων (apopsychontōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 674: To faint, breathe out life, die, be dismayed. From apo and psucho; to breathe out, i.e. Faint.

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

fear
φόβου (phobou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5401: (a) fear, terror, alarm, (b) the object or cause of fear, (c) reverence, respect. From a primary phebomai; alarm or fright.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

anxiety
προσδοκίας (prosdokias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4329: Expectation, waiting. From prosdokao; apprehension; by implication, infliction anticipated.

over what
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

is coming
ἐπερχομένων (eperchomenōn)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 1904: From epi and erchomai; to supervene, i.e. Arrive, occur, impend, attack, influence.

upon the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

earth,
οἰκουμένῃ (oikoumenē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3625: Feminine participle present passive of oikeo; land, i.e. The globe; specially, the Roman empire.

for
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

the
αἱ (hai)
Article - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

powers
δυνάμεις (dynameis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1411: From dunamai; force; specially, miraculous power.

of the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

heavens
οὐρανῶν (ouranōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.

will be shaken.
σαλευθήσονται (saleuthēsontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4531: From salos; to waver, i.e. Agitate, rock, topple or destroy; figuratively, to disturb, incite.


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NT Gospels: Luke 21:26 Men fainting for fear and for expectation (Luke Lu Lk)
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