Mark 13:8
New International Version
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

New Living Translation
Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

English Standard Version
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Berean Standard Bible
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Berean Literal Bible
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

King James Bible
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

New King James Version
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

New American Standard Bible
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are only the beginning of birth pains.

NASB 1995
“For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

NASB 1977
“For nation will arise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Legacy Standard Bible
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

Amplified Bible
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These things are the beginning of the birth pangs [the intolerable anguish and suffering].

Christian Standard Bible
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

American Standard Version
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be earthquakes in divers places; there shall be famines: these things are the beginning of travail.

Contemporary English Version
Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. There will be earthquakes in many places, and people will starve to death. But this is just the beginning of troubles.

English Revised Version
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: there shall be earthquakes in divers places; there shall be famines: these things are the beginning of travail.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These are only the beginning pains [of the end].

Good News Translation
Countries will fight each other; kingdoms will attack one another. There will be earthquakes everywhere, and there will be famines. These things are like the first pains of childbirth.

International Standard Version
because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These things are only the beginning of the birth pains."

Majority Standard Bible
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines and riots. These are the beginning of birth pains.

NET Bible
For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains.

New Heart English Bible
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines. These things are the beginning of birth pains.

Webster's Bible Translation
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there will be earthquakes in divers places, and there will be famines, and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Weymouth New Testament
For nation will rise in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These miseries are but like the early pains of childbirth.

World English Bible
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles; these [are the] beginning of travails.

Berean Literal Bible
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Young's Literal Translation
for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles; beginnings of sorrows are these.

Smith's Literal Translation
For nation shall be raised against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be earthquakes in places, and there shall be famines, and commotions: these the beginnings of anguish.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and famines. These things are the beginning of sorrows.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom over kingdom, and there shall be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are but the beginning of the sorrows.

New American Bible
Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes from place to place and there will be famines. These are the beginnings of the labor pains.

New Revised Standard Version
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be earthquakes in different places, and there will be famines and uprisings. These things are just the beginning of travail.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and sedition; these are the beginning of the labor pains.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines, and tumults.

Godbey New Testament
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earth-quakes in divers places; and there shall be famines.

Haweis New Testament
And nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and commotions: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Mace New Testament
for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: there shall be earthquakes in divers places, famines and commotions.

Weymouth New Testament
For nation will rise in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These miseries are but like the early pains of childbirth.

Worrell New Testament
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; and there will be famines: these are the beginning of anguish.

Worsley New Testament
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and famines and troubles: these will be the beginnings of sorrows.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Temple Destruction Foretold
7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. 9So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.…

Cross References
Matthew 24:6-8
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. / Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. / All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Luke 21:9-11
When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.” / Then He told them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. / There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

Revelation 6:4-8
Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword. / And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. / And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.” ...

2 Timothy 3:1
But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.

Isaiah 19:2
“So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

Jeremiah 51:46
Do not let your heart grow faint, and do not be afraid when the rumor is heard in the land; for a rumor will come one year—and then another the next year—of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler.

Ezekiel 38:19
In My zeal and fiery rage I proclaim that on that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.

Daniel 12:1
“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Romans 8:22
We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time.

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.

Zechariah 14:13
On that day a great panic from the LORD will come upon them, so that each will seize the hand of another, and the hand of one will rise against the other.

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.

Micah 7:6
For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.

Amos 8:8
Will not the land quake for this, and all its dwellers mourn? All of it will swell like the Nile; it will surge and then subside like the Nile in Egypt.


Treasury of Scripture

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

nation shalt.

2 Chronicles 15:6
And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.

Isaiah 19:2
And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

Jeremiah 25:32
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

famines.

Acts 11:28
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

these.

Matthew 24:8
All these are the beginning of sorrows.

sorrows.

Psalm 48:6
Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

Isaiah 37:3
And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.

Jeremiah 4:31
For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.

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Arms Beginning Beginnings Birth Birth-Pangs Childbirth Different Divers Early Earthquakes Earth-Shocks Famines First Food Kingdom Merely Miseries Nation Pains Pangs Places Rise Sorrows Throes Times Travail Troubles Various War
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Arms Beginning Beginnings Birth Birth-Pangs Childbirth Different Divers Early Earthquakes Earth-Shocks Famines First Food Kingdom Merely Miseries Nation Pains Pangs Places Rise Sorrows Throes Times Travail Troubles Various War
Mark 13
1. Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple;
9. the persecutions for the gospel;
10. that the gospel must be preached to all nations;
14. that great calamities shall happen to the Jews;
24. and the manner of his coming to judgment;
32. the hour whereof being known to none, every man is to watch and pray














Nation will rise against nation
This phrase indicates a time of widespread conflict and turmoil. The Greek word for "nation" is "ethnos," which can refer to a group of people bound by common culture or ethnicity. Historically, this has been interpreted as a sign of increasing global unrest, where ethnic and nationalistic tensions lead to wars. From a conservative Christian perspective, this is seen as a fulfillment of prophecy, indicating the moral decline and division among humanity as a precursor to the end times.

and kingdom against kingdom
The repetition of conflict, now between "kingdoms," emphasizes the scale and intensity of the strife. The Greek word "basileia" refers to realms or territories under a king's rule. This suggests not only political but also spiritual battles, as kingdoms can symbolize both earthly and heavenly domains. Historically, this has been seen in the rise and fall of empires, and spiritually, it reflects the ongoing battle between the kingdom of God and the forces of darkness.

There will be earthquakes in various places
Earthquakes are natural phenomena that symbolize sudden and uncontrollable change. The Greek word "seismos" is used here, which can mean a shaking or commotion. Archaeologically, evidence of earthquakes in the ancient Near East supports the historical context of this prophecy. Spiritually, earthquakes can represent God's power and judgment, shaking the foundations of human pride and self-reliance.

and famines
Famines are periods of severe food shortage, often leading to widespread suffering. The Greek word "limos" is used, which denotes hunger or scarcity. Historically, famines have been seen as both natural disasters and as consequences of human sin and mismanagement. In a biblical context, famines often serve as a call to repentance and reliance on God's provision.

These are the beginning of birth pains
This metaphor of "birth pains" (Greek "odin") suggests that the events described are not the end but the beginning of a process leading to a new creation. Just as labor pains precede the birth of a child, these trials precede the coming of God's kingdom in its fullness. From a conservative Christian perspective, this is a call to remain vigilant and faithful, understanding that current sufferings are temporary and purposeful, leading to the ultimate redemption and restoration promised by God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Nation
ἔθνος (ethnos)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1484: Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.

will rise
ἐγερθήσεται (egerthēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1453: (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse.

against
ἐπ’ (ep’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

nation,
ἔθνος (ethnos)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1484: Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.

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

kingdom
βασιλεία (basileia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 932: From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.

against
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

kingdom.
βασιλείαν (basileian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 932: From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.

There will be
ἔσονται (esontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

earthquakes
σεισμοὶ (seismoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4578: A shaking (as an earthquake); a storm. From seio; a commotion, i.e. a gale, an earthquake.

in various
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

places,
τόπους (topous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5117: Apparently a primary word; a spot, i.e. Location; figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard.

[as well as]
ἔσονται (esontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

famines.
λιμοί (limoi)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3042: A famine, hunger. Probably from leipo; a scarcity of food.

These [are]
ταῦτα (tauta)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

[the] beginning
ἀρχὴ (archē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 746: From archomai; a commencement, or chief.

of birth pains.
ὠδίνων (ōdinōn)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 5604: The pain of childbirth, acute pain, severe agony, a snare. Akin to odune; a pang or throe, especially of childbirth.


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