21:11a

There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places: In this clause Jesus mentioned three things that will happen before the end. Probably all three of these things will happen in various places. Some other ways to translate the clause are:

there will be severe earthquakes, famines and plagues in many places… (Revised English Bible)
-or-
In various places there will be great earthquakes, sicknesses, and a lack of food. (New Century Version)
-or-
Terrible earthquakes, famines, and plagues will happen in many lands.

great earthquakes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as earthquakes refers to sudden and violent movements of the ground. The word great implies that the shaking would be especially violent. When the ground shakes violently, buildings are often destroyed, and many people and animals may be killed.

In some languages it may be more natural to use a phrase or clause to translate this meaning. For example:

The earth will shake violently and cause great destruction.

famines: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as famines refers to long periods of time when people do not have enough food to eat. Famines usually happen when there is no rain for a long time and crops do not grow. People become very hungry, and many people die because they do not have food. The word “famine” does not refer to the time before harvest each year when people are more hungry than usual.

Other ways to translate famines are:

There will be no food to eat ⌊and many people will die of hunger⌋.
-or-
times of great hunger

pestilences: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pestilences refers to contagious diseases that can spread to many people within a short time. These diseases cause great suffering, and many people die from them. Other ways to translate this are:

widespread contagious diseases
-or-
plagues (Good News Translation)
-or-
dreadful diseases (God’s Word)

in various places: The phrase in various places refers to different places in many parts of the world.

21:11b

along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven: This part of the verse continues to describe events that will happen before the end. In Greek, it contains the same verb as in 21:11a. Another way to translate it is:

and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven (Revised Standard Version)

The phrase from heaven probably tells where both the fearful sights and great signs will happen. Another way to say this is:

in the sky terrors and signs ⌊will appear⌋

It is possible that fearful sights and great signs refer to the same events. The great signs will terrify people. Some ways to translate fearful sights and great signs from heaven are:

• Translate them as two different events or sights. For example:

terrors and great signs from heaven (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
terrifying sights/events and miraculous signs in the sky

• Translate them as one event or sight. For example:

terrifying signs in the sky

fearful sights: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fearful sights is literally “terrors.” It can refer to any sight or event that causes great fear. Other ways to translate it are:

dreadful sights (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
terrifying things (Good News Translation)
-or-
terrors (Revised Standard Version)

great signs: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as signs refers to events or sights that have a special meaning. In this context, the signs are amazing things that happen or appear in the sky. The text does not make explicit exactly what these signs mean. However, it implies that God causes them to show people on earth that something important or dreadful will soon happen.

Some scholars believe that these signs are the same ones that are mentioned in 21:25–26. However, those signs will happen immediately before Jesus returns to earth. Many scholars believe that these signs in 21:25–26 will happen in the same time period as the events of 21:8–9.

See also the notes on 21:7b. Other ways to translate great signs are:

miraculous signs (God’s Word)
-or-
amazing things/events to warn/show ⌊people⌋ ⌊to expect something crucial/dreadful⌋

from heaven: The phrase from heaven means “from the sky,” and more specifically, “from” or “in” the clouds or the stars. Jesus probably referred here to strange things that would happen to the sun, moon, and stars. He continued to tell about this in 21:25–26. See heaven, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

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