Mark 13:36
New International Version
If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.

New Living Translation
Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning.

English Standard Version
lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.

Berean Standard Bible
Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping.

Berean Literal Bible
lest having come suddenly, he should find you sleeping.

King James Bible
Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

New King James Version
lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.

New American Standard Bible
so that he does not come suddenly and find you asleep.

NASB 1995
in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep.

NASB 1977
lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.

Legacy Standard Bible
lest he come suddenly and find you sleeping.

Amplified Bible
[stay alert,] in case he should come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep and unprepared.

Christian Standard Bible
Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Otherwise, he might come suddenly and find you sleeping.

American Standard Version
lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

Contemporary English Version
But if he comes suddenly, don't let him find you asleep.

English Revised Version
lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Make sure he doesn't come suddenly and find you asleep.

Good News Translation
If he comes suddenly, he must not find you asleep.

International Standard Version
Otherwise, he may come suddenly and find you asleep.

Majority Standard Bible
Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping.

NET Bible
or else he might find you asleep when he returns suddenly.

New Heart English Bible
lest coming suddenly he might find you sleeping.

Webster's Bible Translation
Lest coming suddenly, he should find you sleeping.

Weymouth New Testament
Beware lest He should arrive unexpectedly and find you asleep.

World English Bible
lest, coming suddenly, he might find you sleeping.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
lest, having come suddenly, he may find you sleeping;

Berean Literal Bible
lest having come suddenly, he should find you sleeping.

Young's Literal Translation
lest, having come suddenly, he may find you sleeping;

Smith's Literal Translation
Lest having come suddenly he find you sleeping.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Lest coming on a sudden, he find you sleeping.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Otherwise, when he will have arrived unexpectedly, he may find you sleeping.

New American Bible
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.

New Revised Standard Version
or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He might come suddenly, and find you asleep.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Lest suddenly he come and find you sleeping.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
lest he come suddenly, and find you sleeping.

Godbey New Testament
lest having come suddenly he may find you sleeping.

Haweis New Testament
lest coming suddenly he find you asleep.

Mace New Testament
for fear by his sudden return he should surprize you sleeping.

Weymouth New Testament
Beware lest He should arrive unexpectedly and find you asleep.

Worrell New Testament
lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.

Worsley New Testament
least coming on a sudden he should find you sleeping.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Readiness at Any Hour
35Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. 36Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping. 37And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!”…

Cross References
Matthew 24:42-44
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. / But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. / For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.

Luke 12:35-40
Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. / Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. / Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them. ...

1 Thessalonians 5:2-6
For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. / 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. / But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief. ...

Revelation 16:15
“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”

Matthew 25:13
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Luke 21:34-36
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. / For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. / So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

2 Peter 3:10
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

Romans 13:11-12
And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. / The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Ephesians 5:14
So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.

Hebrews 10:37
For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.

James 5:8-9
You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. / Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!

Revelation 3:3
Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.

Proverbs 6:9-11
How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? / A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, / and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.


Treasury of Scripture

Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

he find.

Mark 14:37,40
And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? …

Proverbs 6:9-11
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? …

Proverbs 24:33,34
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: …

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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














Otherwise
The word "otherwise" serves as a cautionary conjunction, linking the preceding verses with a warning. In the context of Mark 13, Jesus is speaking about the end times and His second coming. The Greek word used here is "μήποτε" (mēpote), which implies a strong warning or a potential negative outcome. This word sets the tone for the urgency and seriousness of the message, urging believers to remain vigilant and prepared for the Lord's return.

he may arrive
The phrase "he may arrive" refers to the unexpected coming of the master, symbolizing Jesus' return. The Greek verb "ἔλθῃ" (elthē) is in the subjunctive mood, indicating a future possibility. This highlights the uncertainty of the timing of Christ's return, emphasizing the need for constant readiness. Historically, the early Christians lived with the expectation that Jesus could return at any moment, a belief that shaped their daily lives and spiritual practices.

without notice
"Without notice" underscores the suddenness and unpredictability of the event. The Greek word "ἐξαίφνης" (exaiphnes) means suddenly or unexpectedly. This reflects the biblical theme that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2). The imagery here is meant to inspire a sense of urgency and preparedness, reminding believers that they must always be spiritually awake and alert.

and find you sleeping
The phrase "and find you sleeping" serves as a metaphor for spiritual complacency or unpreparedness. The Greek word "καθεύδοντας" (katheudontas) literally means to be asleep, but in this context, it symbolizes a lack of spiritual vigilance. In the historical and cultural context of the time, a servant found sleeping when the master returned would be considered negligent and unfaithful. This serves as a powerful warning to Christians to remain active in their faith, continually watching and praying, so they are not caught off guard at Christ's return.

(36) Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.--As before we traced a kind of echo of the parable of the Talents, so here we recognise something like a fragmentary reminiscence of that of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Otherwise,
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

he may arrive
ἐλθὼν (elthōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

without notice
ἐξαίφνης (exaiphnēs)
Adverb
Strong's 1810: Suddenly, unexpectedly. From ek and the base of aiphnidios; of a sudden.

[and] find
εὕρῃ (heurē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2147: A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

sleeping.
καθεύδοντας (katheudontas)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2518: To sleep, be sleeping. From kata and heudo; to lie down to rest, i.e. to fall asleep.


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NT Gospels: Mark 13:36 Lest coming suddenly he might find you (Mar Mk Mr)
Mark 13:35
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