Matthew 24:17
New International Version
Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house.

New Living Translation
A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack.

English Standard Version
Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,

Berean Standard Bible
Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house.

Berean Literal Bible
the one on the housetop, do not let him come down to take anything out of his house;

King James Bible
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

New King James Version
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.

New American Standard Bible
Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house.

NASB 1995
“Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.

NASB 1977
let him who is on the housetop not go down to get the things out that are in his house;

Legacy Standard Bible
Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.

Amplified Bible
Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things that are in his house [because there will not be enough time].

Christian Standard Bible
A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house.

American Standard Version
let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house:

Contemporary English Version
If you are on the roof of your house, don't go inside to get anything.

English Revised Version
let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Those who are on the roof should not come down to get anything out of their houses.

Good News Translation
Someone who is on the roof of a house must not take the time to go down and get any belongings from the house.

International Standard Version
Anyone who's on the housetop must not come down to get what is in his house,

Majority Standard Bible
Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house.

NET Bible
The one on the roof must not come down to take anything out of his house,

New Heart English Bible
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let him who is on the house-top not come down to take any thing out of his house:

Weymouth New Testament
let him who is on the roof not go down to fetch what is in his house;

World English Bible
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
he on the housetop—do not let him come down to take up anything out of his house;

Berean Literal Bible
the one on the housetop, do not let him come down to take anything out of his house;

Young's Literal Translation
he on the house-top -- let him not come down to take up any thing out of his house;

Smith's Literal Translation
He upon the house-tops, let him not come down to take away anything out of his house:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And whoever is on the roof, let him not descend to take anything from his house.

New American Bible
a person on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house,

New Revised Standard Version
the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he who is on the roof, let him not come down to take things out of his house.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the one who is on the roof should not come down to take what is in his house.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
let not him that is on the house-top come down to take his goods out of his house;

Godbey New Testament
and let him who is on the housetop not come down to take things out of his house:

Haweis New Testament
Let not him who is upon the roof go down to take any thing out of his house.

Mace New Testament
he that is on the battlements, let him not venture to go in to take any thing out of his house.

Weymouth New Testament
let him who is on the roof not go down to fetch what is in his house;

Worrell New Testament
let him who is on the house-top not go down to take away the things out of his house;

Worsley New Testament
to take any thing out of his house;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Abomination of Desolation
16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. 18And let no one in the field return for his cloak.…

Cross References
Luke 17:31
On that day, let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions. Likewise, let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind.

Mark 13:15
Let no one on the housetop go back inside to retrieve anything from his house.

Genesis 19:17
As soon as the men had brought them out, one of them said, “Run for your lives! Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”

Luke 21:21
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city.

Jeremiah 6:1
“Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin; flee from Jerusalem! Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa; send up a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms from the north, even great destruction.

Isaiah 26:20
Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves a little while until the wrath has passed.

Revelation 18:4
Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

1 Samuel 19:11-12
Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” / So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped.

2 Kings 7:15
And they tracked them as far as the Jordan, and indeed, the whole way was littered with the clothing and equipment the Arameans had thrown off in haste. So the scouts returned and told the king.

Ezekiel 7:16
The survivors will escape and live in the mountains, moaning like doves of the valley, each for his own iniquity.

Amos 5:19
It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake.

Zechariah 14:5
You will flee by My mountain valley, for it will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

which.

Matthew 6:25
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Job 2:4
And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

Proverbs 6:4,5
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids…

the house-top.

Matthew 10:27
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

Deuteronomy 22:8
When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.

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Fetch House Housetop House-Top Roof
Matthew 24
1. Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple;
3. what and how great calamities shall be before it;
29. the signs of his coming to judgment.
36. And because that day and hour are unknown,
42. we ought to watch like good servants, expecting our Master's coming.














Let no one
This phrase is a direct command, emphasizing urgency and immediacy. In the Greek, "μηδεὶς" (mēdeis) is used, which is an absolute negation, indicating that no exceptions are allowed. This reflects the seriousness of the situation Jesus is describing. The context is a time of great tribulation, and the instruction is to prioritize safety over material possessions. This command underscores the transient nature of earthly belongings compared to the eternal significance of spiritual readiness.

on the housetop
In ancient Jewish culture, the housetop was a flat area used for various activities, including relaxation and prayer. The Greek word "δώματος" (dōmatos) refers to this flat roof. Historically, houses in Israel were constructed with external staircases leading to the roof, making it a place of easy access. The mention of the housetop suggests a normal, everyday setting suddenly interrupted by an urgent need to flee. This imagery serves as a metaphor for being caught off guard and the necessity of being spiritually vigilant at all times.

come down
The Greek word "καταβάτω" (katabatō) means to descend or go down. This action implies a change in position or status, symbolizing a shift from a place of comfort to one of urgency. The instruction to not come down highlights the immediacy of the situation, where even the act of descending to gather belongings is too time-consuming. Spiritually, it suggests the importance of being prepared to leave behind earthly ties when called to follow Christ.

to retrieve
The term "ἆραι" (arai) in Greek means to take up or carry away. This word choice indicates an action of collecting or gathering, which in this context is discouraged. The emphasis is on the futility of clinging to material possessions in times of crisis. It serves as a reminder of the Christian call to hold loosely to the things of this world, focusing instead on eternal treasures.

anything from his house
The phrase "τι ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ" (ti ek tēs oikias autou) refers to any item within one's home. The house, or "οἰκίας" (oikias), represents personal security and material wealth. In a broader sense, this instruction challenges believers to evaluate what they consider essential. The house symbolizes the temporal and perishable, contrasting with the eternal home promised in heaven. This call to leave behind "anything" underscores the need for spiritual readiness and the willingness to forsake all for the sake of Christ.

(17) Let him which is on the housetop.--The houses in the streets of Jerusalem were built in a continuous line, and with flat roofs, so that a man might pass from house to house without descending into the street until he came to some point near the wall or gate of the city, and so make his escape. At a moment of danger (in this case that arising from the factions within the city, rather than the invaders without), any delay might prove fatal. Men were to escape as though their life were "given them for a prey" (Jeremiah 45:5), without thinking of their goods or chattels.

Verse 17. - Housetop. This was fiat, and used as a place of rest, meditation, and familiar concourse (Matthew 10:27). Come down...house. The roof was accessible by two staircases, one external leading from the street or the country, the other mounting from the apartments. The householder was not to descend by this latter to carry off anything from his chambers within, but to escape at once by the outer staircase (setup. Luke 5:19). The flight was to be precipitate, like that of Lot from Sodom (cf. Luke 17:32). The warning was necessary, as, when the Zealots and assassins bad the upper hand, they allowed no one to leave the city. The warning, however, applied to dwellers in any part of Judaea.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[Let no one]
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

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

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

housetop
δώματος (dōmatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 1430: The roof (of a house), the top of the house. From demo; properly, an edifice, i.e. a roof.

come down
καταβάτω (katabatō)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2597: To go down, come down, either from the sky or from higher land, descend. From kata and the base of basis; to descend.

to retrieve
ἆραι (arai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 142: To raise, lift up, take away, remove.

anything
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative 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.

from
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

house.
οἰκίας (oikias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3614: From oikos; properly, residence, but usually an abode; by implication, a family.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 24:17 Let him who is on the housetop (Matt. Mat Mt)
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