Mark 13:20 nasb — "Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose,…

NASB

""Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days."

— Mark 13:20, NASB

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Mark 13:20 in Other Translations

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Mark 13 — Context

17

"But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

18

"But pray that it may not happen in the winter.

19

"For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will.

20

"Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

21

"And then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ'; or, 'Behold, He is there'; do not believe him;

22

for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

23

"But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.

Mark 13:20 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Mark 13:20 say?
Mark 13:20 in the NASB reads: “"Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.”
Where is Mark 13:20 in the Bible?
Mark 13:20 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Mark, chapter 13, verse 20.
Who wrote Mark?
Mark is traditionally attributed to John Mark, companion of Peter and Paul. Early tradition (Papias, c. AD 130) reports Mark wrote down Peter's preaching. It was written c. AD 55–65.
What is the book of Mark about?
Mark is the shortest, fastest-paced Gospel — "immediately" is its favorite word. It portrays Jesus as the powerful, suffering Servant who acts, heals, casts out demons, and finally gives his life as a ransom for many. The story moves with urgency from Galilee to a cross outside Jerusalem.
What are the major themes of Mark?
Mark explores themes including Servant, Action, Suffering, Discipleship, Cross. These themes shape the meaning and context of Mark 13:20.
What translation should I read Mark 13:20 in?
Mark 13:20 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Mark 13:20?
Mark 13:20 reads (NASB): “"Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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