Jesus describes the destruction of the temple as an analogy for the end of the world.
Mark 13:32 But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Mark 13:32 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Mark 13:32 However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
Concerning, however, the day there or the hour, no one knows it, neither the messengers in skies, nor the Son. Except the Father.
Only the Divine has seen the future.
While the translation seems to refer to something very specific, a day and hour, the original Greek terms are much broader. A "day" can means "a time of life" like we use "years" in "the golden years." "Hour" can means "season" or any period of time, such as "a season." It also means "a fitting time" like we use "time" in the phrase "time to go."
Also hidden here is the connection between the "know" in this verse and "see" in Mark 13:29. Both words are from the same root. This "know" doesn't mean "learn to know" but "know" in the specific sense of "have seen" as in a vision, a realization, or inspiration. In this verse, Jesus emphasizes where no one can see, the time of the predicted times. This is contrasted with the earlier verse saying what we can see, the signs of the end time.
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" before "day" is not shown in the English translation.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "and" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "man" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "no" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" is not one of the two Greek negatives but a negative conjunction, "nor."
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "angels" means "messengers." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- IP - Inserted phrase -- The words "which are" don't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
- CW --Confusing Word --The word, "heaven," is a religious concept, but this word just means "sky."
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "but" means "except." This is a conjunction, but a negative one.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "my" means "the."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "only" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" before "days" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" before "hour" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" is not one of the two Greek negatives but a negative conjunction, "nor."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "even" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "angels" means "messengers." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- CW --Confusing Word --The word, "heaven," is a religious concept, but this word just means "sky."
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "but" means "except." This is a conjunction, but a negative one.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "only" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" before "days" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" before "hour" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- IP - Inserted phrase-- The phrase "when these things will happen" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" is not one of the two Greek negatives but a negative conjunction, "nor."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "even" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "angels" means "messengers." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- CW --Confusing Word --The word, "heaven," is a religious concept, but this word just means "sky."
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "or" means "but not."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "himself" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "except" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "only" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The second "knows" doesn't exist in the source and isn't otherwise justified.
But -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but", "however", and "on the other hand". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
of -- The Greek word translated as "of" means "around" when referring to a place, but, in this context, it means "about", "concerning", "on account of," and "in regard to." This is the way Christ usually uses it.
that -- The word translated as "that" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." This word appears after the word translated as "day."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
day -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time," in general, and refers to a "specific time of life."
and -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "and" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.
that -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
hour -- The word translated as "hour" means a period of time, generally, as we might say "moment."
knoweth -- The word translated as "know" means primarily "to see" and is used to mean "know' as we use the word "see" to mean "know" in English. It is the past perfect tense so "have seen" but it is translated as the present tense of "know." What someone "has seen" is what they "know" in the present. Since the past perfect of "see" forms the present tense of "know" the pluperfect tense used here, which indicates an action completed before some other action in the past, is used as the simple past tense, "knew."
no , The Greek word translated as "no man" also means "no one" and other negatives nouns.
man -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "man" in the Greek source.
no, -- (IS) There is no Greek double negative here as translated. A Greek double negative form does exist, but it is not used here.
not -- (CW) "Not " is not the normal Greek negative. It is from a negative conjunction that means "but not" and as both parts of "neither...nor." The "neither-nor" is the sense here. Jesus typically uses this word in the "neither...nor" construction, making the elimination of the "nor" phrase here difficult to explain. The "no, not" translation is also hard to explain because, appearing alone, this word is more like "but not".
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
angels -- (UW) "Angels" is a noun meaning "messenger" and "envoys" though it became to mean "semi-divine beings" in later use from its use in the NT. Jesus uses this word to describe the means by which Jesus communicates to us and our thoughts.
which are -- (IP) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "which are" in the source we use today nor was there one in the source that the KJV translators used.
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for."
heaven, -- (CW, WN) The word translated as "heaven" means simply the "sky," but it can also mean the "climate," or the "universe." It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article.
neither -- The "neither" has negative meaning "but not" and as both parts of "neither...nor."
the-- This is the Greek definite article, "the".The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
Son -- The word translated as "son" means "son," "child," or "children". It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. Jesus also used it metaphorically to describe those who follow a way of thought or set of beliefs that descend from an individual. More about it in this article.
but - (WW) Two Greek words are translated as "except". Literally, they mean "if not" but this phrase is used to mean "except", "instead", and "but." However, this is neither of the two common words more legitimately translated as "but" since Jesus uses this phrase to me "except."
my -- (WW) The word is the Greek definite article, "the", not the pronoun "my." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
Father "Father" is the common word that Christ uses to address his own Father, though it can mean any male ancestor. When referring to others, Christ uses it to refer to their ancestors, that is, "forefathers."
only. -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "only" in the Greek source. This word appears in the version in Matthew 24:36, but not here.
But -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but", "however", and "on the other hand". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
about -- The Greek word translated as "about" means "around" when referring to a place, but, in this context, it means "about", "concerning", "on account of," and "in regard to." This is the way Christ usually uses it.
that -- The word translated as "that" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." This word appears after the word translated as "day."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
day -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time," in general, and refers to a "specific time of life."
or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
hour -- The word translated as "hour" means a period of time, generally, as we might say "moment."
noone, The Greek word translated as "noone" also means "no one" and other negatives nouns.
knows -- The word translated as "know" means primarily "to see" and is used to mean "know' as we use the word "see" to mean "know" in English. It is the past perfect tense so "have seen" but it is translated as the present tense of "know." What someone "has seen" is what they "know" in the present. Since the past perfect of "see" forms the present tense of "know" the pluperfect tense used here, which indicates an action completed before some other action in the past, is used as the simple past tense, "knew."
not -- (CW) "Not " is not the normal Greek negative. It is from a negative conjunction that means "but not" and as both parts of "neither...nor." The "neither-nor" is the sense here. Jesus typically uses this word in the "neither...nor" construction, making the elimination of the "nor" phrase here difficult to explain. The "no, not" translation is also hard to explain because, appearing alone, this word is more like "but not".
even -- (IP) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "even" in the Greek source.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
angels -- (UW) "Angels" is a noun meaning "messenger" and "envoys" though it became to mean "semi-divine beings" in later use from its use in the NT. Jesus uses this word to describe the means by which Jesus communicates to us and our thoughts.
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for."
heaven, -- (CW, WN) The word translated as "heaven" means simply the "sky," but it can also mean the "climate," or the "universe." It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article.
nor -- The "nor" has negative meaning "but not" and as both parts of "neither...nor."
the-- This is the Greek definite article, "the".The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
Son -- The word translated as "son" means "son," "child," or "children". It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. Jesus also used it metaphorically to describe those who follow a way of thought or set of beliefs that descend from an individual. More about it in this article.
but - (WW) Two Greek words are translated as "except". Literally, they mean "if not" but this phrase is used to mean "except", "instead", and "but." However, this is neither of the two common words more legitimately translated as "but" since Jesus uses this phrase to me "except."
only. -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "only" in the Greek source. This word appears in the version in Matthew 24:36, but not here.
the --This is the Greek definite article, "the", not the pronoun "my." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
Father "Father" is the common word that Christ uses to address his own Father, though it can mean any male ancestor. When referring to others, Christ uses it to refer to their ancestors, that is, "forefathers."
However-- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but", "however", and "on the other hand". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
no one, The Greek word translated as "no one" also means "no one" and other negatives nouns.
knows --- The word translated as "know" means primarily "to see" and is used to mean "know' as we use the word "see" to mean "know" in English. It is the past perfect tense so "have seen" but it is translated as the present tense of "know." What someone "has seen" is what they "know" in the present. Since the past perfect of "see" forms the present tense of "know" the pluperfect tense used here, which indicates an action completed before some other action in the past, is used as the simple past tense, "knew."
missing "about"-- (MW) The untranslated word "about" means "around" when referring to a place, but, in this context, it means "about", "concerning", "on account of," and "in regard to." This is the way Christ usually uses it.
missing "that" -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." This word appears after the word translated as "day."
the -- This word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
day -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time," in general, and refers to a "specific time of life."
or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word "the" is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
hour -- The word translated as "hour" means a period of time, generally, as we might say "moment."
when these things will happen -- (IP) There are no Greek words that can be translated as "when these things will happen" in the Greek source.
not -- (CW) "Not " is not the normal Greek negative. It is from a negative conjunction that means "but not" and as both parts of "neither...nor." The "neither-nor" is the sense here. Jesus typically uses this word in the "neither...nor" construction, making the elimination of the "nor" phrase here difficult to explain. The "no, not" translation is also hard to explain because, appearing alone, this word is more like "but not".
even -- (IW) There are no Greek word that can be translated as "even" in the Greek source.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
angels -- (UW) "Angels" is a noun meaning "messenger" and "envoys" though it became to mean "semi-divine beings" in later use from its use in the NT. Jesus uses this word to describe the means by which Jesus communicates to us and our thoughts.
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for."
heaven, -- (CW, WN) The word translated as "heaven" means simply the "sky," but it can also mean the "climate," or the "universe." It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article.
or -- (WW) The "or" has negative meaning "but not" and as both parts of "neither...nor."
the-- This is the Greek definite article, "the".The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
Son -- The word translated as "son" means "son," "child," or "children". It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. Jesus also used it metaphorically to describe those who follow a way of thought or set of beliefs that descend from an individual. More about it in this article.
himself -- (IW) There is no Greek word that can be translated as "himself" in the Greek source.
missing "except" -- (MW) The untranslated words mean "if not" but this phrase is used to mean "except", "instead", and "but." However, this is neither of the two common words more legitimately translated as "but" since Jesus uses this phrase to me "except."
Only. -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "only" in the Greek source. This word appears in the version in Matthew 24:36, but not here.
the --This is the Greek definite article, "the", not the pronoun "my." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
Father "Father" is the common word that Christ uses to address his own Father, though it can mean any male ancestor. When referring to others, Christ uses it to refer to their ancestors, that is, "forefathers."
knows -- (IW) There is no Greek word that can be translated as "knows" in the Greek source.
Περὶ [73 verses](prep) "Of" is from peri, which means "round about (Place)", "around", "about", "concerning", "on account of", "in regard to", "before", "above", "beyond," and "all around."
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is from de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be a weak connective ("and") and explanation of cause ("so").
τῆς [821 verses] (article sg fem gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
ἡμέρας [96 verses] (noun sg fem gen) "Day" is from hemera, which, as a noun, means "day" "a state or time of life", "a time (poetic)", "day break" and "day time." It is also and also has a second meaning, of "quiet", "tame (animals)", "cultivated (crops)," and "civilized (people)." --
ἐκείνης [107 verses](adj sg fem gen) "That" is ekeinos, which means "the person there", "that person", "that thing", "in that case", "in that way", "at that place," and "in that manner."
ἢ [92 verses](conj/adv) "And" is e which is a particle meaning "either", "or," or "than." OR (exclam) "Or" is e which is an exclamation meaning "hi!" OR (adv) "Or" is e, which is an adverb meaning "in truth" and "of a surety".
τῆς [821 verses](article sg fem gen) "That" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
ὥρας [37 verses](noun sg fem gen) "Hour" is from hora, which means "any period", "season," (especially springtime), "year' (generally), "climate" (as determined by seasons), "duration", "the twelve equal parts into which the period of daylight was divided", "the fitting time" (for a task).
οὐδεὶς [69 verses](adj sg masc nom) "No man" is from oudeis which means "no one", "not one", "nothing", "naught", "good for naught," and "no matter."
οἶδεν, [38 verses](verb 3rd sg perf ind act) "Knoweth" is from oida which is a form of eido, (eido) which means "to see", "to examine", "to perceive", "to behold", "to know how to do", "to see with the mind's eye," and "to know."
οὐδὲ [51 verses](partic) "No, not" is from oude , which means "but not", "neither", "nor,"and "not even."
οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
ἄγγελοι [25 verses](noun pl masc nom) "Angels" is from aggelos, which means "messenger" and "envoys" though it became to mean "semi-divine beings" in later use. --
ἐν -- [413 verses] (prep) "In" is en, which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power," and "with".With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for."
οὐρανῶν [111 verses](noun pl masc gen) "Heaven" is from the Greek ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky", "heaven as the seat of the gods", "the sky", "the universe," and "the climate." The word is plural, not singular.
οὐδὲ [51 verses](partic) "Nor" is oude , which means "but not", "neither", "nor,"and "not even."
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
υἱός, [158 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Son" is huios, which means a "son," and more generally, a "child."
εἰ μὴ [14 verses] (conj particle) "But" is ei me, which is the conjunction that means "if not", "but," and "except." εἰ is the particle use with the imperative usually to express conditions "if" or indirect questions, "whether." mê (me) is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." but - (CW) "But is from Two Greek words are translated as "except." Literally, they mean "if not" but this phrase is used to mean "except," "instead," and "but." Except this is not the word usually translated as "but." CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "but."
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
πατὴρ [191 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Father" is from pater, which means "father", "grandfather", "author", "parent," and "forefathers."
Jesus plays with the words for the negation of seeing here in the phrase οὐδεὶς οἶδεν, οὐδὲ (oudeis oida oude - "no one" "sees" "not even"). The common form of this word for "seeing" is eido. Indeed, this verse seems to refer back to Mark 13:29, which uses a similar form. One reason for using the less common form, oida is to create the alliteration.
Another shorter alliteration follows οὐρανῷ οὐδὲ (ouranos oude - "heaven" "not even").