What Does Matthew 24:16 Mean in the King James?

Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Matthew 24:16 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Here, escape itself is the appointed movement: the threatened person is told to leave for the mountains.

THE MEANING

The verse speaks to someone inside a threatened place: move away from it toward the mountains. Its force is spatial and immediate. Here, flight is a direct response to danger, not a failure of courage.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that courage requires remaining in danger dissolves here: the verse explicitly names flight as the response.

THE ROOT

φευγέτωσαν

pheugetōsan

GROWS FROM

φευγ-

pheug-

to flee, escape

The Greek verb names actual departure, and its word family includes both “flight” and “flee for refuge.” The destination makes that movement concrete: away from Judea and into the mountains.

ALSO GROWS

phygē: flight, escape

φυγή

This noun turns the verb’s movement into a named event: fleeing is the passage from danger toward safety.

katapheugō: flee for refuge

καταφεύγω

This related compound makes explicit the movement toward shelter that the mountains supply in this verse.

THE PATTERN

When a place becomes dangerous, scripture can name departure toward refuge as the life-preserving response.

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

Genesis 19:17 · KJVEscape from the threatened place and movement toward the mountain are named as one urgent response.

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Proverbs 22:3 · KJVThe verse presents recognizing danger and withdrawing from it as a way of preserving life.

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Matthew 10:23 · KJVAs in Matthew 24:16, the response to danger is direct movement away from the threatened place.

THE THREAD

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Matthew 10:23 · KJV

Both verses use the Greek verb ⁨φεύγω⁩ (pheugō), meaning “flee” or “escape.” In both, leaving a threatened place is named plainly; Matthew 24:16 gives the movement a specific destination: the mountains.

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