They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

LUKE 17:27KJV
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Luke 17:27 (KJV)

What does Luke 17:27 mean?

Luke 17:27 describes how, in the days before the flood, people were living ordinary lives—eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage—right up until Noah entered the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all. The verse highlights how sudden and unexpected the disaster was for those who were not prepared.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to His disciples, using the story of Noah to illustrate what it will be like when the "Son of Man" is revealed. The people in Noah’s time were focused on daily routines and did not expect judgment, so they were caught off guard when the flood arrived. The point is to show how easily people can be absorbed in everyday life and miss something significant.

The Greek behind Luke 17:27

  • "eat" (ἐσθίω, esthiō): This word means to eat in a general, everyday sense. It emphasizes that people were just going about normal activities.
  • "drank" (πίνω, pinō): Like "eat," this word refers to the ordinary act of drinking, reinforcing the idea of regular life continuing as usual.
  • "destroyed" (ἀπόλλυμι, apollymi): This word means to ruin or destroy completely. Its use here underlines the total and sudden nature of the flood’s impact.

Why Luke 17:27 matters

  • Luke 17:27 clears up the idea that people in Noah’s day were doing anything unusual or especially wicked at the moment the flood came; instead, they were simply living normal lives, which made the judgment all the more unexpected.
  • The verse emphasizes the suddenness and surprise of God’s intervention, connecting it to Jesus’ warning about being ready for the coming of the Son of Man.
  • This verse ties the story of Noah to the broader teaching in Luke 17 about watchfulness and not being caught off guard by significant spiritual events.

Where else these words appear

“marriage” Greek G1547 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
  • Matthew 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
  • 1 Corinthians 7:38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

“flood” Greek G2627 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
  • Matthew 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
  • 2 Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

“ark” Greek G2787 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
  • Hebrews 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
  • 1 Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

“Noe” Greek G3575 · used in 8 verses

  • Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
  • Luke 3:36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,
  • Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.