And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

MATTHEW 24:31KJV
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Matthew 24:31 (KJV)

What does Matthew 24:31 mean?

Matthew 24:31 describes the Son of Man bringing his chosen people together from every direction. Jesus presents this gathering as a deliberate act: the Son of Man sends his angels to carry it out, accompanied by a great trumpet sound.

Jesus is speaking to his disciples, who have asked about his coming and the end of the age. After the appearance of the Son of Man in verse 30, the image of the “four winds” pictures a gathering that reaches across the whole world.

The Greek behind Matthew 24:31

  • “elect” — ἐκλεκτός (eklektos): This word means “chosen.” It identifies the people being gathered as those who belong to the Son of Man.
  • “gather together” — ἐπισυνάγω (episynagō): This word carries the sense of bringing people together into one place. The wording emphasizes the joining together of people who had been spread far apart.

Why Matthew 24:31 matters

  • The gathering follows the Son of Man’s appearance. The “he” who sends the angels refers back to the Son of Man in verse 30, linking the two actions.
  • The trumpet gives the gathering a public, recognizable signal. Earlier Bible passages also connect a trumpet with gathering people, as in Isaiah 27:13, where a great trumpet sounds and scattered people return.
  • The distance is part of the picture. “From one end of heaven to the other” describes the sweep of the horizon, reinforcing the reach already pictured by “the four winds.”

Where else these words appear

“end” Greek G206 · used in 4 verses

  • Mark 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
  • Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
  • Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

“together” Greek G1996 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
  • Mark 1:33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.
  • Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

“trumpet” Greek G4536 · used in 11 verses

  • 1 Corinthians 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
  • Hebrews 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
  • Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

“elect” Greek G1588 · used in 23 verses

  • Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
  • Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
  • Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;