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,

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
For	γὰρ gar	G1063	properly · conjunction
as	ὥσπερ hṓsper	G5618	just as
in	ἐν en	G1722	"in · preposition
the days	ἡμέραις hēmerais	G2250	day · noun — dative plural feminine
that	ταῖς tais	G3588	the (sometimes to be supplied · article — dative plural feminine
were	ἦν ēn	G2258	I (thou
before	πρὸ pro	G4253	"fore" · preposition
the flood	κατακλυσμοῦ, kataklusmou	G2627	an inundation · noun — genitive singular masculine
they were eating	τρώγοντες trōgontes	G5176	or perhaps rather of a base of G5167 (τρυγών) and G5149… · verb — present active participle, nominative plural masculine
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
drinking	πίνοντες, pinontes	G4095	to imbibe (literally or figuratively) · verb — present active participle, nominative plural masculine
marrying	γαμοῦντες gamountes	G1060	to wed (of either sex) · verb — present active participle, nominative plural masculine
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
giving in marriage	ἐκγαμίζω ekgamízō	G1547	to marry off a daughter
until	ἄχρι achri	G891	(of time) until or (of place) up to · preposition
the day	ἡμέρας hēmeras	G2250	day · noun — genitive singular feminine
that	εἰσῆλθεν eisēlthen	G1525	to enter (literally or figuratively) · verb — second aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular
Noe	Νῶε Nōe	G3575	Noë · noun — nominative singular masculine, a proper name
entered	εἰσέρχομαι eisérchomai	G1525	to enter (literally or figuratively)
into	εἰς eis	G1519	to or into (indicating the point reached or entered) · preposition
the ark	κιβωτόν, kibōton	G2787	a box · noun — accusative singular feminine

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Luke 17:26-28 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Romans 13:13-14 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Luke 14:18-20 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it…
Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Luke 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and d…
Isaiah 22:12-14 And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:
Amos 6:3-6 Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;
Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

John Gill on Matthew 24:38

For as in the days that were before the flood,.... Not all the days before the flood, from the creation of the world; but those immediately preceding it, a century or two before it: they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage: not that these civil actions of life were criminal in themselves, had care been taken that they were not abused. It is lawful to eat and drink, provided it be in moderation, and not to excess; and to marry, and give in marriage, when the laws, rules, and ends thereof, are observed: and therefore this must be understood, either of their wholly giving themselves up to the pleasures of life, and lusts of the flesh, without any concern about the affairs…

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John Calvin on Matthew 24:37-42

Matthew 24:37-42 Matthew 24:37-42 Mark 13:33 Luke 17:26-37 37. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38. For as in the days that came before the deluge, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, till the day when Noah entered into the ark, 39. And knew not until the deluge came, [160] and took them all away: so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40. Two men shall then be in the field; one is taken, and the other is left. 41. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and the other is left. 42. Watch therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord will come. 33. Take heed, watch and pray; for you know no…

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Tyndale Open Study Notes on Matthew 24:37–end

Jesus now applied his predictions (24:1-36) to his followers so they will be faithful and prepared for his second coming. 24:37-41 Jesus’ second coming, like the flood (Gen 7), will come upon people unawares. The only adequate preparation is a life of consistent vigilance and obedience (cp. Luke 17:26-27, 34-35). 24:37 When the Son of Man returns: Jesus’ second coming (see 24:3; cp. Luke 17:26). • in Noah’s day (see Gen 6:9-22; 2 Pet 2:5; 3:5-6): The comparison here does not concern the magnitude of sins, but a lack of discernment about what God is doing, accompanied by a preoccupation with life’s festivities (Matt 6:19-34).

The Church Fathers

Marriage and meats in themselves are not here condemned, as the error of Marcion and Manichæus teaches; for in the one the continuation of the species, in the other that of life, depends; but what is reproved is an unrestrained use of things lawful.
— Rabanus Maurus ((as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)), Catena Aurea by Aquinas

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Matthew, Gospel according to — The author of this book was beyond a doubt the Matthew, an apostle of our Lord, whose name it bears. He wrote the Gospel of Christ according to his own plans and aims, and from his own point of view,…
Olves, Mount of — So called from the olive trees with which its sides are clothed, is a mountain ridge on the east of Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:7; Ezek. 11:23; Zech. 14:4), from which it is separated by the valley of…
Antediluvians · General references — General references
Ark · .Noah and family preserved in — .Noah and family preserved in
Deluge, The · Came suddenly and unexpectedly — Came suddenly and unexpectedly
Flood · References to — References to
Impenitence · 2:4,5;3:1-11,19,26;12:2;20:8,13,21;33:4,5,9; — 2:4,5;3:1-11,19,26;12:2;20:8,13,21;33:4,5,9;
Jews, The · Their house left desolate — Their house left desolate
Noah · .Builds an ark (ship) and saves his family from the great flood — .Builds an ark (ship) and saves his family from the great flood
Second Coming Of Christ, The · Signs preceding — Signs preceding
Worldliness · 1:8;2:1-12;6:11,12;8:15-17;10:19;11:9,10; — 1:8;2:1-12;6:11,12;8:15-17;10:19;11:9,10;

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).