And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.

And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed about with an army; then know that the desolation thereof is at hand.

But when ye see Jerusalem encompassed with armies, then know that its desolation is drawn nigh.

'And when ye may see Jerusalem surrounded by encampments, then know that come nigh did her desolation;

And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is near.

"But when you see Jerusalem with armies encamping round her on every side, then be certain that her overthrow is close at hand.

But when you see armies all round about Jerusalem, then be certain that her destruction is near.

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

Then, when you will have seen Jerusalem encircled by an army, know then that its desolation has drawn near.

As soon, however, as you see Jerusalem surrounded by armed camps, then you may know that the hour of her desecration is at hand.

(4) And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
(4) The final destruction of the whole city is foretold.

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies,.... The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Persic versions read, "with an army"; that is, with the Roman army, as it was by the army which Titus Vespasian brought against it, and besieged it with:
then know that the desolation thereof is nigh; signifying, that there would be no deliverance to be expected, as when the Assyrian army under Rabshakeh appeared against it; but that whenever the Roman army besieged it, its destruction might be looked upon as inevitable; nor was the siege raised until it was destroyed, which was about four years after.

by armies--encamped armies, that is, besieged: "the abomination of desolation" (meaning the Roman ensigns, as the symbols of an idolatrous, pagan, unclean power) "spoken of by Daniel the prophet" (Daniel 9:27) "standing where it ought not" (Mark 13:14). "Whoso readeth [that prophecy] let him understand" (Matthew 24:15).
Then . . . flee, &c.--EUSEBIUS says the Christians fled to Pella, at the north extremity of Perea, being "prophetically directed"; perhaps by some prophetic intimation still more explicit than this, which still would be their chart.