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Luke 21:21
ESV Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it,
NIV Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.
NASB Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city;
CSB Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it,
NLT Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. Those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the country should not return to the city.
KJV Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
NKJV Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.

What does Luke 21:21 mean?

Jesus is describing to Peter, Andrew, James, and John (Mark 13:3) some of the horrors that Israel will face between His ascension and second coming. In this section, He gives more detail to His prophecy about the destruction of the temple (Luke 21:6) and describes how all of Jerusalem will fall. Here, He warns Jews to flee not just Jerusalem but to run to the mountains if they're in Judea; judgment is coming (Luke 21:22).

In AD 67, after years of Jewish revolt against their Roman occupiers, General Vespasian and King Agrippa II joined forces and attacked Galilee. The Jewish survivors, particularly the Zealots who led the insurrections, fled to Jerusalem where they clashed with the more moderate residents, assassinated the Roman-friendly leadership, and started a civil war that lasted until Rome destroyed the city in AD 70.

When God sent the Babylonians to take the southern kingdom of Judah into exile, He told the Jews to submit: to surrender and go peacefully (Jeremiah 38:17–18). When the Roman armies surround Jerusalem (Luke 21:20), Jesus tells the people they must flee. Run to the mountains. Get out of the city. Do not return to join the fight, and certainly do not try to enter Jerusalem for the feasts. Abandon the Promised Land.

While the Romans surround Jerusalem, the Jews fight a civil war inside the city. In Jerusalem, the people starve. If they try to flee, the Romans enslave or kill them. Galilee is already taken. Judea isn't safe. Their only chance is to climb the mountains where, maybe, the soldiers won't want to follow. But even the outpost on Masada is taken three years later.
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