Matthew 25:1
New International Version
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

New Living Translation
“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

English Standard Version
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

Berean Standard Bible
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Berean Literal Bible
Then the kingdom of the heavens will be likened to ten virgins, who, having taken their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom.

King James Bible
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

New King James Version
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

New American Standard Bible
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.

NASB 1995
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

NASB 1977
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Then the kingdom of heaven may be compared to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Amplified Bible
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

Christian Standard Bible
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.

American Standard Version
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be compared to ten virgins; the same took their lamps and went to meet the groom and the bride.

Contemporary English Version
The kingdom of heaven is like what happened one night when ten young women took their oil lamps and went to a wedding to meet the groom.

Douay-Rheims Bible
THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.

English Revised Version
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"When the end comes, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids. They took their oil lamps and went to meet the groom.

Good News Translation
"At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there were ten young women who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

International Standard Version
"At that time, the kingdom from heaven will be comparable to ten bridesmaids who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the groom.

Literal Standard Version
“Then will the kingdom of the heavens be likened to ten virgins, who, having taken their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom;

Majority Standard Bible
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

New American Bible
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

NET Bible
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

New Revised Standard Version
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

New Heart English Bible
"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Weymouth New Testament
"Then will the Kingdom of the Heavens be found to be like ten bridesmaids who took their torches and went out to meet the bridegroom.

World English Bible
“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Young's Literal Translation
'Then shall the reign of the heavens be likened to ten virgins, who, having taken their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.…

Cross References
Matthew 13:24
Jesus put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.

Matthew 25:7
Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

Luke 12:35
Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.

John 3:29
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

John 18:3
So Judas brought a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They arrived at the garden carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.

Acts 20:8
Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.

Revelation 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven Spirits of God.


Treasury of Scripture

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Then.

Matthew 24:42-51
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come…

Luke 21:34-36
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares…

the kingdom.

Matthew 3:2
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 13:24,31,38,44,45,47
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: …

Matthew 20:1
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

ten.

Psalm 45:14
She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.

Song of Solomon 1:3
Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

Song of Solomon 5:8,16
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love…

which.

Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Luke 12:35,36
Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; …

Philippians 2:15,16
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; …

went.

2 Timothy 4:8
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Titus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

2 Peter 1:13-15
Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; …

the bridegroom.

Jump to Previous
Bride Bridegroom Bridesmaids Comparable Compared Forth Found Friends Heaven Heavens Husband Kingdom Lamps Maidens Meet Meeting Purpose Ten Time Torches Virgins
Jump to Next
Bride Bridegroom Bridesmaids Comparable Compared Forth Found Friends Heaven Heavens Husband Kingdom Lamps Maidens Meet Meeting Purpose Ten Time Torches Virgins
Matthew 25
1. The parable of the ten virgins,
14. and of the talents.
31. Also the description of the last judgment.














XXV.

(1) Then shall the kingdom of heaven . . .--The three parables of this chapter appear here as in closest sequence to the great discourse of Matthew 24, and are as its natural conclusion. On the other hand, no trace of such parables being then spoken appears either in St. Mark or St. Luke, and their absence is at least a phenomenon that calls for explanation. That which seems most probable is that the strictly apocalyptic part of the discourse was, as the destruction of Jerusalem drew near, frequently impressed by oral teaching on the minds of disciples, and then reproduced in writing, with the diversities of detail incidental to such a process, as a document complete in itself, while it was reserved for St. Matthew--here as elsewhere, eager in collecting parables--to add the teaching that actually followed it. The parables have a common aim, as impressing on the disciples the necessity at once of watchfulness and of activity in good, but each has, it will be seen, a very distinct scope of its own.

Be likened unto ten virgins.--On the general meaning of the symbolism of the Wedding Feast enough has been said in the Notes on Matthew 22:2. Here, as there, we have to remember, that while the bride is the Church in her collective unity, the contrasted characters of the members of the Church are represented here by the virgins, as there by the guests who were invited; and for this reason, probably, the bride herself is not introduced as part of the imagery of the parable. As far as the frame-work of the figure is concerned, the stage in the marriage rites which is brought before us is the return of the bridegroom, after the espousals have been completed in the house of the bride's father, to his own abode, bringing the bride with him. Jewish custom required the bridesmaids to wait at the bridegroom's house, to receive him and the bride, and as this was commonly after sunset, they were provided with lamps or torches.

Which took their lamps.--Better, torches, as the word is rendered in John 18:3. These were of tow, steeped in oil and fastened to the end of sticks.

Verses 1-13. - Parable of the ten virgins. (Peculiar to St. Matthew.) This parable, as a continuation of the teaching of the last chapter, sets forth the necessity of having and retaining grace unto the end, in order to be able to welcome the advent of Christ. The duty of watchfulness and preparation for the great day is, of course, implied and set forth (ver. 13); but the point is that the oil of God's grace alone enables the soul to meet the bridegroom joyfully, without dismay. The usual marriage customs of the Jews are well known. On the appointed day, the bridegroom, accompanied by his friends, proceeded to the bride's house, and thence escorted her, with her attendant maidens and friends, to his own or his parents' home. In the parable, however, the proceedings are somewhat different. Here the bridegroom is not in the town, but somewhere at a distance, so that, though the day is settled, the exact hour of his arrival is uncertain. He will come in the course of the night, and the virgins who are to meet him have assembled in the house where the wedding is to take place. They wait for the smnmons to go forth and meet the bridegroom and conduct him to the bridal place; and when the signal is given that he is approaching, they set forth on the road, each bearing her lamp (Edersheim). Verse 1. - Then. The time refers to the hour of the Lord's advent (Matthew 24:50, 51), and the parousia of the Son of man (Matthew 24:36, etc.). Shall the kingdom of heaven be likened. At the time named something analogous to the coming story shall happen in the Church, in the gospel dispensation. Ten virgins. Ten is the number of perfection; such a number of persons was required to form a synagogue, and to be present at any office, ceremony, or formal benediction. Talmudic authorities affirm that the lamps used in bridal processions were usually ten. The "virgins" here are the friends of the bride, who are arranged to sally forth to meet the bridegroom as soon as his approach is signalled. "The Church, in her aggregate and ideal unity, is the bride; the members of the Church, as individually called, are guests; in their separation from the world, and expectation of the Lord's coming, they are his virgins" (Lange). The bride herself is not named in the parable, as she is not needed for illustration, and the virgins occupy her place. These virgins represent believers divided into two sections; evidently they are all supposed to hold the true faith, and to be pure and undefiled followers of the Lord (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 14:4), to be waiting for his coming, and to love his appearing; but some fail for lack of grace or of perseverance, as is shown further on. Their lamps (τὰς λαμπάδας αὐτῶν, better ἑαυτῶν, their own lamps). They all made separate and personal, independent preparation for the meeting. These lamps (for they were not torches) were, as Dr. Edersheim notes, hollow cups or saucers, with a round receptacle for the wick, which was fed with pitch or oil. They were on these occasions fastened to a long wooden pole, and borne aloft in the procession. Went forth. This does not refer to the final going forth to meet the bridegroom on the road (ver. 6), as it is absurd to suppose that they all fell asleep by the wayside, with their lamps in their hands (ver. 5), and, as a fact, only five went out at last; but it doubtless intimates that they left their own homes to unite in duly celebrating the wedding. To meet the bridegroom. An evident interpolation adds, "and the bride," which the authorized Vulgate unhappily confirms, reading, exierunt obviam sponso et sponsae. In this case the scene refers to the bridegroom's return in company with his bride. But this is a misconception, as no mention is made of the bride anywhere in the genuine text. The bridegroom comes to fetch home the bride; and these maidens, her friends, assembled in her house to be ready to escort him thither (cf. 1 Macc. 9:37). The wedding seems to take place at the bride'e house, as Judges 14:10.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
At that time
Τότε (Tote)
Adverb
Strong's 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

kingdom
βασιλεία (basileia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 932: From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.

of
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

heaven
οὐρανῶν (ouranōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.

will be like
ὁμοιωθήσεται (homoiōthēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3666: To make like, liken; I compare. From homoios; to assimilate, i.e. Compare; passively, to become similar.

ten
δέκα (deka)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1176: Ten. A primary number; ten.

virgins
παρθένοις (parthenois)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3933: Of unknown origin; a maiden; by implication, an unmarried daughter.

who
αἵτινες (haitines)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3748: Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever.

took
λαβοῦσαι (labousai)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

their
ἑαυτῶν (heautōn)
Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

lamps
λαμπάδας (lampadas)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2985: A torch, lamp, lantern. From lampo; a 'lamp' or flambeau.

[and] went out
ἐξῆλθον (exēlthon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1831: To go out, come out. From ek and erchomai; to issue.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

meet
ὑπάντησιν (hypantēsin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5222: A meeting. From hupantao; an encounter or concurrence.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

bridegroom.
νυμφίου (nymphiou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3566: A bridegroom. From numphe; a bride-groom.


Links
Matthew 25:1 NIV
Matthew 25:1 NLT
Matthew 25:1 ESV
Matthew 25:1 NASB
Matthew 25:1 KJV

Matthew 25:1 BibleApps.com
Matthew 25:1 Biblia Paralela
Matthew 25:1 Chinese Bible
Matthew 25:1 French Bible
Matthew 25:1 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Matthew 25:1 Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 24:51
Top of Page
Top of Page