Matthew 25:1

Matthew 25:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
• New International Version (NIV)“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

Context of Matthew 25:1

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

Matthew 25:1 word by word

Τότε ὁμοιωθήσεται ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν δέκα παρθένοις αἵτινες λαβοῦσαι τὰς λαμπάδας ἑαυτῶν ἐξῆλθον εἰς ὑπάντησιν τοῦ νυμφίου.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thenτότεtote · thenG5119
• the kingdomὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
• of heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• be likenedὁμοιόωhomoioō · to likenG3666
• untoπαρθένοςparthenos · virginG3933
• tenδέκαdeka · tenG1176
• whichὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• tookλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• lampsλαμπάςlampas · windowG2985
• and wentἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• forthεἰςeis · towardG1519
• to meetἀπάντησιςapantēsis · meetingG529
• the bridegroomνυμφίοςnumphios · bridegroomG3566

Cross-references for Matthew 25:1

• Matthew 24:42Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
• Luke 21:34"But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
• Matthew 3:2"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
• Matthew 13:24He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,
• Matthew 20:1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
• Matthew 22:2"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,
• Daniel 2:44And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,
• Psalms 45:14In many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions following behind her.
• 1 Corinthians 11:2Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
• Revelation 14:4It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,
• Matthew 5:16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
• Luke 12:35"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,
• Philippians 2:15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
• 2 Timothy 4:8Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
• 2 Peter 1:13I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,
• 2 Peter 3:12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!

Commentaries on Matthew 25:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Then shall the kingdom of heaven - The state of Jews and professing Christians - the state of the visible Church at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, and in the day of judgment: for the parable appears to relate to both those periods. And particularly at the time in which Christ shall come to judge the world, it shall appear what kind of reception his Gospel has met with. This parable, or something very like it, is found in the Jewish records: so…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Then shall the kingdom of heaven - See the notes at Matthew 3:2. The phrase here refers to his coming in the day of judgment. Shall be likened - Or shall resemble. The meaning is, “When the Son of man returns to judgment, it will be as it was in the case of ten virgins in a marriage ceremony.” The coming of Christ to receive his people to himself is often represented under the similitude of a marriage, the church being represented as his spouse or bride…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The parable of the ten virgins. (1-13) The parable of the talents. (14-30) The judgment. (31-46) Verses 1-13 The circumstances of the parable of the ten virgins were taken from the marriage customs among the Jews, and explain the great day of Christ's coming. See the nature of Christianity. As Christians we profess to attend upon Christ, to honour him, also to be waiting for his coming. Sincere Christians are the wise virgins, and hypocrites the foolish…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1to meet the bridegroom: This image points to the coming of the Messiah (see Mark 2:19–20). We do not know the exact wedding customs of that time. Some believe the bridesmaids led the bride to the bridegroom's home. He stayed away until the wedding feast began. The bridesmaids would wait for his arrival and then escort him to the feast (Matthew 25:10). Others think the bridegroom might have arrived late at night at the bride’s home, where they announced…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-13This and the following parable are in Matthew alone. 1. Then--at the time referred to at the close of the preceding chapter, the time of the Lord's Second Coming to reward His faithful servants and take vengeance on the faithless. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom--This supplies a key to the parable, whose object is, in the main, the same as that of the last…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 25:1

• Bridegroom
• Fool
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Judgment
• Kingdom of Heaven
• Marriage
• Opportunity
• Resurrection
• Unfaithfulness
• Virgin
• Wisdom
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Bride
• Cry
• Depart
• Hard
• Heaven
• Judgment, The final
• Lamp
• Ought
• Parable
• Reckon

Commentaries on Matthew 25

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings