English Standard Version
Matthew 25:4
4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
Matthew 25:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
- New International Version (NIV)The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.
- New King James Version (NKJV)but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
- New Living Translation (NLT)but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.
Context of Matthew 25:4
2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
Read all of Matthew 25Matthew 25:4 word by word
αἱ δὲ φρόνιμοι ἔλαβον ἔλαιον ἐν τοῖς ἀγγείοις μετὰ τῶν λαμπάδων ἑαυτῶν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- the wiseφρόνιμοςphronimos · thoughtfulG5429
- tookλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- oilἔλαιονelaion · olive oilG1637
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- vesselsἀγγεῖονaggeion · jarG30
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- lampsλαμπάςlampas · windowG2985
Cross-references for Matthew 25:4
- Psalms 45:7you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
- Zechariah 4:2And he said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it.
- John 1:15(John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")
- John 3:34For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
- Romans 8:9You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
- 2 Corinthians 1:22and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
- Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- 1 John 2:20But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
- Jude 1:19It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
Commentaries on Matthew 25:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Took oil in their vessels - They not only had a sufficiency of oil in their lamps, but they carried a vessel with oil to recruit their lamps, when it should be found expedient. This the foolish or improvident neglected to do: hence, when the oil that was in their lamps burned out, they had none to pour into the lamp to maintain the flame.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2-4Verses 2-4 And five of them were wise - . The words “wise and foolish,” here, refer only to their conduct; in regard to the oil. The one part was “wise” in taking oil, the other “foolish” in neglecting it. The conduct of those who were “wise” refers to those who are “prepared” for the coming of Christ - prepared by possessing real piety, and not being merely his professed followers. The conduct of those “without” oil expresses the conduct of those who…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-13This parable confirms the need to be alert and ready for Christ's return (Matthew 25:13; see also Luke 12:35–36).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps--What are these "lamps" and this "oil"? Many answers have been given. But since the foolish as well as the wise took their lamps and went forth with them to meet the Bridegroom, these lighted lamps and this advance a certain way in company with the wise, must denote that Christian profession which is common to all who bear the Christian name; while the insufficiency of this without something else…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 25:4
In the dictionaries
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
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