Matthew 25:4

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
• New King James Version (NKJV)but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Context of Matthew 25:4

2Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

Matthew 25:4 word by word

αἱ δὲ φρόνιμοι ἔλαβον ἔλαιον ἐν τοῖς ἀγγείοις μετὰ τῶν λαμπάδων ἑαυτῶν.Read the interlinear

• prudentφρόνιμοςphronimos · thoughtfulG5429
• tookλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• oilἔλαιονelaion · olive oilG1637
• in flasksἀγγεῖονaggeion · jarG30
• along with their 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 joy above Your fellows.
• Zechariah 4:2He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it;
• John 1:15John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’”
• John 3:34For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.
• Romans 8:9However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
• 2 Corinthians 1:22who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
• Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• 1 John 2:20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
• Jude 1:19These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, 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

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

In the dictionaries

• Bride
• Cry
• Depart
• Hard
• Judgment, The final
• Ought
• Parable
• Reckon
• Talent
• Thirsty

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