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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went 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.

Context of Matthew 25:1

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra 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

• “Thenτότεtote · thenG5119
• the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
• of heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• will be comparableὁμοιόωhomoioō · to likenG3666
• to tenδέκαdeka · tenG1176
• virginsπαρθένοςparthenos · virginG3933
• whoὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• tookλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• lampsλαμπάςlampas · windowG2985
• and wentἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• to meetὑπάντησιςhupantēsis · meetingG5222
• the groomνυμφίοςnumphios · bridegroomG3566

Cross-references for Matthew 25:1

• Matthew 24:42“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
• Luke 21:34“But be on your guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that this day will not come on you suddenly, like a trap;
• Matthew 3:2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
• Matthew 13:24Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
• Matthew 20:1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
• Matthew 22:2“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who held a wedding feast for his son.
• Daniel 2:44And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.
• Psalms 45:14She will be brought to the King in colorful garments; The virgins, her companions who follow her, Will be brought to You.
• 1 Corinthians 11:2Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I handed them down to you.
• Revelation 14:4These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are celibate. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from mankind as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.
• Matthew 5:16Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
• Luke 12:35“Be prepared, and keep your lamps lit.
• Philippians 2:15so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
• 2 Timothy 4:8in the future there is reserved 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 consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,
• 2 Peter 3:12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

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