New King James Version
Matthew 25:5
5But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
Matthew 25:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
- New International Version (NIV)The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
- English Standard Version (ESV)As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
- New Living Translation (NLT)When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
Context of Matthew 25:5
3Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
Read all of Matthew 25Matthew 25:5 word by word
χρονίζοντος δὲ τοῦ νυμφίου ἐνύσταξαν πᾶσαι καὶ ἐκάθευδον.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Matthew 25:5
- Matthew 25:19After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
- Matthew 24:48But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’
- Habakkuk 2:3For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
- Luke 12:45But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk,
- Luke 20:9Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.
- Hebrews 10:36For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
- 2 Peter 3:4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
- Revelation 2:25But hold fast what you have till I come.
- Matthew 26:40Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
- Jonah 1:5Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.
- Mark 14:37Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?
- Luke 18:8I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
- Romans 13:11And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
- Ephesians 5:14Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
- 1 Peter 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Commentaries on Matthew 25:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5The bridegroom tarried - The coming of the bridegroom to an individual may imply his death: his coming to the world - the final judgment. The delay - the time from a man's birth till his death, in the first case; in the second, the time from the beginning to the end of the world. Slumbered and slept - Or, Ϛ , they became drowsy and fell asleep. As sleep is frequently used in the sacred writings for death, so drowsiness, which precedes sleep, may be…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5The bridegroom tarried - That is, while they waited for him. It was uncertain at what time he would come. He delayed longer than they expected. All slumbered and slept - Waiting until near midnight, they fell into repose. This circumstance is not to be pressed to prove that all Christians will be asleep, or cold and careless, when the Lord Jesus shall come. “Many” may be so, but many, also, will be looking for his coming. This circumstance is designed…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5Both the prudent and the foolish bridesmaids sleep while waiting. The parable criticizes only the foolish bridesmaids’ failure to bring enough oil.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. While the bridegroom tarried--So in Mt 24:48, "My Lord delayeth His coming"; and so Peter says sublimely of the ascended Saviour, "Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things" (Ac 3:21, and compare Lu 19:11, 12). Christ "tarries," among other reasons, to try the faith and patience of His people. they all slumbered and slept--the wise as well as the foolish. The world "slumbered" signifies, simply, "nodded," or, "became…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 25:5
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries