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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Matthew 25:5

The groom was late arriving, and the girls became drowsy and fell asleep.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Bridegroom;   Confidence;   Fool;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Judgment;   Kingdom of Heaven;   Marriage;   Opportunity;   Procrastination;   Resurrection;   Unfaithfulness;   Virgin;   Wisdom;   Women;   Scofield Reference Index - Parables;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible Stories for Children;   Children;   Home;   Pleasant Sunday Afternoons;   Religion;   Stories for Children;   The Topic Concordance - Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ;   Kingdom of God;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Fools;   Marriage;   Parables;   Watchfulness;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Parable;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Sleep;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fool, Foolishness, Folly;   Sleep;   Watchfulness;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Annihilation;   Holiness of God;   Joy;   Judgment, Last;   Meditation;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Bride;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Kingdom of God;   Second Coming, the;   Torch;   Woman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Messiah;   Olives, Mount of;   Sin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Claims (of Christ);   Doctrines;   Eternal Punishment;   Foolishness;   Imagination;   Indolence;   Lazarus;   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Paradox;   Parousia (2);   Selfishness;   Sleep;   Sleep ;   Spiritualizing of the Parables;   Unity (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Bridegroom;   Lamp;   Matthew, Gospel by;   Oil;   29 Light Lamp Candle;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Folly and Fool;   ḥuppah;   Marriage;   New Testament;   Parable;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for October 16;   Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for August 27;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
King James Version (1611)
While the bridegrome taried, they all slumbred and slept.
King James Version
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
English Standard Version
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
New American Standard Bible
"Now while the groom was delaying, they all became drowsy and began to sleep.
New Century Version
Because the bridegroom was late, they became sleepy and went to sleep.
Amplified Bible
"Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all began to nod off, and they fell asleep.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.
Berean Standard Bible
When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
Complete Jewish Bible
Now the bridegroom was late, so they all went to sleep.
Darby Translation
Now the bridegroom tarrying, they all grew heavy and slept.
Easy-to-Read Version
When the bridegroom was very late, the girls could not keep their eyes open, and they all fell asleep.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe while the bridegrome taried long, all slumbred and slept.
George Lamsa Translation
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
Good News Translation
The bridegroom was late in coming, so they began to nod and fall asleep.
Lexham English Bible
And when the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
Literal Translation
But the bridegroom delaying, all nodded and slept.
American Standard Version
Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Bible in Basic English
Now the husband was a long time in coming, and they all went to sleep.
Hebrew Names Version
Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
International Standard Version
Since the groom was late, all of them became sleepy and lay down.1 Thessalonians 5:6;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But while the bridegroom withheld, they all dozed and slept.
Murdock Translation
And while the bridegroom delayed, they all became sleepy and fell asleep.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Whyle the brydegrome taryed, they all slumbred and slept.
English Revised Version
Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
World English Bible
Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
While the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
Weymouth's New Testament
The bridegroom was a long time in coming, so that meanwhile they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whilis the hosebonde tariede, alle thei nappiden and slepten.
Update Bible Version
Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Webster's Bible Translation
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
New English Translation
When the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
New King James Version
But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
New Living Translation
When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
New Life Bible
They all went to sleep because the man to be married did not come for a long time.
New Revised Standard
As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, the bridegroom, delaying, they all became drowsy, and were sleeping.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.
Revised Standard Version
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Whill the brydgrome taryed all slombred and slepte.
Young's Literal Translation
`And the bridegroom tarrying, they all nodded and were sleeping,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now whyle the brydegrome taried, they slombred all and slepte.
Mace New Testament (1729)
while the bridegroom tarried, they were drowsy and slept.
Simplified Cowboy Version
"The cowboy was comin' from another ranch and would arrive very late. They waited on him all night to be the first to welcome him.

Contextual Overview

1 The kingdom of heaven is like what happened one night when ten girls took their oil lamps and went to a wedding to meet the groom. 2 Five of the girls were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps, but no extra oil. 4 The ones who were wise took along extra oil for their lamps. 5 The groom was late arriving, and the girls became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 Then in the middle of the night someone shouted, "Here's the groom! Come to meet him!" 7 When the girls got up and started getting their lamps ready, 8 the foolish ones said to the others, "Let us have some of your oil! Our lamps are going out." 9 The girls who were wise answered, "There's not enough oil for all of us! Go and buy some for yourselves." 10 While the foolish girls were on their way to get some oil, the groom arrived. The girls who were ready went into the wedding, and the doors were closed.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the: Matthew 25:19, Matthew 24:48, Habakkuk 2:3, Luke 12:45, Luke 20:9, Hebrews 10:36, Hebrews 10:37, 2 Peter 3:4-9, Revelation 2:25

they: Matthew 26:40, Matthew 26:43, Song of Solomon 3:1, Song of Solomon 5:2, Jonah 1:5, Jonah 1:6, Mark 14:37, Mark 14:38, Luke 18:8, Romans 13:11, Ephesians 5:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, 1 Peter 5:8

Reciprocal: Song of Solomon 5:3 - have put Matthew 13:25 - men Matthew 13:49 - and sever Mark 13:36 - he find

Cross-References

Genesis 24:36
Sarah, my master's wife, didn't have any children until she was very old. Then she had a son, and my master has given him everything.
Genesis 25:7
Abraham died at the ripe old age of one hundred seventy-five.
Genesis 25:9
His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him east of Hebron in Machpelah Cave that was part of the field Abraham had bought from Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite. Abraham was buried there beside his wife Sarah.
Genesis 25:12
Ishmael was the son of Abraham and Hagar, the slave woman of Sarah.
Genesis 25:21
Rebekah still had no children. So Isaac asked the Lord to let her have a child, and the Lord answered his prayer.
Genesis 25:23
and he told her: "Your two sons will become two separate nations. The younger of the two will be stronger, and the older son will be his servant."
Psalms 68:18
When you climbed the high mountain, you took prisoners with you and were given gifts. Your enemies didn't want you to live there, but they gave you gifts.
Matthew 11:27
My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too.
Matthew 28:18
Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth!
John 3:35
The Father loves the Son and has given him everything.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

While the bridegroom tarried,.... The space of time here referred to, is either from the ascension of Christ, to his coming to take vengeance on the Jews; or from thence to his second coming; or rather from the time of some general expectation by the saints, of the near approach of Christ, till such time he does come: for as there was a general expectation of the coming of Christ before he came in the flesh, so there will be a general expectation of Christ being near at hand some time before his second coming; and because such an expectation will not be answered, or Christ will not come so soon as was hoped for, and expected, a general drowsiness, and security, and unconcernedness, especially about the coming of Christ, will fall upon the churches. Thus, in the last century, there was among the people of God, in these kingdoms, a general expectation of Christ's speedy coming; but being in this disappointed, professors of all sorts are fallen asleep, and do not at all, or very little, at least very few, concern themselves about it: in a word, this interval of time seems to regard that period which is pointed out by the Laodicean church state, which will usher in the coming of Christ, and the last judgment. Now Christ, the bridegroom, may be said to tarry, not with respect to the time fixed by the Father and himself; for as this is settled, though unknown to man, it will not be passed by him; he does not, nor will he tarry beyond the appointed time: but either with respect to the time fixed by men; or with respect to the declaration of Christ, and his apostles, that he would come "quickly", and the length of time since; or rather with respect to the expectations of the saints, and their impatience. The reason why he tarries is, because his time is not come, and there are many things to be done first; there is to be a glorious spread of the Gospel all over the world; all the elect must be gathered in, both among Jews and Gentiles; and the man of sin must be destroyed; and the ungodly must fill up the measure of their iniquities; and Christ tarries to try the graces of his people, who should exercise faith in his coming, by looking, watching, and waiting for it, desirous of it, and hastening unto it; being ready for him, prepared to receive him, and to go with him to the nuptial-chamber; but instead of this

they all slumbered and slept: which is not to be understood as if that one only slumbered, and the other slept; that is, that the wise virgins slumbered, and the foolish virgins slept; for the wise virgins, or true believers, are elsewhere said to sleep, and formal professors to slumber; but both these are spoken of them all: and by this slumber, and sleep, is not meant a natural death; though that is sometimes called a sleep, and to which true believers are subject, as well as others; yet all at the coming of Christ will not be asleep in this sense: and were this intended, their resurrection would be designed by their "arising", in the seventh verse; and so the resurrection of the saints, and of others, would be together, which is not true, for the dead in Christ will rise first; and would be also before the coming of Christ, whereas the resurrection of the saints is not till at his coming; and it would look, by the account in some following verses, as if grace might be had, or, at least, be thought to be had, after the resurrection: nor is this to be understood of the dead sleep of sin: a death in sin may be signified by sleeping, and be so called, and conviction be an awakening out of it; but the foolish virgins were always asleep in this sense, and were never truly and thoroughly awaked; and wise virgins never do, nor can, fall into this sleep; for being quickened by Christ, they never die again: nor of a judicial slumber and sleep, which the saints are never given up to; but a dead, lifeless, and sleepy frame of spirit in the wise virgins: which lies in grace not being in exercise; in a slothfulness to perform religious duties; in taking up a satisfaction with the outward parts of religion; in an indifference about the interest of Christ; in an unconcernedness at the omission of duty, or commission of sin; and in an entire ease of mind with regard to such a frame and state: the causes of it are a body of sin; an anxious care of the world; a being weary of spiritual exercises, and a leaving them off; abstaining from an awakening ministry, and spiritual conversation; and keeping company with sleepy and slothful professors, or the men of the world: and often it arises from ease, peace, and liberty; and sometimes from long watchfulness, and waiting for the bridegroom's coming; in which, being disappointed, such a frame of spirit ensues: and also in the foolish virgins it intends great carnal security in themselves; a rest and confidence in their external profession; and a laying aside all thoughts of Christ, and his coming to judgment: for a difference there is between the sleep and slumbering of the one and of the other; the wise virgins are children of the day, and not of the night; though they sleep, their hearts wake, and they sleep with grace in their hearts; neither of which can be said of the foolish virgins, or formal professors: as to the phraseology here used, the Jews would distinguish upon it, for they make a difference between slumbering and sleeping:

"they do not dismiss (the company) after the passover with the sweet-meats: if some of them sleep, they may eat, but if all of them, they may not eat. R. Jose says, נתנמנמו, "if they slumber" they may eat; נרדמו, "if they sleep they may not eat" n: which Maimonides thus o explains, "if they slumber"; that is, if they begin to sleep, but are not yet overwhelmed with sleep, but bear when others speak to them, and answer immediately to them that call them: "if they sleep": if they are oppressed with a deep sleep.''

Though the phrase ניים ושכיב, which I should choose to render, "he slumbered and slept", is often said p of the same person, without any distinction, as here.

n Misn. Pesachim, c. 10. sect. 8. & Maimon. Hilch. Chametz Umetzah, c. 8. sect. 14. o In Misn. ib. p T. Bab. Bava Kama, fol. 47. 2. & 65. 1. & 67. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The 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 simply to show more clearly the “duty of being ready,” Matthew 25:13. It does not mean to affirm it “as a fact” that none will be ready.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 25:5. The 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, ενυϚαξαν και εκαθευδον, they became drowsy and fell asleep. As sleep is frequently used in the sacred writings for death, so drowsiness, which precedes sleep, may be considered as pointing out the decays of the constitution, and the sicknesses which precede death. The other explanations which are given of this place must be unsatisfactory to every man who is not warped by some point in his creed, which must be supported at every expense. Carelessness disposed them to drowsiness, drowsiness to sleep, deep sleep, which rendered them as unconscious of their danger as they were before inattentive to their duty. The Anglo-Saxon has hit the meaning of the original well - [Anglo-Saxon] of which my old MS. Bible gives a literal version, in the English of the 14th century: forsothe-alle nappeden and sleptyn.


 
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