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Matthew 25

Matt. 25:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
Then
tote (Greek #5119)
the when, i.e. at the time that (of the past or future, also in consecution)
KJV usage: that time, then.
Pronounce: tot'-eh
Origin: from (the neuter of) 3588 and 3753
shall the kingdom
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
basileia (Greek #932)
properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: kingdom, + reign.
Pronounce: bas-il-i'-ah
Origin: from 935
of heaven
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
ouranos (Greek #3772)
the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity)
KJV usage: air, heaven(-ly), sky.
Pronounce: oo-ran-os'
Origin: perhaps from the same as 3735 (through the idea of elevation)
be likened
homoioo (Greek #3666)
to assimilate, i.e. compare; passively, to become similar
KJV usage: be (make) like, (in the) liken(-ess), resemble.
Pronounce: hom-oy-o'-o
Origin: from 3664
unto
parthenos (Greek #3933)
a maiden; by implication, an unmarried daughter
KJV usage: virgin.
Pronounce: par-then'-os
Origin: of unknown origin
ten
deka (Greek #1176)
ten
KJV usage: (eight-)een, ten.
Pronounce: dek'-ah
Origin: a primary number
virgins
parthenos (Greek #3933)
a maiden; by implication, an unmarried daughter
KJV usage: virgin.
Pronounce: par-then'-os
Origin: of unknown origin
a, which
hostis (Greek #3748)
which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same
KJV usage: X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever). Compare 3754.
Pronounce: hos'-tis
Origin: ἥτις (hay'-tis), and the neuter ὅτι (hot'-ee) from 3739 and 5100
took
lambano (Greek #2983)
to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively (properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas 1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while 138 is more violent, to seize or remove))
KJV usage: accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).
Pronounce: lam-ban'-o
Origin: a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses
their
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
lamps
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
lampas (Greek #2985)
a "lamp" or flambeau
KJV usage: lamp, light, torch.
Pronounce: lam-pas'
Origin: from 2989
, and went
exerchomai (Greek #1831)
to issue (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: come (forth, out), depart (out of), escape, get out, go (abroad, away, forth, out, thence), proceed (forth), spread abroad.
Pronounce: ex-er'-khom-ahee
Origin: from 1537 and 2064
forth
eis (Greek #1519)
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
KJV usage: (abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
Pronounce: ice
Origin: a primary preposition
to meet
apantesis (Greek #529)
a (friendly) encounter
KJV usage: meet.
Pronounce: ap-an'-tay-sis
Origin: from 528
the bridegroom
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
numphios (Greek #3566)
a bride-groom (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: bridegroom.
Pronounce: noom-fee'-os
Origin: from 3565
c.
a
Psa. 45:14• 14She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. (Psa. 45:14)
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Song of Sol. 6:8‑9• 8There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
 9My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. (Song of Sol. 6:8‑9)
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2 Cor. 11:2• 2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (2 Cor. 11:2)
c
John 3:29• 29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (John 3:29)

More on:

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Bridegroom,
Heaven,
Kingdom; Kingdom of God; Kingdom of Heaven,
Ten,
Virgin; Virginity

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-13:  The parable of the ten virgins,
14-30:  and of the talents.
31-46:  Also the description of the last judgment.
Then.
Matt. 24:42‑51• 42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
 45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
 46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
 47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
 48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
 49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
 50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
 51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt. 24:42‑51)
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Luke 21:34‑36• 34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
 35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
 36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:34‑36)
the kingdom.
Matt. 3:2• 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt. 3:2)
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Matt. 13:24,31,38,44‑45,47• 24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
 31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
 44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
 47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: (Matt. 13:24,31,38,44‑45,47)
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Matt. 20:1• 1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. (Matt. 20:1)
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Matt. 22:2• 2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, (Matt. 22:2)
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Dan. 2:44• 44And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Dan. 2:44)
ten.
Psa. 45:14• 14She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. (Psa. 45:14)
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Song of Sol. 1:3• 3Because of the savor of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. (Song of Sol. 1:3)
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Song of Sol. 5:8,16• 8I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
 16His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. (Song of Sol. 5:8,16)
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Song of Sol. 6:1,8‑9• 1Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.
 8There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
 9My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. (Song of Sol. 6:1,8‑9)
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1 Cor. 11:2• 2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. (1 Cor. 11:2)
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Rev. 14:4• 4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (Rev. 14:4)
which.
Matt. 5:16• 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matt. 5:16)
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Luke 12:35‑36• 35Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
 36And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. (Luke 12:35‑36)
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Phil. 2:15‑16• 15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
 16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. (Phil. 2:15‑16)
went.
2 Tim. 4:8• 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Tim. 4:8)
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Titus 2:13• 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13)
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2 Peter 1:13‑15• 13Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
 14Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me.
 15Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. (2 Peter 1:13‑15)
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2 Peter 3:12‑13• 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:12‑13)
the bridegroom.
Matt. 9:15• 15And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. (Matt. 9:15)
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Matt. 22:2• 2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, (Matt. 22:2)
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Psa. 45:9‑11• 9Kings' daughters were among thy honorable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
 10Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
 11So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. (Psa. 45:9‑11)
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Isa. 54:5• 5For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. (Isa. 54:5)
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Isa. 62:4‑5• 4Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
 5For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. (Isa. 62:4‑5)
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Mark 2:19‑20• 19And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
 20But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. (Mark 2:19‑20)
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Luke 5:34‑35• 34And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
 35But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. (Luke 5:34‑35)
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John 3:29• 29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (John 3:29)
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2 Cor. 11:2• 2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (2 Cor. 11:2)
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Eph. 5:25‑33• 25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
 28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
 33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (Eph. 5:25‑33)
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Rev. 19:7• 7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Rev. 19:7)
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Rev. 21:2,9• 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
 9And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. (Rev. 21:2,9)
• The kingdom of heaven here implies a certain economy at a given point of time. (“Remarks on Matthew 25” by W. Kelly)
• "Their lamps" set forth the light of profession. They were witnesses for the Lord, and their calling was to meet the Savior. That was to be the attitude of the Christian from the first, going forth to meet the Bridegroom. (“Remarks on Matthew 25” by W. Kelly)
• Some of the early believers were Jews, and some were Gentiles; but they abandoned for Christ their previous connections, their position in the world, and all that they hitherto valued. They had a new object. (“Remarks on Matthew 25” by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

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Then shall the kingdom of the heavens be made like to ten virgins thatb having taken their torchesc, went forth to meet the bridegroom.

JND Translation Notes

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b
"Who were such as."
c
Torches that were fed with oil.

W. Kelly Translation

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1
Thena shall the kingdom of the heavens be likened to ten virgins, the which took their torches and went forth to meet the bridegroomb.

WK Translation Notes

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a
Or, "Then shall the kingdom of the heavens be made like to ten virgins, such as, having taken their torches, went forth to meet the bridegroom."
b
A few MSS. add "and the bride." Notwithstanding, the vast mass of the best MSS. is adverse. As to the sense, it seems plain that the bridegroom is represented as coming to the home of his bride. Not, however, she, but the marriage retinue is the object of the Spirit here. Had a bride been named, it would have detracted from the perfect finish of the parable and brought in confusion, as Christians real or in name are meant by the ten who go forth to meet the Lord.