1
“ThenΤότεthe kingdomἡ βασιλείαof heavenτῶν οὐρανῶνwill be likeὁμοιωθήσεταιtenδέκαvirginsπαρθένοιςwho,αἵτινεςtakingλαβοῦσαιtheir lamps,τὰς λαμπάδας ἑαυτῶνwent outἐξῆλθονtoεἰςmeetὑπάντησινthe bridegroom.τοῦ νυμφίου
Matthew 25:1
Study it in the app““Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who, taking their lamps, went out to meet the bridegroom.”
Ten young women wait for the bridegroom: the kingdom calls for staying alertThe Kingdom of God
With the Greek beneath
Matthew 25:1, word by word
- “ThenΤότεTote
then
Then, at that time.
Where else “Tote” appears- the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia
kingdom of God
God's rule, which comes with Jesus.
Where else “basileia” appears- of heavenοὐρανῶνouranōn
heaven
God's dwelling, above all that is created.
Where else “ouranōn” appears- will be likeὁμοιωθήσεταιhomoiōthēsetai
become like
To become like another, to take on their likeness.
Where else “homoiōthēsetai” appears- tenδέκαdeka
ten
Ten.
Where else “deka” appears- virginsπαρθένοιςparthenois
virgin
Virgin: a young woman who has not had relations with a man; also, of men, one who has kept himself pure.
Where else “parthenois” appears- takingλαβοῦσαιlabousai
take
To grasp something in the hand, or take it from someone.
Where else “labousai” appears- their lampsλαμπάδαςlampadas
torch, lamp
Lamp, torch.
Where else “lampadas” appears- went outἐξῆλθονexēlthon
go out
To leave the place where one was and go outside or elsewhere.
Where else “exēlthon” appears- meetὑπάντησινhypantēsin
meeting
Meeting; "to meet".
Where else “hypantēsin” appears- the bridegroomνυμφίουnymphiou
bridegroom
Bridegroom.
Where else “nymphiou” appears
Translation note
The virgins were unmarried young women who accompanied the wedding; their lamps may have been torches that had to be fed with oil.
The context
1 · This verse (above)
2And five of them were foolish and five wise.
To study Matthew 25 in a group
1. What it says
What difference was there between the wise and the foolish virgins when the bridegroom came (vv. 3–10)?
2. What it means
What does Jesus teach by saying “as much as you did it to one of these my least brothers, you did it to me” (v. 40)?
3. How I live it
The King names simple things: food, water, clothing, a visit (vv. 35–36). To whom could you offer one of them this week?