Passage

Matthew 25.1-13

Book: Matthew · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2. And five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3. For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them: 4. but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5. Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6. But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him. 7. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out. 9. But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10. And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut. 11. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13. Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour."

"14. For it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey." (Matthew 25:1-15, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3. Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 4. but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5. Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ 7. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9. But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10. While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11. Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 12. But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13. Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."

"14. “For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them. 15. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey." (Matthew 25:1-15, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. ^{gone out: or, going out} 9. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

"14. For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. ^{talents: a talent is 187.pounds 10.ten shillings, chap.18.24}" (Matthew 25:1-15, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. 'Then shall the reign of the heavens be likened to ten virgins, who, having taken their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom; 2. and five of them were prudent, and five foolish; 3. they who were foolish having taken their lamps, did not take with themselves oil; 4. and the prudent took oil in their vessels, with their lamps. 5. 'And the bridegroom tarrying, they all nodded and were sleeping, 6. and in the middle of the night a cry was made, Lo, the bridegroom doth come; go ye forth to meet him. 7. 'Then rose all those virgins, and trimmed their lamps, 8. and the foolish said to the prudent, Give us of your oil, because our lamps are going out; 9. and the prudent answered, saying, Lest there may not be sufficient for us and you, go ye rather unto those selling, and buy for yourselves. 10. 'And while they are going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those ready went in with him to the marriage-feasts, and the door was shut; 11. and afterwards come also do the rest of the virgins, saying, Sir, sir, open to us; 12. and he answering said, Verily I say to you, I have not known you. 13. 'Watch therefore, for ye have not known the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man doth come."

"14. 'For, as a man going abroad did call his own servants, and did deliver to them his substance, 15. and to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each according to his several ability, went abroad immediately." (Matthew 25:1-15, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.