Matthew 25:5
New International Version
The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

New Living Translation
When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

English Standard Version
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

Berean Standard Bible
When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

Berean Literal Bible
And the bridegroom tarrying, they all became drowsy and were sleeping.

King James Bible
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

New King James Version
But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

New American Standard Bible
Now while the groom was delaying, they all became drowsy and began to sleep.

NASB 1995
“Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.

NASB 1977
“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.

Amplified Bible
Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all began to nod off, and they fell asleep.

Christian Standard Bible
When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

American Standard Version
Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Contemporary English Version
The groom was late arriving, and the young women became drowsy and fell asleep.

English Revised Version
Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Since the groom was late, all the bridesmaids became drowsy and fell asleep.

Good News Translation
The bridegroom was late in coming, so they began to nod and fall asleep.

International Standard Version
Since the groom was late, all of them became sleepy and lay down.

Majority Standard Bible
When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

NET Bible
When the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

New Heart English Bible
Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

Webster's Bible Translation
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Weymouth New Testament
The bridegroom was a long time in coming, so that meanwhile they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

World English Bible
Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the bridegroom lingering, they all nodded and were sleeping,

Berean Literal Bible
And the bridegroom tarrying, they all became drowsy and were sleeping.

Young's Literal Translation
'And the bridegroom tarrying, they all nodded and were sleeping,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the bridegroom delaying, they all slumbered and slept.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Since the bridegroom was delayed, they all fell asleep, and they were sleeping.

New American Bible
Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

New Revised Standard Version
As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But when the groom delayed, all of them grew tired and slept.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
While the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

Godbey New Testament
But the bridegroom tarrying, they all nodded and slept.

Haweis New Testament
But as the bridegroom stayed long, they all slumbered and slept.

Mace New Testament
while the bridegroom tarried, they were drowsy and slept.

Weymouth New Testament
The bridegroom was a long time in coming, so that meanwhile they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

Worrell New Testament
Now, the bridegroom tarrying, they all became drowsy, and were sleeping;

Worsley New Testament
Now while the bridegroom stayed, they were all drowsy and fell asleep:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
4But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’…

Cross References
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Luke 12:45-46
But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk. / The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

Revelation 3:3
Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.

1 Thessalonians 5:6
So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.

Mark 13:35-37
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. / Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping. / And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!”

Luke 21:34-36
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. / For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. / So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Hebrews 10:37
For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.

James 5:7-8
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. / You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

Romans 13:11
And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Revelation 16:15
“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”

Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.

Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.

Psalm 40:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.

Isaiah 64:4
From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

Micah 7:7
But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.


Treasury of Scripture

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

the.

Matthew 25:19
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

Matthew 24:48
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

they.

Matthew 26:40,43
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? …

Song of Solomon 3:1
By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

Song of Solomon 5:2
I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

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Asleep Bridegroom Delayed Delaying Drowsy Fell Grew Heavy Husband Meanwhile Sleep Sleeping Slept Slumbered Tarried Tarrying Time
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Asleep Bridegroom Delayed Delaying Drowsy Fell Grew Heavy Husband Meanwhile Sleep Sleeping Slept Slumbered Tarried Tarrying Time
Matthew 25
1. The parable of the ten virgins,
14. and of the talents.
31. Also the description of the last judgment.














When the bridegroom
The term "bridegroom" in this parable is a direct reference to Jesus Christ, who is often depicted as the bridegroom in the New Testament. The Greek word used here is "nymphios," which signifies a man who is about to be married. In the context of the parable, the bridegroom represents the awaited Messiah, whose return is anticipated by the Church, His bride. This imagery is deeply rooted in Jewish wedding customs, where the bridegroom's arrival was a central event, symbolizing the consummation of a covenant relationship.

was delayed
The delay of the bridegroom is a critical element in the parable, symbolizing the period between Christ's ascension and His second coming. The Greek word "chronizontos" suggests a prolonged period, emphasizing the uncertainty and unpredictability of the timing of Christ's return. Historically, this delay tests the faith and preparedness of believers, urging them to remain vigilant and faithful despite the passage of time. It reflects the early Christian community's struggle with the expectation of an imminent return and the reality of waiting.

they all
This phrase includes both the wise and foolish virgins, indicating that all believers, regardless of their spiritual state, are subject to the same conditions of waiting. The universality of this experience underscores the shared human condition of anticipation and the need for readiness. It serves as a reminder that no one is exempt from the trials of waiting and the potential for spiritual complacency.

became drowsy
The Greek word "nystazō" conveys a sense of becoming sleepy or lethargic. This drowsiness represents a spiritual state where vigilance wanes, and the initial fervor of faith may diminish over time. It is a caution against spiritual apathy and the dangers of losing focus on the ultimate goal of meeting the bridegroom. Historically, this reflects the early church's challenge to maintain zeal and commitment amidst persecution and delay.

and fell asleep
The act of falling asleep, from the Greek "katheudō," signifies a deeper state of inactivity or unpreparedness. While sleep is a natural human need, in this parable, it symbolizes a lapse in spiritual alertness. Theologically, it warns against the complacency that can arise from routine and the passage of time. This phrase serves as a call to awaken from spiritual slumber and to be ever-ready for the bridegroom's return, echoing the scriptural exhortation to "watch and pray."

(5) While the bridegroom tarried.--Strictly speaking, the time thus described includes the whole interval between our Lord's Ascension and His final Advent; but looking to the law of "springing and germinant accomplishments," which we have recognised as applicable to the whole subject, we may see in it that which answers to any period in the history of any church, or, indeed, in the life of any member of a church, in which things go smoothly and as after the routine of custom. At such a time even the wise and good are apt to slumber, and the crisis, which is to them, if not to the world at large, as the bridegroom's coming, takes them by surprise; but they have, what the foolish have not, the reserved force of steadfast faith and divine help to fall back upon. We may note that the "delay" in this case is followed by a less glaring form of evil than that in Matthew 24:48. Not reckless and brutal greed, but simple apathy and neglect is the fault noted for condemnation.

Slumbered and slept.--The first word implies the "nodding" which indicates the first approach of drowsiness, the second the continuous sleeping.

Verse 5. - While the bridegroom tarried (Matthew 24:48). We may suppose that all had lighted their lamps at first, in expectation of being immediately called to meet the bridegroom. But he came not. The advent of Christ was not to be as speedy as the disciples imagined. No one could divine when it would take place. As St. Augustine says, "Latet ultimus dies, ut observetur omnis dies." See here a figure of each Christian's probation. They all slumbered (ἐνύσταξαν) and slept (ἐκάθευδον) The first verb implies the nodding and napping of persons sitting up at night; the second means "they began to sleep," actually. All, wise and foolish, did this; so in itself it was not sinful, it was only natural. To such drowsiness the best of Christians are liable. The bow cannot be kept always strung; "Neque semper arcum tendit Apollo." Having made all preparations, the virgins ceased for a while to think of the bridegroom's coming. The Fathers take this sleep to be an image of death, the awaking to be the resurrection, when the difference between the two classes is known and displayed. But this would imply that all the faithful will be dead when the Lord comes, which is contrary to 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Nor, on the other hand, is it conceivable that they whose lamps are kept burning till the day of death will be unprovided when the Lord comes.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[When]
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

bridegroom
νυμφίου (nymphiou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3566: A bridegroom. From numphe; a bride-groom.

was delayed,
χρονίζοντος (chronizontos)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5549: To delay, tarry, linger, spend time. From chronos; to take time, i.e. Linger.

they all became drowsy
ἐνύσταξαν (enystaxan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3573: To nod in sleep, be drowsy, slumber. From a presumed derivative of neuo; to nod, i.e. to fall asleep; figuratively, to delay.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

fell asleep.
ἐκάθευδον (ekatheudon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2518: To sleep, be sleeping. From kata and heudo; to lie down to rest, i.e. to fall asleep.


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