Matthew Chapter 25 verse 5 Holy Bible

ASV Matthew 25:5

Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
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BBE Matthew 25:5

Now the husband was a long time in coming, and they all went to sleep.
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DARBY Matthew 25:5

Now the bridegroom tarrying, they all grew heavy and slept.
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KJV Matthew 25:5

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
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WBT Matthew 25:5


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WEB Matthew 25:5

Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
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YLT Matthew 25:5

`And the bridegroom tarrying, they all nodded and were sleeping,
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Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 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.

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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.