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Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Matthew 25:11 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’
  • BSB Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’
  • NKJV “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’
  • NASB Yet later, the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’
  • NLT Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The other virgins arrive pleading, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' Outward appeal comes too late once the door is shut.

Overview

The foolish return with an earnest cry, echoing those in Matthew 7 who say 'Lord, Lord' yet are unknown to him. Their plea shows that sincerity after the deadline cannot reverse the outcome. The closed door represents the fixed boundary of judgment. The verse warns against presuming on a second chance after Christ returns.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 2

  • Matt 7:21–23Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
  • Heb 12:16–17Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (12)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Matthew videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Matthew 25:11YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on MatthewMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'

How Matthew 25:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.