But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’
Parallel translations
- WEB But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
- KJV But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
- NKJV But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
- NASB But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’
- NLT “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
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 bridegroom replies, 'I don't know you.' Final judgment turns on whether Christ truly knows us.
Overview
The solemn 'I don't know you' is the language of relational rejection, not mere ignorance. It reveals that the foolish, despite their profession, never had a genuine bond with the bridegroom. To be known by Christ is the heart of salvation, and to lack it is to be shut out. The verse drives home that real, present relationship with Jesus is what matters at the end.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Cor 8:3But the one who loves God is known by God.
- John 10:27My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
- 2 Tim 2:19Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
- Luke 13:26–30Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
- John 9:31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.
- Ps 1:6For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
- Ps 5:5The boastful cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all workers of iniquity.
- Gal 4:9But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
- Hab 1:13Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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 25:12 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.