But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Parallel translations
- WEB But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
- BSB But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’
- 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 if any man love God, the same is known of him.
- John 10:27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
- 2 Tim 2:19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
- Luke 13:26–30Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
- John 9:31Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
- Ps 1:6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
- Ps 5:5The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
- Gal 4:9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
- Hab 1:13Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
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.