Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Parallel translations
- WEB Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
- KJV Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
- NKJV “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
- NASB Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.
- NLT “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
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
Therefore watch, because you know neither the day nor the hour. The parable's lesson is constant readiness for Christ's coming.
Overview
Jesus states the parable's point plainly: since the timing is unknown, be continually prepared. Watching here means cultivating genuine faith and faithful living now, not last-minute scrambling. The unknown hour is meant to keep disciples spiritually awake in every season. It ties the wedding parable directly to the theme of the whole discourse.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 24:42–44Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.
- Rev 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.”
- 1 Th 5:6So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.
- Luke 21:36So 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.”
- 1 Cor 16:13Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
- Mark 13:33–37Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come.
- 1 Pet 5:8Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
- Matt 24:50The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate.
- 2 Tim 4:5But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
- 1 Pet 4:7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
- Acts 20:31Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 25:13 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.