But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
Parallel translations
- WEB but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
- KJV But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
- NKJV but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
- NASB but the prudent ones took oil in flasks with their lamps.
- NLT but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.
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 wise took oil in their vessels along with their lamps. True readiness includes inward, lasting provision.
Overview
In contrast to the foolish, the wise prepare for the possibility of delay by carrying reserves. This pictures a faith that endures and a heart genuinely supplied for the long wait. Such preparation cannot be improvised at the last moment. The wise represent those whose readiness for Christ is real and sustaining.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Rom 8:9You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
- 1 Jn 2:27And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.
- 1 Jn 2:20You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
- John 3:34For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
- Zech 4:2–3“What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps.
- Ps 45:7You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy.
- Gal 5:22–23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- 2 Cor 1:22placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.
- John 1:15–16John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”
- Jude 1:19These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 25:4 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.