But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Parallel translations
- WEB but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
- BSB But the wise ones took oil in flasks along 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 8:9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
- 1 Jn 2:27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
- 1 Jn 2:20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
- John 3:34For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
- Zech 4:2–3And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
- Ps 45:7Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
- Gal 5:22–23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
- 2 Cor 1:22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
- John 1:15–16John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
- Jude 1:19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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.