The parable continues the last topic, which was staying vigilant, in the context of comparing the realm of the skies to going to a party.
Matthew 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Matthew 25:3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.
Because the stupid, taking those lamps of theirs, didn't take along their own oil
We need to have enough fuel for our minds to work.
In Greek, this verse explains why the five were foolish. The KJV source leaves out the "because" and the NIV ignores it.
The "with them" is not a standard pronoun but a reflexive, having the sense of "their own."
This verse establishes a connection between intelligence and light, Jesus's symbol for knowledge, but the light of the lamp is fire, requiring fuel to burn. The foolish aren't bright because they don't bring oil for fuel.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "they" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "because"do not exist in the KJV Greek source but does in the one we used today.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "that were" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "took" is not an active verb but a participle, "taking."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "lamps" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "them" is not the common word usually translated as "them."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "because" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "took" is not an active verb but a participle, "taking."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "lamps" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "but" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "them" is not the common word usually translated as "them."
They -- (OS) The word translated as "they" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
missing "because" -- (OS) The untranslated word that introduces a reason or explanation, "since," "because," and "as."
that -- (IW) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "that" in the KJV Greek source.
were -- (OS) There is nothing that can be translated as "were" in the Greek source we used today, however, when nouns, pronouns or adjectives appear in the form of a subject without a verb, as they did in the KJV source the verb "to be" can be assumed.
foolish - "Foolish" is from an adjective, used as a noun, which means "dull," "sluggish," and "stupid."
took - (WF) The word translated as "took" means "take" and "receive" in the same sense that we use "get" to mean "receive" and has many different uses as we use "get" in English. Here it is in the form of an adjective, "taking."
their - -- The word translated as "their" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of theirs."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
lamps, - The word for "lamps" is actually the source of our English word "lamp." It describes any burning light source, from torches to oil lamps.
and -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "and" in the Greek source. It was added because the previous verb was translated as active rather than a participle.
took - The word translated as the second "took" is the same as the first, and means "take" and "receive" in the same sense that we use "get" to mean "receive" and has many different uses as we use "get" in English.
no - The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. It negates the verb, "took," not the word "oil."
oil - "Oil" is from a noun that means "olive oil," "anointing oil," and "any oily substance."
with -- "With" is the Greek word that usually means "with" or a related concept such as "among" or "by the means of." We say"along" with the verb "take."
them: - (CW) The word translated "them" is a reflexive pronoun, "themselves." When used in the possessive, it has the sense of "their own."
foolish - "Foolish" is from an adjective, used as a noun, which means "dull," "sluggish," and "stupid."
ones -- From the definite article above that can have the sense of "the ones" when it comes before an adjective.
took - (WF) The word translated as "took" means "take" and "receive" in the same sense that we use "get" to mean "receive" and has many different uses as we use "get" in English. Here it is in the form of an adjective, "taking."
their - -- The word translated as "their" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of theirs."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
lamps, - The word for "lamps" is actually the source of our English word "lamp." It describes any burning light source, from torches to oil lamps.
but -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "but " in the Greek source. It was added because the previous verb was translated as active rather than a participle.
did - -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English, but the Greek could be either a question or a statement.
not - The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. It negates the verb, "took," not the word "oil."
take - The word translated as the second "took" is the same as the first, and means "take" and "receive" in the same sense that we use "get" to mean "receive" and has many different uses as we use "get" in English.
any -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "any" in the Greek source.
oil - "Oil" is from a noun that means "olive oil," "anointing oil," and "any oily substance."
with -- "With" is the Greek word that usually means "with" or a related concept such as "among" or "by the means of." We say"along" with the verb "take."
them: - (CW) The word translated "them" is a reflexive pronoun, "themselves." When used in the possessive, it has the sense of "their own."
αἱ [821 verses](article pl fem nom) "They" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
γὰρ [205 verses](partic) Untranslated is gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."
μωραὶ [6 verses](adj pl fem nom) "Foolish" is from moros, which means "dull," "sluggish," and "stupid."
λαβοῦσαι [54 verse](part pl aor act fem nom) "Took" is lambano means to "take," "take hold of," "grasp," "seize," "catch," "overtake," "find out," "detect," "take as," "take [food or drugs]," "understand," "take in hand," "undertake," "take in," "hold," "get," "receive [things]," "receive hospitably," "receive in marriage," "receive as produce," "profit," "admit," "initiate," "take hold of," "lay hold on," "seize and keep hold of," "obtain possession of," "lay hands upon," "find fault with," "censure," "to apprehend with the senses," "to take hold of," and "to seize." It is also specifically used to mean "seized with emotion."
τὰς [821 verses](article pl fem acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
λαμπάδας [5 verses](noun pl fem acc) "Lamps" is from lampas, which means "torch," "beacon light," "light," and any type of "lamp."
[αὐτῶν] [720 verses](adj pl fem gen) "Their" is from autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as pronouns in English, but it has a few shades of meaning our pronouns do not have. The word technically means "the same," and when used as a pronoun can mean "the true self" as opposed to appearances.
οὐκ [269 verses](partic) "No" is from ou which is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.
ἔλαβον [54 verse](verb 3rd pl aor ind act) "Took" is from lambano means to "take," "take hold of," "grasp," "seize," "catch," "overtake," "find out," "detect," "take as," "take [food or drugs]," "understand," "take in hand," "undertake," "take in," "hold," "get," "receive [things]," "receive hospitably," "receive in marriage," "receive as produce," "profit," "admit," "initiate," "take hold of," "lay hold on," "seize and keep hold of," "obtain possession of," "lay hands upon," "find fault with," "censure," "to apprehend with the senses," "to take hold of," and "to seize." It is also specifically used to mean "seized with emotion."
μεθ᾽ [103 verses](prep) "With" is from meta, which means "with," "in the midst of," "among," "between," "in common," "along with," "by the aid of," "in one's dealings with," "into the middle of," "coming into," "in pursuit of," "after," "behind," "according to," and "next afterward."
ἑαυτῶν [75 verses](adj pl fem gen) "Them" is from heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," "itself" "themselves," and "ourselves." It is an alternative to autos.
ἔλαιον: [5 verses](noun sg neut acc) "Oil" is from elaion, which means "olive oil," "anointing oil," and "any oily substance."
"Because the foolish," he said, indicating the followers playing the foolish girls, who acted their part. "Taking their lamps with them, they didn't take any oil."
The men playing the role of the foolish teens shrugged and generally looked blanks as they pretended to swing their lamps.