The parable continues the topic, staying vigilant, in the context of comparing the realm of the skies to dumb kids and sensible kids going to a party.
Matthew 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Matthew 25:7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
Then they were awakened, all those girls there, and they prepared those lamps of their own.
We all need to be awaken at some time.
The girls did not wake up by themselves, they were awoken by the shout and each other, both the sensible ones and the stupid ones. Both groups had fallen asleep.
The word translated as "trimmed" means "prepared." This is at midnight. It is dark.We don't know if they fell asleep with their lamps burning, nor do we know how long they slept.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "virgin" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "arose" is not an active verb but a passive, "were awoken."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "arose" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "their" is not the common word usually translated as "their."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "lamps" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "virgin" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "woke up" is not an active verb but a passive, "were awoken."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "their" is not the common word usually translated as "their."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "lamps" is not shown in the English translation.
Then -- The Greek word for "then" means "at this time" or "then."
all - The word translated as "all" is from the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas.
those -- The word translated as "those" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there."
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.
virgins - The Greek word translated as "virgins means a "maiden" but today we would say "teenager." Here it is specifically "teenage girls." The term relates more to age than sexual experience since it can describe a young woman who is not a virgin.
arose, - (CW, WF) The word for "arise" means "awaken" and is the same word Christ uses to describe God raising the dead and false prophets arising. It has more of a sense of waking from sleep than standing up. It is passive, "were awakened."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
trimmed - "Trimmed" is from a verb that means "to order," "to arrange," "to prepare," and "to equip." This is the verb form of the noun that is always translated as "the world" in the NT. It is an active verb, unlike the passive "awaken" above.
their - (CW) The word translated as "their" is a little unusual. It has more the sense of "their own" than the regular form of the word for "of their own."
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."
Then -- The Greek word for "then" means "at this time" or "then."
all - The word translated as "all" is from the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas.
the -- The word is the Greek definite article, "the," 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.
virgins - The Greek word translated as "virgins means a "maiden" but today we would say "teenager." Here it is specifically "teenage girls." The term relates more to age than sexual experience since it can describe a young woman who is not a virgin.
missing "there" -- (MW) The untranslated word "there" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there."
woke up, - (WF) The word for "woke up" means "awaken" and is the same word Christ uses to describe God raising the dead and false prophets arising. It is passive, "were awakened."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
trimmed - "Trimmed" is from a verb that means "to order," "to arrange," "to prepare," and "to equip." This is the verb form of the noun that is always translated as "the world" in the NT. It is an active verb, unlike the passive "awaken" above.
their - (CW) The word translated as "their" is a little unusual. It has more the sense of "their own" than the regular form of the word for "of their own."
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."
τότε [53 verses](adv) "Then" is from tote, which means "at that time" and "then."
ἠγέρθησαν [41 verses](verb 3rd pl aor ind pass ) "Arose" is egeiro, which means "to awaken," "to stir up," and "to rouse." --
πᾶσαι [212 verses](adj pl fem nom) "All" is from pas, which means "all," "the whole," "every," "anyone," "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way," "on every side," "in every way," and "altogether."
αἱ [821 verses](article pl fem nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
παρθένοι [3 verses] (noun pl fem nom ) "Virgins" is parthenos, which means a "maiden," "girl," "virgin," "unmarried woman who isn't a virgin," "unmarried man," and as an adjective, meaning "maiden," and "chaste."
ἐκεῖναι [107 verses](adj pl fem nom) "Those" is ekeinos, which means "the person there," "that person," "that thing," "in that case," "in that way," "at that place," and "in that manner." -- The word translated as "those" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
ἐκόσμησαν [4 verses](verb 3rd pl aor ind act) "Trimmed" is from the verb kosmeô, which means "to order," "to arrange," "to rule," "to adorn" (especially women), and "to equip." It especially means controlling and arranging an army.
τὰς [821 verses](article pl fem acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
λαμπάδας (noun pl fem acc) "Lamps" is from lampas, which means "torch," "beacon light," "light," and any type of "lamp."
ἑαυτῶν. [75 verses](adj pl fem gen) "Their" is heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself," "herself," "itself" "themselves," and "ourselves." When used in the possessive, it has the sense of "of their own."
"The all the girls were awakened," he said, gesturing for them to get up.
The followers, playing the part of the girls, got up, some yawning, some stretching.
"And," he continued. "They each prepared their own lamps."
The "girls" pretended to play with their lamps.