Matthew 22 · Verse 12

Matthew 22:12

And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Matthew 22:12, King James Version

Matthew 22:12 in other translations

BSB‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.
WEBand he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless.
ASVand he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.
YLTand he saith to him, Comrade, how didst thou come in hither, not having clothing of the marriage-feast? and he was speechless.
DARBYAnd he says to him, My friend, how camest thou in here not having on a wedding garment? But he was speechless.
BBEAnd he says to him, Friend, how came you in here not having a guest's robe? And he had nothing to say.
WebsterAnd he saith to him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.

What does Matthew 22:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless--being self-condemned.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Friend. Rather, companion. The word does not imply friendship.

He was speechless. He had no excuse. So it will be with all hypocrites.

(t) "was speechless" Jer 2:26

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 He saith unto him, Friend - Rather, companion: so εταιρε should be translated. As this man represents the state of a person in the visible Church, who neglects to come unto the master of the feast for a marriage garment, for the salvation which Christ has procured, he cannot be with any propriety called a friend, but may well be termed a companion, as being a member of the visible Church, and present at all those ordinances where Christ's presence and blessing are found, by all those who sincerely wait upon him for salvation. How camest thou in hither - Why profess to be called by my name while living without a preparation for my kingdom? He was speechless - Εφιμωθη, he was muzzled, or gagged. He had nothing to say in vindication of his neglect. There was a garment provided, but he neither put it on, nor applied for it. His conduct, therefore, was in the highest degree insulting and indecorous. As this man is the emblem, by general consent, of those who shall perish in the last day, may we not ask, without offense, Where does the doctrine of absolute reprobation or preterition appear in his case? If Christ had never died for him, or if he had applied for the garment, and was refused, might he not well have alleged this in behalf of his soul? - and would not the just God have listened to it? But there is not the smallest excuse for him: Christ died, the sacrifice was offered, for him; the ministers of the Gospel invited him; the Holy Spirit strove with him; he might have been saved, but he was not: and the fault lies so absolutely at his own door that the just God is vindicated in his conduct, while he sends him to hell, not for the lack of what he could not get, but for the lack of what he might have had, but either neglected or refused it. Then said the king to the servants - To the ministering angels, executors of the Divine will. Cast him into outer darkness - The Jewish marriages were performed in the night season, and the hall where the feast was made was superbly illuminated; the outer darkness means, therefore, the darkness on the outside of this festal hall; rendered still more gloomy to the person who was suddenly thrust out into it from such a profusion of light. See all this largely treated of on Mat 8:12 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 22:1-14

The provision made for perishing souls in the gospel, is represented by a royal feast made by a king, with eastern liberality, on the marriage of his son. Our merciful God has not only provided food, but a royal feast, for the perishing souls of his rebellious creatures. There is enough and to spare, of every thing that can add to our present comfort and everlasting happiness, in the salvation of his Son Jesus…

Read the full comment on Matthew 22:1-14 →

Matthew 22:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiandG2532
λέγειlegeihe saysG3004
αὐτῷ·autōto him;G846
ἑταῖρε,hetaireFriend,G2083
πῶςpōshowG4459
εἰσῆλθεςeisēlthesdid you enterG1525
ὧδεhōdehereG5602
μὴmēnotG3361
ἔχωνechōnhavingG2192
ἔνδυμαendumagarmentG1742
γάμου;gamouof wedding?G1062
ὁho<the>G3588
δὲdeAndG1161
ἐφιμώθη.ephimōthēhe was speechless.G5392

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 22:12

  • Job 5:16

    So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

  • Matthew 20:13

    But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

  • 1 Samuel 2:9

    He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

  • Acts 5:2-11

    And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. …

  • Jeremiah 2:23

    How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

  • Matthew 26:50

    And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

  • Psalms 107:42

    The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

  • Titus 3:11

    Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

  • Jeremiah 2:26

    As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

  • Acts 8:20-23

    But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

  • Romans 3:19

    Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:5

    Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Friend.
20:13; 26:50
how.
5:20; Ac 5:2-11; 8:20-23; 1Co 4:5
And he was.
1Sa 2:9; Job 5:16; Ps 107:42; Jer 2:23,26; Ro 3:19; Tit 3:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 22:11

    And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

  • Matthew 22:12

    And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

  • Matthew 22:13

    Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Read all of Matthew 22

Matthew 22:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y le dijo: Amigo, ¿cómo entraste aquí no teniendo vestido de boda? Mas él cerró la boca.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et il lui dit: Ami, comment es-tu entré ici, sans avoir une robe de noces? Et il eut la bouche fermée.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und er spricht zu ihm: Freund, wie bist du hier hereingekommen, da du kein Hochzeitskleid anhast? Er aber verstummte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et ait illi: Amice, quomodo huc intrasti non habens vestem nuptialem? At ille obmutuit.