Matthew 25 · Verse 13

Matthew 25:13

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 25:13, King James Version

Matthew 25:13 in other translations

BSBTherefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
WEBWatch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
ASVWatch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.
YLT‘Watch therefore, for ye have not known the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man doth come.
DARBYWatch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.
BBEKeep watch, then, because you are not certain of the day or of the hour.
WebsterWatch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man cometh.

What does Matthew 25:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh--This, the moral or practical lesson of the whole parable, needs no comment.

Mt 25:14-30. Parable of the Talents.

This parable, while closely resembling it, is yet a different one from that of The Pounds, in Lu 19:11-27; though Calvin, Olshausen, Meyer, and others identify them--but not De Wette and Neander. For the difference between the two parables, see the opening remarks on that of The Pounds. While, as Trench observes with his usual felicity, "the virgins were represented as waiting for their Lord, we have the servants working for Him; there the inward spiritual life of the faithful was described; here his external activity. It is not, therefore, without good reason that they appear in their actual order--that of the Virgins first, and of the Talents following--since it is the sole condition of a profitable outward activity for the kingdom of God, that the life of God be diligently maintained within the heart."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. Watch therefore, etc. This is the scope or design of the whole parable. This is the great truth he wished to inculcate, and all parts of the parable are to be interpreted in reference to this admonition. Like the virgins, many are professedly going to meet the Bridegroom--the Lord Jesus Christ. Like the coming of the bridegroom, his advent will be sudden. It will be to many at an unexpected time. Many, even professing Christians, will be engaged the business of the world; thoughtless about eternity; not expecting his approach, and not prepared. They will only profess to know him, but in works they will deny him. So death will come. All approaches of the Son of God to judge men are sudden, and to many unexpected. So many, when they shall see him coming, at death or the judgment, will begin, like the foolish virgins, to be active, and to prepare to die. But it will be too late. They that are ready will enter-in, and heaven will be closed for ever against all others. The coming of the Saviour is certain. The precise time when he will come is not certain. As the virgins should all have watched and been ready, so should we. They who are Christians should be ever watchful; and they who are not should lose no time to be ready; for in such an hour as they think not the Son of man shall come.

The Son of man cometh. This refers, doubtless, to his coming in the day of judgment. The circumstances of the parable do not seem at all to apply to his coming to destroy Jerusalem, but are aptly expressive of his advent to judge the world.

(h) "therefore" Mt 24:42,44, Mk 13:33,35, Lk 21:36

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Watch therefore - If to watch be to employ ourselves chiefly about the business of our salvation, alas! how few of those who are called Christians are there who do watch! How many who slumber! How many who are asleep! How many seized with a lethargy! How many quite dead! Wherein the Son of man cometh - These words are omitted by many excellent MSS., most of the versions, and several of the fathers. Griesbach has left them out of the text: Grotius, Hammond, Mill, and Bengel, approve of the omission.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 25:1-13

The circumstances of the parable of the ten virgins were taken from the marriage customs among the Jews, and explain the great day of Christ's coming. See the nature of Christianity. As Christians we profess to attend upon Christ, to honour him, also to be waiting for his coming. Sincere Christians are the wise virgins, and hypocrites the foolish ones. Those are the truly wise or foolish that are so in the affairs…

Read the full comment on Matthew 25:1-13 →

Matthew 25:13 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.

ΓρηγορεῖτεGrēgoreitedo watchG1127
οὖν,ountherefore,G3767
ὅτιhotiforG3754
οὐκoukneitherG3756
οἴδατεoidatedo you know
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἡμέρανhēmerandayG2250
οὐδὲoudenor [know]G3761
τὴνtēntheG3588
ὥρανhōranhourG5610
ἐνeninG1722
ᾗhēwhoG3739
ὁho<the>G3588
υἱὸςhuiossonG5207
τοῦtou<the>G3588
ἀνθρώπουanthrōpouof manG444
ἔρχεται.¶erchetaicomes.G2064

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

Cross references for Matthew 25:13

  • Matthew 24:42-44

    Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

  • Revelation 16:15

    Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:6

    Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

  • Luke 21:36

    Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:13

    Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

  • Mark 13:33-37

    Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. …

  • 1 Peter 5:8

    Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

  • Matthew 24:50

    The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

  • 2 Timothy 4:5

    But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

  • 1 Peter 4:7

    But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

  • Acts 20:31

    Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
24:42-44; Mr 13:33-37; Lu 21:36; Ac 20:31; 1Co 16:13; 1Th 5:6
2Ti 4:5; 1Pe 4:7; 5:8; Re 16:15

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

Context

  • Matthew 25:12

    But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

  • Matthew 25:13

    Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

  • Matthew 25:14

    For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

Read all of Matthew 25

Matthew 25:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Velad, pues, porque no sabéis el día ni la hora en que el Hijo del hombre ha de venir.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Veillez donc; car vous ne savez ni le jour ni l’heure.
German
Elberfelder 1871		So wachet nun, denn ihr wisset weder den Tag noch die Stunde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vigilate itaque, quia nescitis diem, neque horam.