Bible Strands
Matthew 25:6
At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — In the parable of the ten virgins, an unnamed voice announces to the sleeping bridesmaids that the delayed bridegroom has arrived at the middle of the night. The announcement interrupts their slumber and triggers their immediate response.
The words — The Greek mesēs (middle) and nuktos (night) establish the precise timing, while kraugē (cry) and idou (behold/here) mark the sudden, public nature of the announcement. Numphios (bridegroom) identifies the central figure of the summons.
The thread — This sudden midnight summons parallels the unexpected timing of divine intervention found in 2 Peter 3:10 and the trumpet call that gathers the elect in Matthew 24:31. It directly follows the narrative movement of the ten virgins going out in Matthew 25:1.
Why it lands — The verse demands immediate response to a sudden, unannounced summons without relying on prior preparation or delayed action. It requires the reader to recognize that waiting for the bridegroom concludes only when the cry itself is heard and acted upon.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Cross-references
- 2 Peter 3:10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
- Matthew 24:31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
- Matthew 25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
- John 5:28 Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice
- Isaiah 25:9 And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”
- Matthew 24:44 For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.
- Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- Psalms 98:9 before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
- Amos 4:12 “Therefore, that is what I will do to you, O Israel, and since I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!
- Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.