complete verse (Matthew 25:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 25:5:

  • Uma: “Since the bridegroom was a long time in coming, the young women became sleepy, and finally they all went to sleep.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Because the bridegroom did not come for a long time they became sleepy and finally they all slept.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And since the bridegroom was a long time arriving, they were nodding their heads waiting, being sleepy.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So then, they waited a very-long-time for the coming of the man-getting-married, so they began to nod-sleepily and then they went-to-sleep.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Since the arrival of that man who was being married was delayed, those girls got sleepy. They then fell asleep.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But the bridegroom for whom they waited didn’t show up. The girls were tired and all went to sleep.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 25:5

Translators have handled As in a variety of ways. Some, for example Good News Translation, show the relationship between the two parts of the verse by stating that the bridegroom was delayed, and then having “so” or “as a result.” Others will begin the verse with “When” or “Since.”

Was delayed translates the same verb discussed in 24.48. This then provides the second linguistic link with the preceding parable, which also employs the adjective “wise” in the mention of the “wise servant” (24.45). In this verse translators may have “was late in arriving,” “did not come for a long time,” or “did not come when they expected him.”

They all includes only “the girls” (Good News Translation) rather than all the guests at the wedding.

Slumbered and slept is more accurately “grew drowsy and fell asleep” (Moffatt, An American Translation, New Jerusalem Bible) or “dozed off to sleep” (New English Bible), with the first verb probably implying near sleep (though it may also mean sleep), and the second indicating actual sleep.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .