And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The plea "our lamps are going out" is more than just a statement of need; it's a desperate cry that their lamps are in the process of failing, not already extinguished. This subtle distinction reveals they had some initial preparedness, but lacked the lasting substance to keep their spiritual light burning through the long wait.
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes right after the wise virgins have prepared and are ready for the bridegroom's arrival, while the foolish ones are caught unprepared. The parable is illustrating the importance of continuous readiness for Jesus' return, not just a one-time commitment, and this moment highlights the desperate, last-minute plea of those who have neglected that vital preparation.
The foolish virgins' request isn't for a future problem, but an immediate one. Their lamps aren't just out; they are actively failing.
The original Greek word used here, 'sbennyntai,' is in a continuous present tense. This isn't about lamps that are completely dark, but lamps that are flickering, sputtering, and in the process of going out.
Why couldn't the wise virgins just share? The parable's message cuts to the core of individual responsibility before God.
The wise virgins' refusal to share their oil isn't a sign of selfishness, but a profound illustration of a spiritual truth: salvation and readiness for Christ's return are deeply personal.
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Understand the original words
elaion · Greek Noun
In this parable, oil is universally understood as the symbol of the Holy Spirit, inward spiritual life, or genuine saving grace, which cannot be borrowed from another.
mōros · Greek Adjective
Describes those who outwardly associate with the Kingdom but lack the inward reality of saving faith or the Holy Spirit; they are unprepared for the suddenness of judgment.
This passage also uses the imagery of lamps and readiness for a master's return, highlighting the importance of being prepared at all times, just as the wise virgins were.
Matthew 7:24-27The parable of the wise and foolish builders shows the consequence of neglecting to build on a solid foundation, paralleling the foolish virgins' lack of preparation and eventual downfall.
Proverbs 20:27This verse speaks of the human spirit as the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner parts of the body, suggesting that true readiness comes from an inner, prepared spiritual state.
2 Timothy 3:5This passage describes people who have a form of godliness but deny its power, which echoes the foolish virgins who had lamps but lacked the essential oil (representing true faith and preparedness).
vincentMatthew 25:8: "And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out."
Are gone out (σβέννυνται)The A. V. misses the graphic force of the continuous present, denoting something in progress. They see the flame waning and flickering, and cry, Our lamps are going out! So Rev.
calvinMatthew 25:1-13: "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom."
- Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2. And five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3. They that were foolish, while they took their lamps, took no oil with them: 4. But the wise took oil in their vessels along with their lamps. 5. And while the bridegroom tarried, the…
The plea "our lamps are going out" is more than just a statement of need; it's a desperate cry that their lamps are in the process of failing, not already extinguished. This subtle distinction reveals they had some initial preparedness, but lacked the lasting substance to keep their spiritual light burning through the long wait.
This verse comes right after the wise virgins have prepared and are ready for the bridegroom's arrival, while the foolish ones are caught unprepared. The parable is illustrating the importance of continuous readiness for Jesus' return, not just a one-time commitment, and this moment highlights the desperate, last-minute plea of those who have neglected that vital preparation.
This verse comes right after the wise virgins have prepared and are ready for the bridegroom's arrival, while the foolish ones are caught unprepared. The parable is illustrating the importance of continuous readiness for Jesus' return, not just a one-time commitment, and this moment highlights the desperate, last-minute plea of those who have neglected that vital preparation.
"And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’" — The plea "our lamps are going out" is more than just a statement of need; it's a desperate cry that their lamps are in the process of failing, not already extinguished. This subtle distinction reve…
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Last reviewed October 2026