MAT 9:15 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) And Yeshua replied to them, “Surely the groomsmen aren’t sad while the groom is with them? But the time will come when the groom has to leave them and then they will fast.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And Jesus said to them, “The sons of the bridal chamber are not able to mourn while the bridegroom is still with them, are they? But days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

UST Jesus answered, “The friends of the bridegroom do not grieve while the wedding celebration is still going on. However, someday the bridegroom will no longer be with his friends. Then they will not eat.

BSB Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while [He] is with them? But [the] time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

BLB And Jesus said to them, "Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But days will come when the bridegroom shall have been taken away from them, and then they will fast.

AICNT And Jesus said to them, “Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

OEB Jesus answered, ‘Can the groom’s friends mourn as long as the groom is with them? But the days will come, when the groom will be taken away from them, and they will fast then.

WEBBE Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

WMBB Yeshua said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

NET Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot mourn while the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast.

LSV And Jesus said to them, “Can the sons of the bride-chamber mourn, so long as the bridegroom is with them? But days will come when the bridegroom may be taken from them, and then they will fast.

FBV “Do wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is with them?” Jesus responded. “But the time is coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast.

TCNT Jesus said to them, “Can the bridegroom's attendants mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

T4T Jesus wanted to show them and the Pharisees that it was not appropriate for his disciples to abstain from food and mourn while he was still with them. So he gave them this illustration: “When a bridegroom is with his friends at the time of the wedding, ◄his friends certainly do not mourn, do they?/do his friends mourn?► [RHQ] No, they do not mourn, because they are not sad at that time. But when the bridegroom is taken {someone takes the bridegroom/his enemies take the bridegroom} from them, they will abstain from food, because then they will be sad.”

LEB And Jesus said to them, “_⌊The bridegroom’s attendants_⌋[fn] are not able to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them. But days are coming when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

9:15 Literally “the sons of the bridal chamber”

BBE And Jesus said to them, Will the friends of the newly-married man be sad as long as he is with them? But the days will come when he will be taken away from them, and then will they go without food.

Moff Jesus said to them,
⇔ "Can friends at a wedding mourn so long as the bride groom is beside them?
⇔ A time will come when the bridegroom is taken from them, and then they will fast.

Wymth "Can the bridegroom's party mourn," He replied, "as long as the bridegroom is with them? But other days will come (when the Bridegroom has been taken from them) and then they will fast.

ASV And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast.

DRA And Jesus said to them: Can the children of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast.

YLT And Jesus said to them, 'Can the sons of the bride-chamber mourn, so long as the bridegroom is with them? but days shall come when the bridegroom may be taken from them, and then they shall fast.

Drby And Jesus said to them, Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn so long as the bridegroom is with them? But days will come when the bridegroom will have been taken away from them, and then they will fast.

RV And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bride-chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast.
(And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bride-chamber/room mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast. )

SLT And Jesus said to them, The sons of the nuptial chamber cannot mourn inasmuch as the bridegroom is with them; but the days shall come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast.

Wbstr And Jesus said to them, Can the children of the bride-chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they will fast.

KJB-1769 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
(And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber/room mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. )

KJB-1611 And Iesus saide vnto them, Can the children of the bride-chamber mourne, as long as the bridegrome is with them? But the dayes will come when the bridegrome shall bee taken from them, and then shall they fast.
(And Yesus/Yeshua said unto them, Can the children of the bride-chamber/room mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.)

Bshps And Iesus sayde vnto them: Can the chyldren of the bryde chaumber mourne, as long as the brydegrome is with them? But the dayes wyll come, when the brydegrome shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
(And Yesus/Yeshua said unto them: Can the children of the bride chamber/room mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.)

Gnva And Iesus saide vnto them, Can the children of the marriage chamber mourne as long as the bridegrome is with them? But the daies will come, when the bridegrome shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
(And Yesus/Yeshua said unto them, Can the children of the marriage chamber/room mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. )

Cvdl And Iesus sayde vnto the: Can the weddynge chyldre mourne as loge as the bridegrome is with them? The tyme will come, when the bridegrome shalbe taken from them, and the shall they fast.
(And Yesus/Yeshua said unto them: Can the wedding chyldre mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The time will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and the shall they fast.)

TNT And Iesus sayde vnto them: Can the weddynge chyldren morne as longe as the bridegrome is with them? The tyme will come when the bridegrome shalbe take from them and then shall they faste.
(And Yesus/Yeshua said unto them: Can the wedding children mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom shall be take from them and then shall they faste. )

Wycl And Jhesus seide to hem, Whether the sones of the spouse moun morne, as long as the spouse is with hem? But daies schulen come, whanne the spouse schal be takun a wei fro hem, and thanne thei schulen faste.
(And Yhesus said to hem, Whether the sons of the spouse may/can mourn, as long as the spouse is with hem? But days should come, when the spouse shall be taken away from hem, and then they should faste.)

Luth JEsus sprach zu ihnen: Wie können die Hochzeitleute Leid tragen, solange der Bräutigam bei ihnen ist? Es wird aber die Zeit kommen, daß der Bräutigam von ihnen genommen wird; alsdann werden sie fasten.
(Yesus spoke to/for to_them: How can the Hochzeitleute sorrow bear/carry, as_long_as the/of_the Bräutigam at/in to_them is? It becomes but the time/period coming, that the/of_the Bräutigam from to_them taken becomes; then become they/she/them fasten.)

ClVg Et ait illis Jesus: Numquid possunt filii sponsi lugere, quamdiu cum illis est sponsus? Venient autem dies cum auferetur ab eis sponsus: et tunc jejunabunt.[fn]
(And he_said to_them Yesus: Is_it they_can children grooms lugere, as_long_as/until when/with to_them it_is groom? They_will_come however days when/with will_be_taken_away away to_them groom: and then yeyunabunt. )

9.15 Nunquid possunt. Quasi dicat: Facturi estis, ut lugentes, etc., usque ad sed ab omnibus terrenis. Lugere quandiu cum illis est sponsus. Hoc verbo exprimit illud jejunium, etc., usque ad postea jejunabunt, non lugebunt. Et tunc jejunabunt. Luctus de absentia sponsi, nec ante incarnationem defuit in patribus, nec post passionem, nisi quandiu in carne cum discipulis conversatus est. Jejunabunt. A mundi amore, non solum a cibis. Spirituale enim jejunium cum sit pars vitæ novæ, nondum eis convenit, qui per alia dediti sunt veteri vitæ.

9.15 Nunquid they_can. As_if let_him_say: Facturi you_are, as they_mournes, etc., until to but away to_all earthly. Lugere as_long_as when/with to_them it_is groom. This word expresses it/this/that fasting, etc., until to afterwards yeyunabunt, not/no lugebunt. And then yeyunabunt. Luctus from/about absentia grooms, but_not before incarnation was_missing in/into/on to_the_fathers, but_not after passion, except as_long_as in/into/on flesh/meat when/with students conversatus it_is. Yeyunabunt. From world with_love, not/no only from foods. By_Spiritale because fasting when/with be part of_life novæ, not_yet to_them agreed, who/which through other he_gavei are old of_life.

UGNT καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, μὴ δύνανται οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ νυμφῶνος πενθεῖν, ἐφ’ ὅσον μετ’ αὐτῶν ἐστιν ὁ νυμφίος? ἐλεύσονται δὲ ἡμέραι ὅταν ἀπαρθῇ ἀπ’ αὐτῶν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ τότε νηστεύσουσιν.
(kai eipen autois ho Yaʸsous, maʸ dunantai hoi huioi tou numfōnos penthein, ef’ hoson met’ autōn estin ho numfios? eleusontai de haʸmerai hotan aparthaʸ ap’ autōn ho numfios, kai tote naʸsteusousin.)

SBL-GNT καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Μὴ δύνανται οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ νυμφῶνος πενθεῖν ἐφʼ ὅσον μετʼ αὐτῶν ἐστιν ὁ νυμφίος; ἐλεύσονται δὲ ἡμέραι ὅταν ἀπαρθῇ ἀπʼ αὐτῶν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ τότε νηστεύσουσιν.
(kai eipen autois ho Yaʸsous; Maʸ dunantai hoi huioi tou numfōnos penthein efʼ hoson metʼ autōn estin ho numfios; eleusontai de haʸmerai hotan aparthaʸ apʼ autōn ho numfios, kai tote naʸsteusousin.)

RP-GNT Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Μὴ δύνανται οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ νυμφῶνος πενθεῖν, ἐφ' ὅσον μετ' αὐτῶν ἐστιν ὁ νυμφίος; Ἐλεύσονται δὲ ἡμέραι ὅταν ἀπαρθῇ ἀπ' αὐτῶν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ τότε νηστεύσουσιν.
(Kai eipen autois ho Yaʸsous, Maʸ dunantai hoi huioi tou numfōnos penthein, ef' hoson met' autōn estin ho numfios; Eleusontai de haʸmerai hotan aparthaʸ ap' autōn ho numfios, kai tote naʸsteusousin.)

TC-GNT Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Μὴ δύνανται οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ νυμφῶνος πενθεῖν, ἐφ᾽ [fn]ὅσον μετ᾽ αὐτῶν ἐστιν ὁ νυμφίος; Ἐλεύσονται δὲ ἡμέραι ὅταν ἀπαρθῇ ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ τότε νηστεύσουσιν.
(Kai eipen autois ho Yaʸsous, Maʸ dunantai hoi huioi tou numfōnos penthein, ef hoson meta autōn estin ho numfios; Eleusontai de haʸmerai hotan aparthaʸ ap autōn ho numfios, kai tote naʸsteusousin. )

9:15 οσον ¦ οσον χρονον ANT PCK

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 9:14–17: Jesus’ new teachings are better than the old customs

In this section, a third group of people, John’s disciples, criticized Jesus. (The first group was the scribes in 9:3. The second group was the Pharisees in 9:11.) They criticized Jesus and his disciples for not fasting. Jesus explained that there is a time for fasting and a time for not fasting. He explained that one day his followers would fast, but they would not fast while he was with them. This was different than the custom of always fasting twice a week like the Pharisees (and probably also the disciples of John) did.

So Jesus again showed that his new teachings were different than the old customs that the Jewish religious leaders had adopted. (He had started showing this in 6:16–18, where he taught his followers how to fast. They should fast in a way that other people do not notice that they are fasting. This was different from the Jewish practice of fasting with a sad face so other people would notice.)

Then Jesus told two parables to continue to explain that his new teachings are different than old Jewish religious customs. These parables indicate that his new teachings cannot be mixed with the old customs. They cannot be added to the old customs.

Many English translations begin this section with a heading like “Jesus Questioned About Fasting” (NIV) or “The Question about Fasting” (GNT). However, since 9:16–17 includes more than fasting, you should follow the heading above or one of the examples below:

The Superiority of the New (NET)

The new ways of Jesus are better than the old ways

Concerning the new ways that Jesus taught

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 2:18–22 and Luke 5:33–39.

9:15d

then they will fast.

and then they will fast.
That is when they will abstain from eating.

9:15a–d

Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast….”: In this verse, Jesus used an illustration or extended metaphor to answer the question that John’s disciples asked. He compared himself to a bridegroom and his disciples to a bridegroom’s friends.

The people listening to Jesus would have understood this comparison. If your readers will not understand it, it may be necessary to make it explicit.

Here are some other ways to translate this extended metaphor:

Keep the metaphor as in the BSB.
Change the metaphor to a simile and make Jesus and the disciples explicit. For example:
He compared himself to a bridegroom, and his disciples to the bridegroom’s guests. He said, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?…”
My disciples are like guests at a wedding. Can they be sad while I, the groom, am still with them? The time will come when I, the groom, will be taken away from them. Then they will fast.
Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? No! My disciples are like that. One day, I, the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast
Translate the meaning directly in the text and add a footnote explaining the metaphor. For example:
Can my disciples be sad while I am still with them? The time will come when I will be taken away from them. Then they will fast.

Sample footnote:

Jesus said that his disciples did not fast because he was still with them. In Greek, he illustrated this teaching by using an illustration of the friends of a bridegroom. The friends would not be sad at the wedding while the bridegroom was still with them. It is only after the bridegroom is taken away from them that they would become sad and would fast. So his disciples would be sad and fast when Jesus’ enemies would take him away from them.

9:15a

Jesus replied,

And Jesus said to them, (ESV)
Then Jesus answered them with a parable,
Jesus answered them with a story/illustration. He said,

Jesus replied: The words that follow are in reply to the question in 9:14. Use a verb that is natural in your language in this context. For example:

Jesus answered (NIV)

Jesus answered their question with a parable. Use a natural way in your language to introduce the parable. For example:

Jesus answered them with a proverb/parable

9:15b

“How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them?

“Do the friends of the groom mourn while he is with them?
“The friends of the man getting married cannot grieve while he is with them.
“My disciples are like the friends of the groom. Do they mourn while I, the groom, am still with them? No!

How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to emphasize that the guests will/can not mourn while the bridegroom is with them. A wedding is a happy time.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. (NLT)
As a statement. For example:
The friends of the bridegroom are not sad while he is with them. (NCV)

Translate this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

guests of the bridegroom: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as guests of the bridegroom refers to the friends of the bridegroom. They help the bridegroom organize the wedding, and they help him during the wedding.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

friends of the bridegroom (NCV)

the wedding guests (ESV)

In some cultures, marriage customs may be so different from those of the Jews that the term guests may be difficult to translate. For example, there may be no celebration at the time of a couple’s marriage, or the bridegroom may not be involved in the celebration. If that is true in your culture, you may need to use a very general phrase. For example:

people invited to the wedding

friends who are celebrating with the man-who-has-gotten-a-wife

bridegroom: The word bridegroom refers to the man who is getting married. In modern English, this man is simply called the “groom.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

groom (GW)

young man getting married

mourn: The Greek word that the BSB translates as mourn means “be sad, grieve, or weep.” It is what people do at a funeral, not a wedding.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

be sad (GNT)

grieve

while He is with them: The Greek word that the BSB translates as He is literally “the bridegroom.” However, since the BSB already used the word “bridegroom” in the expression “the guests of the bridegroom,” it uses the pronoun here.

Additionally, the BSB capitalizes the pronoun He to make it clear that Jesus is referring to himself. If this would be confusing in your language, consider making it clear that the pronoun refers to the “bridegroom.”

9:15c

But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them;

But the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them,
But one day, someone/people will take the groom from them.

But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between the current time of happiness (15a–b) and the later time of sadness and fasting (15c–d). Some English versions indicate this contrast with the conjunction But. However, some English versions, like the ESV, omit this conjunction.

the time will come: This clause refers to a future time when Christ, the bridegroom, will be taken away from the disciples.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

the day will come (GNT)

the time will come (NIV)

someday (NLT)

one day

when the bridegroom will be taken from them: This clause refers to the time when Jesus, the bridegroom, will be forcibly taken away from his disciples. It refers to his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. It does not refer to the bridegroom leaving on his own.

The verb will be taken is passive. Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

Use a passive verb. For example:
when the groom will be taken away from them (GW)
Use an active verb. For example:
when people will take away the bridegroom

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parables

μὴ δύνανται οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ νυμφῶνος πενθεῖν, ἐφ’ ὅσον μετ’ αὐτῶν ἐστιν ὁ νυμφίος? ἐλεύσονται δὲ ἡμέραι ὅταν ἀπαρθῇ ἀπ’ αὐτῶν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ τότε νηστεύσουσιν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς μή δύνανται Οἱ υἱοί τοῦ νυμφῶνος πενθεῖν ἐφʼ ὅσον μετʼ αὐτῶν ἐστίν ὁ νυμφίος ἐλεύσονται Δέ ἡμέραι ὅταν ἀπαρθῇ ἀπʼ αὐτῶν ὁ νυμφίος καί τότε νηστεύσουσιν)

To help John’s disciples understand why his disciples do not fast, Jesus offers a brief illustration. He wants John’s disciples to think of him as if he were a bridegroom and of his disciples as if they were the sons of the bridal chamber. You should preserve the form of the parable, but if it would be helpful in your language, you could state explicitly that Jesus is like the bridegroom, and his disciples are like the sons of the bridal chamber. Alternate translation: [The sons of the bridal chamber are not able to mourn while the bridegroom is still with them, are they? But days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. I am like the bridegroom, and my disciples are like the sons of the bridal chamber.]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

μὴ δύνανται οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ νυμφῶνος πενθεῖν, ἐφ’ ὅσον μετ’ αὐτῶν ἐστιν ὁ νυμφίος?

Jesus is using the question form to teach John’s disciples. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [The sons of the bridal chamber are certainly not able to mourn while the bridegroom is still with them.] or [The sons of the bridal chamber cannot mourn while the bridegroom is still with them!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ νυμφῶνος

The expression sons of describes people who share the qualities of something. In this case, Jesus is describing people who share the quality of being an integral part of a wedding. These are the male friends who attend the groom during the ceremony and the festivities. Alternate translation: [The groom’s attendants]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐλεύσονται & ἡμέραι ὅταν

˓will_be˒_coming & days when

Here Jesus is using the word days to refer to a particular time. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a similar form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a time will come when] or [there will be a time when]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀπαρθῇ & ὁ νυμφίος

˓may_be˒_taken_away & the bridegroom