Matthew 9:15

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Jesus answered them, 'Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

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.

Transliteration

And eipen to them Iēsous, Not dynantai the huioi of the nymphōnos to penthein, while with them estin the nymphios? but eleusontai hēmerai, when may be aparthē from them the nymphios, and then they will nēsteusousin.

Grammar Details

• *eipen*: aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular - said
• *Iēsous*: nominative, masculine, singular - Jesus
• *dynantai*: present middle indicative, 3rd person plural - are able/can
• *huioi*: nominative, masculine, plural - sons
• *nymphōnos*: genitive, masculine, singular - of the bridechamber
• *penthein*: present active infinitive - to mourn
• *estin*: present indicative, 3rd person singular - is
• *nymphios*: nominative, masculine, singular - bridegroom
• *eleusontai*: future middle indicative, 3rd person plural - will come
• *hēmerai*: nominative, feminine, plural - days
• *aparthē*: aorist passive subjunctive, 3rd person singular - may be taken away
• *nēsteusousin*: future active indicative, 3rd person plural - they will fast

Word Meanings

• *dynantai*: are able/can/have power
• *huioi*: sons/children
• *nymphōnos*: bridechamber/wedding hall
• *penthein*: to mourn/grieve
• *nymphios*: bridegroom
• *aparthē*: may be taken away/removed
• *eleusontai*: will come/arrive

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And Jesus said to 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 they shall fast.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} Jesus{G2424} said{G2036} unto them,{G3361} Can{G1410} the sons{G5207} of the bridechamber{G3567} mourn,{G3996} as{G1909} long as{G3745} the bridegroom{G3566} is{G2076} with{G3326} them?{G846} but{G1161} the days{G2250} will come,{G2064} when{G3752} the bridegroom{G3566} shall be taken{G522} away from{G575} them,{G846} and{G2532} then{G5119} will they fast.{G3522}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} Jesus{G2424} said{G2036}{(G5627)} unto them{G846}, Can{G3361}{G1410}{(G5736)} the children{G5207} of the bridechamber{G3567} mourn{G3996}{(G5721)}, as long as{G1909}{G3745} the bridegroom{G3566} is{G2076}{(G5748)} with{G3326} them{G846}? but{G1161} the days{G2250} will come{G2064}{(G5695)}, when{G3752} the bridegroom{G3566} shall be taken{G522}{(G5686)} from{G575} them{G846}, and{G2532} then{G5119} shall they fast{G3522}{(G5692)}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And Iesus sayde vnto them: Can ye weddynge chyldren morne as longe as ye bridegrome is wt them? The tyme will come whe the bridegrome shalbe take fro them and then shall they faste.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  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.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  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.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  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.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  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.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  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.

• World English Bible (2000)

  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.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  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.

Referenced Verses

• John 3:29 : 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly at the sound of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete.
• Acts 14:23 : 23 They appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
• 1 Cor 7:5 : 5 Do not deprive one another, except by mutual agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
• 2 Cor 11:27 : 27 I have labored and toiled and often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
• Rev 19:9 : 9 Then the angel said to me, 'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.' And he added, 'These are the true words of God.'
• Rev 21:2 : 2 And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
• Acts 13:1-3 : 1 In the church that was at Antioch, there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' 3 Then, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
• John 16:6 : 6 Instead, because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts.
• John 16:20-22 : 20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 When a woman is in labor, she has sorrow because her time has come. But when she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
• Judg 14:11-20 : 11 When the people saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12 Samson said to them, 'Let me now pose a riddle to you. If you can tell me the answer within the seven days of the feast and solve it, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothing. 13 But if you cannot solve it, then you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothing.' And they said to him, 'Pose your riddle, and we will hear it.' 14 So he said to them, 'Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.' But for three days they could not solve the riddle. 15 On the fourth day, they said to Samson’s wife, 'Entice your husband to tell us the riddle, or we will burn you and your father’s household with fire. Did you invite us here to impoverish us?' 16 So Samson’s wife wept before him and said, 'You only hate me; you do not love me. You have posed a riddle to my people, but you have not told me the answer.' He replied, 'I have not even told it to my father or mother; why should I tell you?' 17 She cried before him the entire seven days of the feast, and on the seventh day, he told her because she pressed him so much. Then she revealed the answer to the riddle to her people. 18 Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to him, 'What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?' Samson replied to them, 'If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle.' 19 Then the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, took their belongings, and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he went back to his father’s house. 20 Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best friend.
• Ps 45:14-15 : 14 The royal daughter is glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold. 15 In embroidered garments she is brought to the king; her virgin companions follow behind her and are led to you.
• Isa 22:12 : 12 In that day the Lord, the LORD of Hosts, called you to weeping, wailing, shaving your heads, and wearing sackcloth.
• Matt 25:1-9 : 1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 But the wise ones took oil in their flasks along with their lamps. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 At midnight, there was a cry: ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise ones replied, ‘No, there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 While they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.
• Luke 24:13-21 : 13 On that same day, two of them were walking to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about all the things that had happened. 15 As they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so they did not recognize him. 17 He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking sad. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, replied, "Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know what has happened in these days?" 19 He asked, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. What is more, it is the third day since all this happened.
• Acts 1:9-9 : 9 After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. 10 As they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, suddenly two men in white robes stood beside them.