Luke 12:35

Be girded about (estwsan periezwsmenai). Periphrastic perfect passive imperative third plural of the verb perizwnnumi or perizwnnuw (later form), an old verb, to gird around, to fasten the garments with a girdle. The long garments of the orientals made speed difficult. It was important to use the girdle before starting. Cf. 1 Corinthians 17:8 ; Acts 12:8 . Burning (kaiomenoi). Periphrastic present middle imperative, already burning and continuously burning. The same point of the Parable of the Ten Virgins ( Matthew 25:1-13 ) is found here in condensed form. This verse introduces the parable of the waiting servants ( Luke 12:35-40 ).