The disciples of John the Baptist question the fact that Jesus' disciples do not fast.
## Can wedding attendants be sorrowful...them? ##
No one would expect the wedding attendants to fast while the bridegroom was with them. (See [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
## wedding attendants ##
a metaphor for Jesus' disciples (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
## the bridegroom is still with them...when the bridegroom will be taken away ##
The "bridegroom" is Jesus, who is still alive and so "is still with" his disciples. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
## the bridegroom will be taken away ##
"someone will take the bridegroom away." This is a metaphor for being killed. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]], [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])