Literal Standard Version, Matthew 22:
9 be going, then, on to the cross-ways, and as many as you may find, call to the wedding feasts.
feasts
γάμους (gamous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine
Plural
English Standard Version:
9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’
Why did ESV use the singular form?
In those days, a Jewish wedding ceremony could last for days, Young's Literal Translation, Judges 14:
And Samson saith to them, 'Let me, I pray you, put forth to you a riddle; if ye certainly declare it to me in the seven days of the banquet, and have found it out, then I have given to you thirty linen shirts, and thirty changes of garments;
Now fast-forward to Matthew 22:
1And Jesus answering, again spake to them in similes, saying, 2‘The reign of the heavens was likened to a man, a king, who made marriage-feasts for his son,
the entire series of feasts, plural
3 and he sent forth his servants to call those having been called to the marriage-feasts, and they were not willing to come. 4‘Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Say to those who have been called: Lo, my dinner I prepared, my oxen and the fatlings have been killed, and all things [are] ready, come ye to the marriage-feasts; 5and they, having disregarded [it], went away, the one to his own field, and the other to his merchandise; 6and the rest, having laid hold on his servants, did insult and slay [them]. 7‘And the king having heard, was wroth, and having sent forth his soldiers, he destroyed those murderers, and their city he set on fire; 8then saith he to his servants, The marriage-feast indeed is ready,
i.e., the 1st of the marriage-feasts, singular
and those called were not worthy, 9be going, then, on to the cross-ways, and as many as ye may find, call ye to the marriage-feasts. 10‘And those servants, having gone forth to the ways, did gather all, as many as they found, both bad and good, and the marriage-feast apartment was filled with those reclining.
i.e., the singular "marriage-feast" is used as an adjective.
ἐπλήσθη ὁ γάμος ἀνακειμένων
was filled marriage-feast with guests
New King James Version translated γάμος as "wedding":
So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
The noun "hall" is implied by the Greek article.
11‘And the king having come in to view those reclining, saw there a man not clothed with clothing of the marriage-feast,
singular, the one that was ongoing now.
12 and he saith to him, Comrade, how didst thou come in hither, not having clothing of the marriage-feast? and he was speechless. 13‘Then said the king to the ministrants, Having bound his feet and hands, take him up and cast forth to the outer darkness, there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth; 14 for many are called, and few chosen.’
A similar plural usage was in YLT Mt 25:
10 And while they are going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those ready went in with him to the marriage-feasts, and the door was shut.
How might the ESV justify translating both in the singular?
Today, English-speaking countries are not familiar with wedding ceremonies that go on for days. The singular
marriage-feast would simplify the translation and understanding.
