And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
Parallel translations
- WEB To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
- KJV And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
- BSB To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey.
- NASB To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
- NLT He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
He gives five, two, and one talent, each according to ability, then departs. God entrusts gifts wisely and varies them among his servants.
Overview
A talent was a large sum, underscoring the significance of what the master commits to his servants. The distribution according to ability shows God's wisdom and fairness; differing amounts are not unfair but tailored. Each servant has a real stewardship to fulfill regardless of size. Accountability is measured by faithfulness with what one is given, not by comparison with others.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Matt 18:24When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
- Luke 19:13–14He called ten servants of his, and gave them ten mina coins, and told them, ‘Conduct business until I come.’
- Luke 12:48but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 25:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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