Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the term "pound" refers to a unit of weight and currency used in various contexts throughout Scripture. The concept of the pound is primarily found in the New Testament, where it is used to describe both a measure of weight and a monetary value.
Weight and CurrencyThe pound, as a unit of weight, is often associated with the Greek term "mina." In the New Testament, the mina is mentioned in the context of parables and teachings of Jesus. The mina was a significant unit of currency in the ancient world, equivalent to about 100 drachmas or denarii. In modern terms, it is estimated to be roughly one and a quarter pounds or about 0.57 kilograms.
Biblical ReferencesOne of the most notable references to the pound is found in the Parable of the Ten Minas, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. In this parable, Jesus uses the mina to teach about stewardship and accountability. The Berean Standard Bible translates the relevant passage as follows:
"A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return. Beforehand, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Conduct business with this until I return,' he said" (
Luke 19:12-13).
In this parable, the mina represents the resources and responsibilities entrusted to believers by God. The nobleman, symbolizing Christ, expects His servants to use these resources wisely and productively until His return. The varying degrees of success among the servants illustrate the different levels of faithfulness and diligence in fulfilling one's God-given duties.
Symbolism and ApplicationThe pound, as depicted in the Parable of the Ten Minas, serves as a metaphor for the spiritual gifts, talents, and opportunities that God bestows upon His followers. The expectation is that believers will invest these gifts in the service of God's kingdom, yielding spiritual fruit and growth. The parable underscores the principles of stewardship, accountability, and the anticipation of Christ's return.
The use of the pound in this context also highlights the importance of faithfulness in small matters, as Jesus teaches that those who are faithful with little will be entrusted with much (
Luke 19:17). This principle encourages believers to be diligent and responsible in all aspects of their lives, recognizing that their actions have eternal significance.
Historical ContextIn the broader historical context, the pound as a unit of currency was widely used in the ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world. It facilitated trade and commerce, serving as a standard measure for transactions. The economic systems of the time were complex, and the use of standardized weights and measures like the pound helped maintain fairness and consistency in trade.
ConclusionThe concept of the pound in the Bible, particularly in the teachings of Jesus, provides valuable insights into the nature of stewardship and the responsibilities of believers. Through the lens of the pound, Scripture calls Christians to be faithful stewards of the resources and opportunities God has entrusted to them, always mindful of the coming of the Lord and the eternal impact of their earthly endeavors.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Pound- A weight. [SeeWEIGHTS AND MEASURES ANDMEASURES]
- A sum of money put in the Old Testament, (1 Kings 10:17;Ezra 2:69;Nehemiah 7:71) for the Hebrewmaneh , worth in silver about . In the parable of the ten pounds, (Luke 19:12-27) the reference appears to be to a Greek pound, a weight used as a money of account, of which sixty went to the talent. It was worth to .
ATS Bible Dictionary
PoundA weight and a sum of money, put, in the Old Testament,1 Kings 10:17Ezra 2:69Nehemiah 7:71, for the Hebrew MANEH, which see; and in the New Testament, for the Attic MINA, which was equivalent to one hundred drachmae, or about fourteen dollars.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) A weight. Hebrews maneh, equal to 100 shekels (1 Kings 10:17;Ezra 2:69;Nehemiah 7:71, 72). Gr. litra, equal to about 12 oz. avoirdupois (John 12:3;19:39).
(2.) A sum of money; the Gr. mna or mina (Luke 19:13, 16, 18, 20, 24, 25). It was equal to 100 drachmas, and was of the value of about 3 dollars, 6s. 8d. of our money. (seeMONEY.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To strike repeatedly with some heavy instrument; to beat.
2. (v. t.) To comminute and pulverize by beating; to bruise or break into fine particles with a pestle or other heavy instrument; as, to pound spice or salt.
3. (v. i.) To strike heavy blows; to beat.
4. (v. i.) To make a jarring noise, as in running; as, the engine pounds.
5. (n.) An enclosure, maintained by public authority, in which cattle or other animals are confined when taken in trespassing, or when going at large in violation of law; a pinfold.
6. (n.) A level stretch in a canal between locks.
7. (n.) A kind of net, having a large enclosure with a narrow entrance into which fish are directed by wings spreading outward.
8. (v. t.) To confine in, or as in, a pound; to impound.
9. (n.) Plural of Pound
10. (n.) A certain specified weight; especially, a legal standard consisting of an established number of ounces.
11. (n.) A British denomination of money of account, equivalent to twenty shillings sterling, and equal in value to about USD4.86. There is no coin known by this name, but the gold sovereign is of the same value.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
POUNDpound (maneh; mna, litra; Latin, libra): Pound does not correctly represent the Hebrew maneh, which was more than a pound (see MANEH). The litra ofJohn 12:3 and 19:39 is the Roman pound (libra) of 4,950 grains, which is less than a pound troy, being about 10 1/3 oz. In a monetary sense (its use inLuke 19:13-25) it is the mna, or maneh, which was either of silver or gold, the former, which is probably the one referred to by Luke, being equal to 6, 17 British pounds, or about USD33 (in 1915); the latter 102, 10 British pounds or USD510 (in 1915).
SeeWEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Figurative: "Pound," like "talent," is used in the New Testament for intellectual gifts and spiritual endowments, as in the passage given above.
H. Porter
Greek
3046. litra -- apound (in weight, by Rom. standards)... litra. 3047 . a
pound (in weight, by Rom.
... Word Origin of Latin origin Definition
a
pound (in weight, by Rom. standards) NASB Word Usage
pound (1), pounds (1).
...3414. mna -- a mina (Gr. monetary unit)
... monetary unit) NASB Word Usage mina (4), minas (5).pound, mina. Of Latin origin;
a mna (ie Mina), a certain weight --pound. (mna) -- 3 Occurrences....
4141. plesso -- to strike
... smite, strike. Apparently another form of plasso (through the idea of flattening
out); topound, ie (figuratively) to inflict with (calamity) -- smite....
Strong's Hebrew
3806. kathash -- topound,pound fine, bray... 3805, 3806. kathash. 3807 . to
pound,
pound fine, bray. Transliteration: kathash
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-thash') Short Definition:
pound. Word Origin a prim
...1743. duk -- topound, beat
... 1742, 1743. duk. 1744 . topound, beat. Transliteration: duk Phonetic Spelling:
(dook) Short Definition: beat. Word Origin of uncertain...
4488. maneh -- maneh, mina (a measure of weight or money)
... maneh,pound. From manah; properly, a fixed weight or measured amount, ie (techn.)
A maneh or mina -- maneh,pound. see HEBREW manah. 4487, 4488. maneh. 4489...
7554. raqa -- to beat, stamp, beat out, spread out
... A primitive root; topound the earth (as a sign of passion); by analogy to expand
(by hammering); by implication, to overlay (with thin sheets of metal) -- beat...
6360. pattish -- a forge hammer
... 3). hammer. Intensively from an unused root meaning topound; a hammer --
hammer. 6359, 6360. pattish. 6361 . Strong's Numbers.
5203. natash -- to leave, forsake, permit
... A primitive root; properly, topound, ie Smite; by implication (as if beating out,
and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon...
Library
To J. Tarn, Esq. , Under-Treasurer of the British and Foreign...
... diet, servants, and baggage fees at Stade on the Hanoverian coast, 1pound, 9s,
0d.... for lodging, diet, and valet de place, 1pound, 19s, 0d....
The Parable of the Pounds.
... And the first came before him, saying, 'Lord, thypound hath made ten pounds more.'
And he said unto him, 'Well done, thou good servant: because thou wast...
Parable of the Talents (Matt. , xxv. , 14-30) Compared with that...
... In the latter, each of the servants receives the same sum, onepound, and their
position in the kingdom is assigned according to their gains....
The Trading Servants
... VOLUME II: ST. LUKE Chaps. XIII to XXIV THE TRADING SERVANTS. 'Then came the
first, saying, Lord, thypound hath gained ten pounds.......
The Time of the Reckoning.
... And, seeing what they had done, to him who had made the onepound ten pounds, rendering
praise in the words, "Well done, thou good servant, because thou wast...
Of Lies are Many Sorts, which Indeed All...
... not the honor of their own soul, and the brightness of their divine ancestry: then
speaking of Dictinius's Book, which is called "thePound," because it treats...
On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 21,"Go, Sell that Thou Hast...
... For if thou wert to give apound of silver, and to receive apound of gold, with
how great joy wouldest thou be possessed? Examine and question avarice....
Ciii. Zacch??us. Parable of the Pounds. Journey to Jerusalem.
... given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by
trading.16 And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thypound hath made...
Of Removing Tithes.
... Beans."See Pease. Bees. Tithes are not payable of Bees, but for their honey and
wax by the tenth measure and tenthpound.1 Roll. Abr.651.3 Cro.404, 559....
The Servants and the Pounds.
... Then came the first, saying, Lord, thypound hath gained ten pounds.... And the
second came, saying, Lord, thypound hath gained five pounds....
Thesaurus
Pound (13 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) To comminute and pulverize by beating; to bruise or break into fine particles
with a pestle or other heavy instrument; as, to
pound spice or salt.
...Pounds (16 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Plural ofPound. 2. (n.) Plural ofPound.... Luke
19:16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thypound hath gained ten pounds....
Drams (6 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:69 They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore
and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousandpound of silver, and one...
Sir (90 Occurrences)
... fourfold.' (YLT). Luke 19:16 "So the first came and said, "'Sir, yourpound
has produced ten pounds more.' (WEY YLT NIV). Luke 19:18...
Gained (66 Occurrences)
... business. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV). Luke 19:16 Then came the first,
saying, Lord, thypound hath gained ten pounds. (KJV WBS)....
Grain (413 Occurrences)
... wheat. 7,000 grains constitute thepound avoirdupois, and 5,760 grains
thepound troy. A grain is equal to .0648 gram. See Gram....
Weight (143 Occurrences)
... John 12:3 Availing herself of the opportunity, Mary took apound weight of pure
spikenard, very costly, and poured it over His feet, and wiped His feet with...
Maneh (1 Occurrence)
... Portion (Ezek. 45:12), rendered "pound" (1 Kings 10:17; Ezra 2:69; Nehemiah 7:71,
72), a weight variously estimated, probably about 2 1/2 or 3 lbs....
Produced (39 Occurrences)
... abundantly. (See NIV). Luke 19:16 "So the first came and said, "'Sir, your
pound has produced ten pounds more.' (WEY DBY). Luke 19...
Bray (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A harsh, grating, or discordant sound; the cry
of a donkey. 2. (vt) Topound, beat, rub, or grind small or fine....
Resources
What is Occam's Razor? Does Occam's Razor disprove the existence of God? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the modern equivalents of biblical weights and measures? | GotQuestions.orgHow can the light of stars billions of light years away from the earth have reached us if the earth is only thousands of years old? | GotQuestions.orgPound: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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