Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the term "talent" referred to a unit of weight and, by extension, a unit of currency. The concept of the talent is most famously illustrated in the Parable of the Talents found in the New Testament, specifically in the Gospel of Matthew.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the talent was primarily a measure of weight used for precious metals such as gold, silver, and bronze. The Hebrew word for talent is "kikkar," which literally means "circle" or "round," likely referring to the shape of the weight. A talent was a substantial amount, approximately 75 pounds or 34 kilograms. This weight was used in various contexts, including the construction of the Tabernacle and the Temple, where talents of gold and silver were used to create sacred objects (
Exodus 25:39;
1 Kings 9:14).
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the talent takes on a metaphorical meaning in the teachings of Jesus. The Parable of the Talents, found in
Matthew 25:14-30, uses the talent as a unit of currency to convey spiritual truths. In this parable, a master entrusts his servants with varying amounts of talents before leaving on a journey. Upon his return, he assesses their stewardship. The servants who wisely invest and multiply their talents are rewarded, while the one who buries his talent out of fear is reprimanded.
The Berean Standard Bible renders this passage as follows: "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away" (
Matthew 25:14-15). This parable emphasizes the importance of faithful stewardship and the expectation that believers use their God-given resources and abilities for the advancement of God's kingdom.
Theological SignificanceTheologically, the talent represents the gifts, abilities, and resources that God entrusts to individuals. The parable underscores the responsibility of believers to use these gifts wisely and productively. It serves as a reminder that all resources, whether material or spiritual, are ultimately God's and should be used in service to Him.
The parable also highlights the principles of accountability and reward. The faithful servants are commended with the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (
Matthew 25:21), indicating that God values diligence and faithfulness. Conversely, the unfaithful servant's failure to act results in loss and judgment, illustrating the consequences of neglecting one's responsibilities.
Cultural and Historical InsightsIn the cultural and historical context of the Bible, a talent was a significant sum of money. The value of a single talent was equivalent to about 6,000 denarii, with a denarius being a day's wage for a laborer. This substantial value underscores the weight of responsibility placed upon the servants in the parable.
The use of the talent in Jesus' parable would have resonated with His audience, who understood the economic implications of such a large sum. It served as a powerful illustration of the spiritual truths Jesus sought to convey about the kingdom of heaven and the expectations of His followers.
ConclusionThe concept of the talent in the Bible, both as a unit of weight and as a metaphor for spiritual gifts, provides profound insights into the nature of stewardship, responsibility, and accountability before God. Through the Parable of the Talents, believers are called to faithfully use their God-given resources for His glory, with the assurance of reward for faithful service.
Topical Bible Verses
1 Corinthians 12:4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
Topicalbible.orgMatthew 25:15
And to 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.
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Matthew 25:28
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him which has ten talents.
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Matthew 18:24
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought to him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
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1 Kings 10:14
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred three score and six talents of gold,
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1 Kings 10:10
And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
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Exodus 38:25
And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation was an hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and three score and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
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1 Kings 9:28
And they came to Ophir, and fetched from there gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
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1 Kings 9:14
And Hiram sent to the king six score talents of gold.
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Easton's Bible Dictionary
Of silver contained 3,000 shekels (
Exodus 38:25, 26), and was equal to 94 3/7 lbs. avoirdupois. The Greek talent, however, as in the LXX., was only 82 1/4 lbs. It was in the form of a circular mass, as the Hebrew name kikkar denotes. A talent of gold was double the weight of a talent of silver (
2 Samuel 12:30). Parable of the talents (
Matthew 18:24;
25:15).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) Among the ancient Greeks, a weight and a denomination of money equal to 60 minae or 6,000 drachmae. The Attic talent, as a weight, was about 57 lbs. avoirdupois; as a denomination of silver money, its value was 243 15s. sterling, or about USD1,180.
2. (v. t.) Among the Hebrews, a weight and denomination of money. For silver it was equivalent to 3,000 shekels, and in weight was equal to about 93/ lbs. avoirdupois; as a denomination of silver, it has been variously estimated at from 340 to 396 sterling, or about USD1,645 to USD1,916. For gold it was equal to 10,000 gold shekels.
3. (v. t.) Inclination; will; disposition; desire.
4. (v. t.) Intellectual ability, natural or acquired; mental endowment or capacity; skill in accomplishing; a special gift, particularly in business, art, or the like; faculty; a use of the word probably originating in the Scripture parable of the talents (Matt. xxv. 14-30).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TALENTtal'-ent (kikkar; talanton): A weight composed of 60 manehs (English Versions of the Bible "pounds") equal to about 120 pounds troy and 96 pounds avoirdupois, or 672, 500 grains, of the Phoenician standard. SeeWEIGHTS AND MEASURES. When used in the monetary sense the talent might be either of silver or gold, and the value varied according to the standard, but is probably to be taken on the Phoenician, which would give about 410 British pounds, or USD2,050 (in 1915), for the silver talent and 6,150 British pounds or USD30, 750 (in 1915), for the gold.
SeeMONEY.
Figurative: "Talent," like "pound," is used metaphorically in the New Testament for mental and spiritual attainments or gifts (Matthew 25:15-28).
H. Porter
Greek
5007. talanton -- a balance, hence that which is weighed, ie a...... 5006, 5007. talanton. 5008 . a balance, hence that which is weighed,
ie a
talent (about 3000 shekels in weight). Part of Speech
...5006. talantiaios -- worth atalent, ie of atalent's weight
... worth atalent, ie of atalent's weight. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
talantiaios Phonetic Spelling: (tal-an-tee-ah'-yos) Short Definition: a...
3414. mna -- a mina (Gr. monetary unit)
... 3414 (from the Latin, "") - the Greek silver-ingot (monetary weight) weighing
about 1/A of atalent (approximately 13 ounces)....
Strong's Hebrew
3603. kikkar -- a round, a round district, a round loaf, a round...... kikkar. 3604 . a round, a round district, a round loaf, a round weight, a
talent (a measure of weight or money).
... loaf, morsel, piece, plain,
talent.
...3604. kikkar -- atalent (a measure of weight or money)
... 3603, 3604. kikkar. 3605 . atalent (a measure of weight or money).
Transliteration: kikkar Phonetic Spelling: (kik-kare') Short Definition: talents.......
Library
Why theTalent was Buried
... D.; ST. MATTHEW Chaps. XVIII to XXVIII WHY THETALENT WAS BURIED.... And I was afraid,
and went and hid thytalent in the earth.'-MATT. xxv.24, 25....
On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xxv. 24, Etc. , Where the...
... On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xxv. 24, etc., where the slothful servant who
would not put out thetalent he had received, is condemned. [XCIV. Ben.]...
The Overcoming of Insignificance
... The one-talent man is its real object, and the lessons of larger endowment
are only by the way. The one-talent man is not the bad...
Liii the Average Man
... The five-talent man gets distinction, and the one-talent man gets rebuke, but the
two-talent man, the man with ordinary gifts and ordinary returns from them...
The Parable of the Talents
... them by way of profit. But he that had had but onetalent went away and
covered it up in a cloth and hid it away. After a long time...
To Each According to his Ability
... Still others He finds sleeping or hiding theirtalent; to such His voice speaks
in solemn warning: from him that hath shall be taken away even that he hath...
Different Ways of Using Talents
... gained two more. But he who had received onetalent went away and dug
a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. "After a...
Whether an Advocate is Bound to Defend the Suits of the Poor?
... who has an opportunity of speaking with the wealthy plead the cause of the poor:
for the slightest gift you have received will be reputed atalent." Now every...
Gifts and Talents.
... teaching we therefore conclude that the Holy Spirit has a work in connection with
mechanical arts and official functions"in every specialtalent whereby some...
Essay v. Whose Powers Shed Round Him in the Common Strife...
... character. Valuing in others merits which he himself possessed, Sir Alexander
Ball felt no jealous apprehension of greattalent....
Thesaurus
Talent (16 Occurrences)... avoirdupois. The Greek
talent, however, as in the LXX., was only 82 1/4 lbs.
... A
talent of gold was double the weight of a
talent of silver (2 Samuel 12:30).
...Weights (14 Occurrences)
... 6 oz. (5.)Talent of silver (2 Kings 5:22), equal to 3,000 shekels, ie, 125 lbs.
(6.)Talent of gold (Exodus 25:39), double the preceding, ie, 250 lbs. Int....
Measures (50 Occurrences)
... weights there was a tendency on the part of the Hebrews to employ the decimal system,
making the maneh 50 shekels instead of 60, and thetalent 3,000 instead...
Talents (36 Occurrences)
... Matthew 25:28 Take away therefore thetalent from him, and give it to him who
has the ten talents. (WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Malcam (6 Occurrences)
... When Rabbah was taken by David, the crown of this idol was among the spoils. The
weight is said to have been "atalent of gold" (above 100 lbs.)....
Quantity (18 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 12:30 He took the crown of their king from off his head; and its weight
was atalent of gold, and in it were precious stones; and it was set on...
Utensils (72 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:39 Of atalent of pure gold shall they make it, with all these utensils....
Exodus 37:24 Of atalent of pure gold he made it, and all its utensils....
Weigh (24 Occurrences)
... hath turned aside and bringeth in unto me a man, and saith, Keep this man; if he
be at all missing, then hath thy life been for his life, or atalent of silver...
Imposed (16 Occurrences)
... at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the
land to a tribute of one hundred talents of silver, and atalent of gold....
Milcom (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 12:30 And he took the crown of Milcom from his head; the weight of it was
atalent of gold, and in it were stones of great price; and it was put on...
Resources
What is the difference between a talent and a spiritual gift? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the menorah? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the modern equivalents of biblical weights and measures? | GotQuestions.orgTalent: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
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Bible Thesuarus
