τάλαντον (talanton)
talanton
talent
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun talanton refers originally to a weight measured on scales, derived from a root meaning "to bear." In the New Testament it functions as a unit of currency, representing a massive sum equivalent to a talent’s weight in gold or silver. This was not pocket change but lifetime earnings; one talent equaled roughly 6,000 days’ wages for a laborer, making it an astronomical amount of wealth.
Jesus uses this image in parables to illustrate spiritual responsibility. In Matthew 18:24, a servant owes ten thousand talents, a debt impossible to repay, highlighting the boundless mercy required from those forgiven by God. Later, in Matthew 25:15-16, masters distribute talents according to ability, expecting faithful stewardship rather than hiding the wealth out of fear. The word underscores that what we are given carries significant weight and expectation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
A talent in the first century was not small change; it represented roughly sixteen years of wages for a laborer. When Jesus speaks of talents, He is describing resources so vast that they would overwhelm ordinary understanding. This word reminds us that God entrusts His people with significant gifts, whether those are financial assets, personal abilities, or opportunities to serve others.
The parable in Matthew 25 shows masters giving talents according to each servant’s ability. Some received five, others two, and one just one. The expectation was not that everyone produced the same amount, but that each used what they had been given faithfully. Hiding a talent out of fear is treated as a failure of stewardship, while using it brings joy to the master.
For your faith life, this means looking at your own gifts with honesty and courage. You do not need to compare your capacity to someone else’s. Instead, focus on being faithful with what is in your hands today. God trusts you with enough to make a difference in your sphere of influence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- talents8×
- talent3×
- talents.2×
- talents;1×
- talents,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τάλαντα6×
- τάλαντά2×
- τάλαντον2×
- τάλαντόν1×
- τάλαντα·1×
- τάλαντα.1×
- τάλαντα,1×
- ταλάντων.1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 25:15
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.
This verse establishes that the distribution of talents is tailored to individual ability, removing comparison as a basis for faithfulness.
-
Matthew 25:25
I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’
Here the servant admits fear drove him to hide the talent, revealing how anxiety can paralyze spiritual stewardship.
-
Matthew 25:16
Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
The immediate action of the first servant demonstrates that faithful use of resources requires prompt engagement rather than passive waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a talent in biblical terms?
Why does Jesus use such a large amount in His parables?
How is a talent different from a denarius?
Every Occurrence (8 verses across 1 books)
Matthew 8 verses
When he had begun to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
Matthew 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his…
Matthew 25:16Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
Matthew 25:20He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five…
Matthew 25:22“He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another…
Matthew 25:24“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you…
Matthew 25:25I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’
Matthew 25:28Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.