Talent — Meaning in the Bible
The largest biblical unit of weight, used for gold and silver: a very large sum. In Jesus' parables talents stand for great amounts entrusted to servants.
Modern equivalents are approximate estimates: ancient units varied by time and place, and Scripture does not give modern values. A talent is usually estimated at around 30–35 kilograms; money values cannot be converted reliably.
What it means
The gold for the lampstand weighed a talent. The Queen of Sheba gave Solomon 120 talents of gold. Exodus 25:391 Kings 10:10
In the parable of the talents a master entrusts five, two and one talents to his servants; in another parable a servant owes ten thousand talents, an impossible debt. Matthew 25:14–30Matthew 18:23–27
Key passages
- Exodus 25:39 — A talent of gold.
- 1 Kings 10:10 — The Queen of Sheba's gift.
- Matthew 18:23–35 — Ten thousand talents.
- Matthew 25:14–30 — The parable of the talents.
Original language
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).