Matthew 25:16
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
Original Language Analysis
πορευθεὶς
went
G4198
πορευθεὶς
went
Strong's:
G4198
Word #:
1 of 15
to traverse, i.e., travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τὰ
G3588
τὰ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τάλαντα
talents
G5007
τάλαντα
talents
Strong's:
G5007
Word #:
6 of 15
a balance (as supporting weights), i.e., (by implication) a certain weight (and thence a coin or rather sum of money) or "talent"
λαβὼν
he that had received
G2983
λαβὼν
he that had received
Strong's:
G2983
Word #:
7 of 15
while g0138 is more violent, to seize or remove))
εἰργάσατο
and traded
G2038
εἰργάσατο
and traded
Strong's:
G2038
Word #:
8 of 15
to toil (as a task, occupation, etc.), (by implication) effect, be engaged in or with, etc
αὐτοῖς
the same
G846
αὐτοῖς
the same
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
10 of 15
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
11 of 15
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐποίησεν
made
G4160
ἐποίησεν
made
Strong's:
G4160
Word #:
12 of 15
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
Cross References
Isaiah 23:18And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.Acts 13:36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:2 Timothy 2:6The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
Historical Context
Ancient Mediterranean trade offered high-risk, high-reward opportunities. Merchants invested in caravans traveling silk roads, shipping grain across the sea, or financing craftsmen's workshops. A 100% return was exceptional but possible for skilled traders willing to take risks—exactly what the master expected of his servants.
Questions for Reflection
- Are you actively 'trading' with your spiritual gifts, or merely preserving them unused?
- What calculated risks might God be calling you to take for kingdom advancement?
- Does the five-talent servant's immediate action convict you of delayed obedience in your own stewardship?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
He that had received the five talents went and traded with the same—The verb ērgazomai (ἐργάζομαι, worked/traded) implies active labor and risk-taking. The servant didn't wait for passive growth but immediately engaged in commerce. The doubling (epoiēsen alla pente, ἐποίησεν ἄλλα πέντε) demonstrates 100% return, extraordinary by any measure.
This immediate action (eutheos, εὐθέως, straightway in v.15) contrasts sharply with the fearful servant who buried his talent. Faithful stewardship combines urgency, diligence, and calculated risk. The kingdom advances through active deployment of gifts, not passive preservation.