Devine Scripture

Matthew 25:16

What does Matthew 25:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 25:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 25:16 means

The servant who received five talents immediately went and traded with them, successfully gaining another five talents. This immediate and productive action demonstrates diligence, faithfulness, and a proactive approach to stewardship. It shows that he understood his responsibility to invest and grow what was entrusted to him. His success highlights the positive outcome of using God-given resources wisely and diligently, portraying the joyful fruitfulness that comes from faithful obedience.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Straight away he who had been given the five talents went and did trade with them, and made five more.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And he who did receive the five talents, having gone, wrought with them, and made other five talents;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he that had received the five talents went his way and traded with the same and gained other five.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he that had received the five talents went and trafficked with them, and made five other talents.

Context

This verse describes the first servant's immediate and fruitful action, directly demonstrating diligent stewardship. It follows the master's distribution of talents in verse 15, showing the initial positive response of one servant. This successful outcome sets a precedent for faithful management and will be contrasted with the actions of the other servants, particularly the one who received only one talent.

v.15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.

v.16This passage

v.17In like manner he also that received the two gained other two.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 60:5

    Then thou shalt see and be radiant, and thy heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned unto thee, the wealth of the nations shall come unto thee.

  • Nehemiah 5:14

    Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

  • Isaiah 23:18

    And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to Jehovah: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before Jehovah, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.

  • 2 Chronicles 19:4

    And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again among the people from Beer-sheba to the hill-country of Ephraim, and brought them back unto Jehovah, the God of their fathers.

  • Philemon 1:6

    that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ.

  • Isaiah 49:23

    And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah; and they that wait for me shall not be put to shame.

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