The Meaning of Matthew 25:16 Explained

Matthew 25:16

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

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

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Matthew 25:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 25:14-30 - By Faithfulness Win Reward
We are not only guests, but servants, who must give an account of their stewardship. Each bond slave has been entrusted with at least one talent. The number of talents varies with our ability to manage them. The Master is not unreasonable, and never overtasks. It is by use that the power to use grows. By carefully employing our opportunities, our sphere of service may be greatly widened, so that, at the end of life, we shall be able to do twice as much as at the outset.
Christ is always coming to reckon. Every communion season, every birthday, is a standing at the judgment seat of Christ, preliminary to the great white throne, 2 Corinthians 5:10. Let those who are entrusted with one talent only be specially on the watch, for they are most exposed to the temptation of saying, "We can do so little, we will do nothing." What you can do best, and which most accords with your circumstances, is probably your talent. If you cannot do much yourself, work with your church and under the direction of your pastor, Matthew 25:27. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 25

1  The parable of the ten virgins,
14  and of the talents
31  Also the description of the last judgment

Greek Commentary for Matthew 25:16

Straightway [ευτεως]
Beginning of Matthew 25:16, not the end of Matthew 25:15. The business temper of this slave is shown by his promptness. [source]
With them [εν αυτοις]
Instrumental use of εν — en He worked But Westcott and Hort read εκερδησεν — ekerdēsen gained, as in Matthew 25:17. Κερδος — Kerdos means interest. This gain was a hundred per cent. [source]
Made [εποιησεν]
But Westcott and Hort read εκερδησεν — ekerdēsen gained, as in Matthew 25:17. Κερδος — Kerdos means interest. This gain was a hundred per cent. [source]
Straightway [εὐθέως]
Connected with the beginning of this verse, instead of with the end of Matthew 25:15: Straightway he that had received, etc., indicating promptness on the servant's part. [source]
Traded with them [ἠργάσατο ἐν αὐτοῖς]
Lit., wrought with them. The virgins wait, the servants work. [source]
Made [ἐποίησεν]
Not made them, as A.V. The word is used in our sense of make money. Wyc. and Tynd., won. Geneva, gained. Some read ἐκέρδησεν , gained, as in Matthew 25:17. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 25:16

Matthew 25:16 Straightway [ευτεως]
Beginning of Matthew 25:16, not the end of Matthew 25:15. The business temper of this slave is shown by his promptness. [source]
Luke 19:18 Made [ἐποίησεν]
See on Matthew 25:16. [source]
Luke 19:13 Occupy [πραγματεύσασθε]
The word occupy has lost the sense which it conveyed to the makers of the A. V. - that of using or laying out what is possessed. Anoccupier formerly meant a trader. Occupy, in the sense of to use, occurs Judges 16:11: “new ropes that never were occupied; ” which Rev. changes to wherewith no work hath been done. Compare the Prayer-Book version of the Psalter, Psalm 107:23: “occupy their business in great waters.” So Latimer, “Sermons,” “He that occupieth usury.” Rev., trade ye. Wyc., merchandise ye. Tynd., buy and sell. See on traded, Matthew 25:16. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 25:16 mean?

Having gone the [one] the five talents having received traded with them and made more
Πορευθεὶς τὰ πέντε τάλαντα λαβὼν ἠργάσατο ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐκέρδησεν ἄλλα

Πορευθεὶς  Having  gone 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πορεύομαι  
Sense: to lead over, carry over, transfer.
  the  [one] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πέντε  five 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πέντε  
Sense: five.
τάλαντα  talents 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: τάλαντον  
Sense: the scale of a balance, a balance, a pair of scales.
λαβὼν  having  received 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λαμβάνω  
Sense: to take.
ἠργάσατο  traded 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐργάζομαι  
Sense: to work, labour, do work.
ἐκέρδησεν  made 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐπικερδαίνω 
Sense: to gain, acquire, to get gain.
ἄλλα  more 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ἄλλος  
Sense: another, other.