The Meaning of Matthew 25:18 Explained

Matthew 25:18

KJV: But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

YLT: and he who did receive the one, having gone away, digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

Darby: But he that had received the one went and dug in the earth, and hid the money of his lord.

ASV: But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  he that had received  one  went  and digged  in  the earth,  and  hid  his  lord's  money. 

What does Matthew 25:18 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

What do the individual words in Matthew 25:18 mean?

The [one] however - one having received having gone away dug in the ground and hid the money of the master of him
δὲ τὸ ἓν λαβὼν ἀπελθὼν ὤρυξεν γῆν καὶ ἔκρυψεν τὸ ἀργύριον τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ

  The  [one] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἓν  one 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
λαβὼν  having  received 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λαμβάνω  
Sense: to take.
ἀπελθὼν  having  gone  away 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀπέρχομαι  
Sense: to go away, depart.
ὤρυξεν  dug  in 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ὀρύσσω  
Sense: to dig.
γῆν  the  ground 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: γῆ  
Sense: arable land.
ἔκρυψεν  hid 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κρύπτω  
Sense: to hide, conceal, to be hid.
ἀργύριον  money 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἀργύριον  
Sense: silver.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κυρίου  master 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.