King James Version
14 For the kingdom of heaven
is as a man travelling into a far country,
who called his own servants,
and delivered unto them his goods.
Perhaps, it's my training as a journalist, aiming to get things right.
In all likelihood, it's being born again, and being taught by the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD each moment.
Calling my attention to DISCREPANCIES in Bible translations.
It all started with this verse:
Matthew 25:15
King James Version
15 And unto one he gave five talents,
to another two,
and to another one;
to every man according to his several ability;
and straightway took his journey.
Curious, I wondered what equivalent "five talents" referred to.
Spirit leads me to Scripture, where I check the Bible versions.
Lo, and behold!
Something didn't add up.
Are the translations actually getting it wrong?
Why should it matter what "talents" and "five talents" mean?
It matters to me, as student of SPIRIT.
I cannot be careless about the WORD of GOD.
I cannot presume to know, when I don't know.
I must get it right.
That's why I looked at the translations.
And here's what I found:
Matthew 25:15
Amplified Bible
15 To one he gave five [a]talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and then he went on his journey.
(A talent was a measurement of weight, usually 58-80 pounds. One talent of silver was worth more than 15 years’ wages. One talent of gold was worth even more.)
Matthew 25:15
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
15 To one he gave five talents [probably about $5,000], to another two, to another one—to each in proportion to his own [a]personal ability. Then he departed and left the country.
Matthew 25:15
Christian Standard Bible
15 To one he gave five talents,[a] to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately
(A talent is worth about 6,000 denarii, or twenty years’ wages for a laborer)
Matthew 25:15
Common English Bible
15 To one he gave five valuable coins,[a] and to another he gave two, and to another he gave one. He gave to each servant according to that servant’s ability. Then he left on his journey.
Matthew 25:15
Complete Jewish Bible
15 To one he gave five talents [equivalent to a hundred years’ wages]; to another, two talents; and to another, one talent — to each according to his ability. Then he left.
Matthew 25:15
Contemporary English Version
15 The man knew what each servant could do. So he handed 5,000 coins to the first servant, 2,000 to the second, and 1,000 to the third. Then he left the country.
Matthew 25:15
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
15 And he gave five talents[a] to one, and two to another, and one to another— to each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey.
(One silver talent was equivalent to 6000 denarii, 6000 days wages for a laborer. This large sum of money represents our individual gifts and abilities, spiritual and natural.)
Matthew 25:15
Easy-to-Read Version
15 He decided how much each servant would be able to care for. The man gave one servant five bags of money.[a] He gave another servant two bags. And he gave a third servant one bag. Then he left.
(bags of money Literally, “ talanta” or “talents.” A talent was about 27 to 36 kg (60 to 80 pounds) of gold, silver, or copper coins. Also in verses 20, 22, 24, 28)
Matthew 25:15
Evangelical Heritage Version
15 To one he gave five talents,[a] to another two talents, and to still another one talent, each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
(Each talent was worth six thousand denarii. A denarius was one day’s wage.)
Matthew 25:15
English Standard Version
15 To one he gave five talents,[a] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
(A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer)
Matthew 25:15
Expanded Bible
15 He gave one servant five ·bags of gold [L talents; C a talent was worth about 6,000 denarii, or twenty years’ wages for a laborer], another servant two ·bags of gold [L talents], and a third servant one ·bag of gold [L talent], to each one ·as much as he could handle [L according to his ability]. Then he left.
Matthew 25:15
GOD’S WORD Translation
15 He gave one man ten thousand dollars, another four thousand dollars, and another two thousand dollars. Each was given money based on his ability. Then the man went on his trip.
Matthew 25:15
Good News Translation
15 He gave to each one according to his ability: to one he gave five thousand gold coins, to another he gave two thousand, and to another he gave one thousand. Then he left on his trip.
Matthew 25:15
Holman Christian Standard Bible
15 To one he gave five talents;[a] to another, two; and to another, one—to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately
(Worth a very large sum of money; a talent = 6,000 denarii)
Matthew 25:15
International Children’s Bible
15 He decided how much each servant would be able to care for. He gave one servant five bags of money. He gave another servant two bags of money. And he gave a third servant one bag of money. Then the man left.
Matthew 25:15
International Standard Version
15 To one man he gave five talents,[a] to another two, and to another one, based on their ability. Then he went on his trip.
(A talent was worth a lifetime of wages for an average laborer.)
Matthew 25:15
J.B. Phillips New Testament
Life is hard for the faint-hearted
14-15 “It is just like a man going abroad who called his household servants together before he went and handed his property to them to manage. He gave one five thousand pounds, another two thousand and another one thousand—according to their respective abilities. Then he went away.
Matthew 25:15
Living Bible
15 “He gave $5,000 to one, $2,000 to another, and $1,000 to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities—and then left on his trip.
Matthew 25:14-15
The Message
The Story About Investment
“It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left.
Matthew 25:15
Modern English Version
15 To one he gave five talents,[a] to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his ability. And immediately he took his journey.
(A talent was worth several hundred pounds.)
Matthew 25:15
Names of God Bible
15 He gave one man ten thousand dollars, another four thousand dollars, and another two thousand dollars. Each was given money based on his ability. Then the man went on his trip.
Matthew 25:15
New American Standard Bible
15 To one he gave five [a]talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
(A talent was worth about fifteen years’ wages for a laborer)
Matthew 25:15
New Catholic Bible
15 To one he gave five talents,[a] to another two talents, to a third one talent—to each according to his ability. Then he set forth on his journey.
(Talents: a talent was equivalent to 6000 denarii, that is, to the salary for 6000 days of work.)
Matthew 25:15
New Century Version
15 He gave one servant five bags of gold, another servant two bags of gold, and a third servant one bag of gold, to each one as much as he could handle. Then he left.
Matthew 25:15
New International Version
15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
(Greek five talents … two talents … one talent; also throughout this parable; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer’s wage.)
Matthew 25:15
New Life Version
15 He gave to one servant five pieces of money worth much. He gave to another servant two pieces of money worth much. He gave to another servant one piece of money worth much. He gave to each one as he was able to use it. Then he went on his trip.
Matthew 25:15
New Living Translation
15 He gave five bags of silver[a] to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
(Greek talents; also throughout the story. A talent is equal to 75 pounds or 34 kilograms.)
Matthew 25:15
Tree of Life Version
15 To one he gave five talents,[a] to another two, and to another one, each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
(One talent was worth 6000 denarii, or about 16 years’ wages.)
Matthew 25:15
World English Bible
15 To one he gave five talents,[a] to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds (usually used to weigh silver unless otherwise specified)
Matthew 25:15
Worldwide English (New Testament)
15 He gave five bags of money to one servant. He gave two bags of money to another servant. He gave one bag of money to another servant. He gave to each one what he was able to be in charge of. Then he went away.
In SUMMARY, "five talents" were translated as:
A talent was a measurement of weight, usually 58-80 pounds. One talent of silver was worth more than 15 years’ wages. One talent of gold was worth even more.
probably about $5,000
A talent is worth about 6,000 denarii, or twenty years’ wages for a laborer
five valuable coins
equivalent to a hundred years’ wages
5,000 coins
One silver talent was equivalent to 6000 denarii, 6000 days wages for a laborer. This large sum of money represents our individual gifts and abilities, spiritual and natural.
five bags of money (bags of money Literally, “ talanta” or “talents.” A talent was about 27 to 36 kg (60 to 80 pounds) of gold, silver, or copper coins)
Each talent was worth six thousand denarii. A denarius was one day’s wage.
A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer
five ·bags of gold [L talents; C a talent was worth about 6,000 denarii, or twenty years’ wages for a laborer]
ten thousand dollars
five thousand gold coins
Worth a very large sum of money; a talent = 6,000 denarii
five bags of money
A talent was worth a lifetime of wages for an average laborer.
five thousand pounds
$5,000
five thousand dollars
A talent was worth several hundred pounds.
ten thousand dollars
A talent was worth about fifteen years’ wages for a laborer
a talent was equivalent to 6000 denarii, that is, to the salary for 6000 days of work
five bags of gold
a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer’s wag
five pieces of money worth much
five bags of silver (A talent is equal to 75 pounds or 34 kilograms.)
One talent was worth 6000 denarii, or about 16 years’ wages.
A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds (usually used to weigh silver unless otherwise specified)
five bags of money
Now you see the WIDE discrepancies in interpretation.
I know I'm a nut about accuracy.
But that's how I honor the WORD of GOD.
That I get it right.
Thank GOD, His SPIRIT led me to this curious exercise today.
I really want to get GOD's WORD right.
I am a student, after all.
Only JESUS has RIGHT accounting.
May I be accounted right by Him.
Revelation 3:5
King James Version
5 He that overcometh,
the same shall be clothed in white raiment;
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life,
but I will confess his name before my Father,
and before his angels.
Related material:
How the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD Taught Me
Translations from biblegateway.com
Image: Png Egg
