Dictionaries :: Talent

Talent:

of silver contained 3,000 shekels (Exd 38:25,26), and was equal to 94 3/7 lbs. avoirdupois. The Greek talent, however, as in the LXX., was only 82 1/4 lbs. It was in the form of a circular mass, as the Hebrew name kikkar denotes. A talent of gold was double the weight of a talent of silver (2Sa 12:30). Parable of the talents (Mat 18:24; 25:15).

Talent:

tal'-ent (kikkar; talanton): A weight composed of 60 manehs (English Versions of the Bible "pounds") equal to about 120 pounds troy and 96 pounds avoirdupois, or 672,500 grains, of the Phoenician standard. See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. When used in the monetary sense the talent might be either of silver or gold, and the value varied according to the standard, but is probably to be taken on the Phoenician, which would give about 410 British pounds, or $2,050 (in 1915), for the silver talent and 6,150 British pounds or $30,750 (in 1915), for the gold.

Figurative: "Talent," like "pound," is used metaphorically in the New Testament for mental and spiritual attainments or gifts (Mt 25:15-28).

Written by H. Porter

See MONEY

Talent: A Weight, Money, or Gift.

Then he that had received the five TALENTS went and traded with the same, and made them other five TALENTs. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. (Matthew 25:16-18)

Talent: General Scriptures Concerning

1Ki 9:14, 28; 10:10, 14

Talent: A Weight Equal to Three-Thousand Shekels

About one hundred twenty-five pounds,

Exd 38:25, 26.

Talent: Value Of

Of gold, about six-thousand pounds, or twenty-nine thousand one-hundred dollars;

of silver, four-hundred pounds, or one-thousand nine-hundred forty dollars.

Parables of the,

Mat 18:24; 25:15, 28.

Talent:

originally "a balance," then, "a talent in weight," was hence "a sum of money" in gold or silver equivalent to a "talent." The Jewish "talent" contained 3,000 shekels of the sanctuary, e.g., Exd 30:13 (about 114 lbs.). In NT times the "talent" was not a weight of silver, but the Roman-Attic "talent," comprising 6,000 denarii or drachmas, and equal to about £240. It is mentioned in Matthew only, Mat 18:24; 25:15, 16, 20 (twice in the best texts), Mat 25:22 (thrice), Mat 25:24, 25, 28 (twice). In Mat 18:24 the vastness of the sum, 10,000 talents (£2,400,000), indicates the impossibility of man's clearing himself, by his own efforts, of the guilt which lies upon him before God.

Note: That the "talent" denoted "something weighed" has provided the meaning of the Eng. word as "a gift or ability," especially under the influence of the parable of the talents (Mat 25:14-30).

Talent:

denotes "of a talent's weight," Rev 16:21.

Talent:

SEE [WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, A.].