What Does Matthew 25:15 Mean?
And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his strength; and straightway he went on his journey.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
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.THE KEY
Each portion is measured against the recipient’s own capacity, so the verse begins with entrusted responsibility, not equal shares.
THE MEANING
You are entrusted according to your own ability, not by a uniform measure. The giver leaves at once, and the trust now rests in your hands.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Fairness means everyone must receive the same amount.
THE ROOT
δύναμιν
dýnamin
GROWS FROM
δυνα-
dyna-
To be able; to have power or capacity.
“according to his strength” in this verse is dýnamin. The Greek phrase means “according to his own ability”: the measure is individualized. The root points to active capacity, so the different amounts correspond to what each person can do, not to a ranking of personal worth.
ALSO GROWS
dýnamai: To be able.
δύναμαι
This verb shares the capacity-root and makes clear that “ability” names what a person can do.
dynatos: Able, powerful.
δυνατός
This related form keeps the focus on capability, the measure named in the verse.
adynatos: Unable; impossible.
ἀδύνατος
The same root can name the absence of capacity, showing that this word-family concerns ability rather than status.
ἔδωκεν
édōken
GROWS FROM
δο-/δω- (do-/dō-)
To give or grant.
“gave” in this verse is édōken. The verb describes a concrete act of giving: the resources come from another and are placed in each person’s hands. The word-family keeps the scene centered on what is received, while the amounts are set in relation to each recipient’s ability.
ALSO GROWS
dosis: A giving; a gift.
δόσις
This noun from the same word-family keeps the focus on what is given.
dōron: A gift.
δῶρον
This related word shows the family’s connection to what is placed in someone’s hands.
didónai: To give.
διδόναι
This infinitive form shares the verb’s giving-root and echoes the act at the center of the verse.
THE PATTERN
What is entrusted is apportioned in relation to each recipient’s capacity and work.
And I have filled him with the breath of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of work.We have gifts that differ according to the favor given to us. If prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to trust.But to each one of us favor was given according to the measure of the gift of the Anointed One.THE THREAD
Nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, for he himself gives to all life and breath and all things.The same Greek giving verb appears here as “giveth”: what is present in your life is first received. That opens this verse’s movement from gift to entrusted portion, as each person receives a different measure.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us