A parable describing a man traveling abroad, turning over his stuff to personal servants.
Matthew 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo,there thou hast that is thine.
Matthew 25:25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
"And, being afraid, departing, I buried that weight [of gold] of yours in the ground. See, you have this of yours."
Money that is working is dead and buried.
The "hid" here also means "buried. So the analogy here connects money that isn't used with death.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "I" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "afraid" is not an active verb but a participle, "fearing."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "went" is not an active verb but a participle, "departing."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "talent" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "lo" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "there" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "is" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "So" should be something more like "and."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "I" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "afraid" is not an active verb but a participle, "fearing."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "went" is not an active verb but a participle, "departing."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "talent" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "gold" should be something more like "weight" or "bags of gold."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "here" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "is" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "what" is not the common word usually translated as "what."
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
I --- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "I" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than a participle.
was -- This helping verb "was" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
afraid, - (WF) "Afraid" is a Greek word that means "to terrify" and "to put to flight," but in the passive, it means to be put to flight and be frightened. When applied to people, it means to "be in awe of" or "dread." It is not an active verb, but an adjective, "being afraid."
and --- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "and" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than a participle.
went - (WF) "Went" is a verb that means "to go away," "to depart from," "to spread abroad," and "to depart from life." It is also not an active verb, but an adjective.
and --- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "I" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than a participle.
hid - The word translated as "hid" means to "hide," "conceal," "keep secret," and also means to "bury" but it has a number of other specific uses as well.
thy -- The word translated as "thy" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
talent - "Talents" is an untranslated word in Greek meaning "a weight" as in a weight balancing a scale. It was used to refer to a sum of money like we would say "five large" or "five big ones" referring to large denomination bills. As with bills, its meaning changed depending on the type of currency. Technically, it is an untranslated word, but there is no similar word in English.
in The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "during" (time), or "among" with a dative object as the one here.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
earth: - The word translated as "earth" means the physical planet, not society, which Christ describes as the world. See this articlefor more on these words.
lo, - (CW) "Lo" is a verbal command meaning "See!" and "Look!" It is from the most common word meaning "to see" in Greek. In a humorous vein, it is also an adverbial exclamation like we use the phrase "ta-da" in a magic show, or "voila" in French which means "see there". "Look here!" or "See there!" comes closest in English. Jesus uses it both ways.
there -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "there" in the Greek source.
thou -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
hast -- The word translated as "have" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "have means to do," "to have due to one," or "keep" and many specific uses. This verb isn't used to form past tenses as it is in English.
that -- The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
is -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "there" in the Greek source.
thine. "Thine" is from two Greek words. The first is an article, "the," which when it is used without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The second word is a second person pronoun that is introduced but it is not in the possessive form ("thine") but it is in the same form as the article before it. It is also a form that could be the subject of the sentence, which might work better since it would emphasize the "you."
So -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "so" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
I --- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "I" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than a participle.
was -- This helping verb "was" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
afraid, - (WF) "Afraid" is a Greek word that means "to terrify" and "to put to flight," but in the passive, it means to be put to flight and be frightened. When applied to people, it means to "be in awe of" or "dread." It is not an active verb, but an adjective, "being afraid."
and --- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "and" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than a participle.
went - (WF) "Went" is a verb that means "to go away," "to depart from," "to spread abroad," and "to depart from life." It is also not an active verb, but an adjective.
out -- "Out" is from the prefix of the verb that means "away from" or "out of."
and --- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "I" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than a participle.
hid - The word translated as "hid" means to "hide," "conceal," "keep secret," and also means to "bury" but it has a number of other specific uses as well.
your -- The word translated as "your" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
gold - (WW) "Gold" is an untranslated word in Greek meaning "a weight" as in a weight balancing a scale. It was used to refer to a sum of money like we would say "five large" or "five big ones" referring to large denomination bills. As with bills, its meaning changed depending on the type of currency. Technically, it is an untranslated word, but there is no similar word in English. It is not the word for gold.
in The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "during" (time), or "among" with a dative object as the one here.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
ground: - The word translated as "ground" means the physical planet, not society, which Christ describes as the world. See this articlefor more on these words.
See, - "See" is a verbal command meaning "See!" and "Look!" It is from the most common word meaning "to see" in Greek. In a humorous vein, it is also an adverbial exclamation like we use the phrase "ta-da" in a magic show, or "voila" in French which means "see there". "Look here!" or "See there!" comes closest in English. Jesus uses it both ways.
here -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "here" in the Greek source.
is -- (WW) The word translated as "have" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "have means to do," "to have due to one," or "keep" and many specific uses. This verb isn't used to form past tenses as it is in English.
what -- (CW) The word translated as "what " is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
belongs to you.’ - "Belongs to you" is from two Greek words. The first is an article, "the," which when it is used without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The second word is a second person pronoun that is introduced but it is not in the possessive form ("thine") but it is in the same form as the article before it. It is also a form that could be the subject of the sentence, which might work better since it would emphasize the "you."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
φοβηθεὶς [18 verses](part sg aor pass masc nom) "I was afraid" is phobeo, which means to "put to flight." "terrify," "alarm," "frighten," and in the passive, "be put to flight," "be seized with fear," be frightened," "stand in awe of" (of persons)," "dread (of persons)," and "fear or fear about something." -
ἀπελθὼν [22 verses](part sg aor act masc nom) "Went" is from aperchomai, which means "to go away," "to depart from," "to spread abroad," and "to depart from life."
ἔκρυψα [9 verses](verb 1st sg aor ind act) "Hid" is from krypto, which means "to hide," "to cover," "to bury," "to conceal," "to keep secret," and "to lie hidden."
τὸ [821 verses](article sg neut acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
τάλαντόν [8 verses](noun sg neut acc) "Talent" is from talanton, which means "a weight," "a pair of scales," "a commercial weight," and "a sum of money." In Greek mythology, it was the scales on which Zeus balanced the fortunes of men. As money, the amount varied in different systems.
σου [144 verses](pron 2nd sg gen) "Thy" is from sou which means "thine" and "your."
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is from en, which means "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," and "with." -- The word translated as "in" also means "within," "with," or "among."
τῇ [821 verses](article sg fem dat) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
γῇ: [59 verses](noun sg fem dat) "Earth" is from ge, which means "the element of earth," "land (country)," "arable land," "the ground," and "the world" as the opposite of the sky. Like our English word "earth," it means both dirt and the planet.
ἴδε [52 verses](verb 2nd sg aor imperat act) "Lo" is from idou, which means "to behold," "to see," and "to perceive." It acts as an adverbial phrase in this form meaning "Lo! Behold!" and "See there!' It is a form of the verb eido, which means "to see."
ἔχεις 181 verses](verb 2nd sg pres ind act) "Thou hast" is from echo, which means "to have," "to hold," "to possess," "to keep," "to have charge of," "to maintain," "to hold fast," "to bear," "to carry," "to keep close," "to keep safe," and "to have means to do." -- The word translated as "have" means "to possess" or "to keep" but it isn't used in the same way as a "helper" verb that the English "have" is.
τὸ [821 verses](article sg neut acc ) "That" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
σόν. ” [144 verses](adj sg masc/neut nom/acc) "Thine" is from sou which means "thine" and "your."
"And, being afraid," he continued in mimicked voice, "Departing."
He walked a few steps away and bent over.
"I buried your money in the ground," he said pretending to dig in the dirt. As he found what he was looking for, he handed it from one hand to the other and said, "See, you have the one."
The crowd laughed at this playing both roles.