Luke 19 · Verse 13

Luke 19:13

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
Luke 19:13, King James Version

Luke 19:13 in other translations

BSBBeforehand, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Conduct business with this until I return,’ he said.
WEBHe called ten servants of his and gave them ten mina coins, and told them, ‘Conduct business until I come.’
ASVAnd he called ten servants of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said unto them, Trade ye herewith till I come.
YLTand having called ten servants of his own, he gave to them ten pounds, and said unto them, Do business--till I come;
DARBYAnd having called his own ten bondmen, he gave to them ten minas, and said to them, Trade while I am coming.
BBEAnd he sent for ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds and said to them, Do business with this till I come.
WebsterAnd he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said to them, Occupy till I come.

What does Luke 19:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. Occupy--"negotiate," "do business," with the resources entrusted.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. Ten servants. Nothing in particular is denoted by the number ten. It is a circumstance intended to keep up the narrative. In general, by these servants our Saviour denotes his disciples, and intends to teach us that talents are given us to be improved, for which we must give an account at his return.

Ten pounds. The word translated pound here denotes the Hebrew minah, which was equal to about 15 dollars, or �3. The pounds here denote the talents which God has given to his servants on earth to improve, and for which they must give an account in the day of judgment.

Occupy till I come. The word occupy here means not merely to possess, as it often does in our language, but to improve, to employ in business, for the purpose of increasing it or of making profit on it. The direction was to use this money so as to gain more against his return. So Jesus commands his disciples to improve their talents; to make the most of them; to increase their capability of doing good, and to do it until he comes to call us hence, by death, to meet him. See 1Cor 12:7, Eph 4:7.

(1) "Mina" translated here a pound is 12 ounces and a half, which, at 5 shillings the ounce, is �3, 2s. 6d.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Ten servants - All those who professed to receive his doctrine. Ten was a kind of sacred number among the Hebrews, as well as seven. See Luk 14:31; Luk 15:8; Mat 15:1. Ten pounds - Ten minas. The Septuagint use the original word μναα for the Hebrew מנה maneh, from which it is evidently derived; and it appears from Eze 45:12, to have been equal to sixty shekels in money. Now suppose we allow the shekel, with Dean Prideaux, to be 3s., then the mina or maneh was equal to 9 English money. The impropriety of rendering the original word pound, will easily be seen by the most superficial reader. We should therefore retain the original word for the same reason so often before assigned. Suidas says, "The talent was sixty minas, the mina one hundred drachms, the drachm six oboli, the obolus six chalci, the chalcus seven mites or lepta." By the ten minas given to each, we may understand the Gospel of the kingdom given to every person who professes to believe in Christ, and which he is to improve to the salvation of his soul. The same word is given to all, that all may believe and be saved.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 19:11-27

This parable is like that of the talents, Mt 25. Those that are called to Christ, he furnishes with gifts needful for their business; and from those to whom he gives power, he expects service. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal, 1Co 12:7. And as every one has received the gift, so let him minister the same, 1Pe 4:10. The account required, resembles that in the parable of the…

Read the full comment on Luke 19:11-27 →

Luke 19:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καλέσαςkalesasHaving calledG2564
δὲdethenG1161
δέκαdekatenG1176
δούλουςdoulousservantsG1401
ἑαυτοῦhe'autouhis ownG1438
ἔδωκενedōkenhe gaveG1325
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
δέκαdekatenG1176
μνᾶςmnasminasG3414
καὶkaiandG2532
εἶπενeipensaidG2036
πρὸςprostoG4314
αὐτούς·autousthem;G846
πραγματεύσασθεpragmateusastheDo tradeG4231
ἐνeninG1722
ᾧhōthatG3739
ἔρχομαι.erchomaiI come back.G2064

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 19:13

  • Matthew 25:14-15

    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. 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.

  • John 12:26

    If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

    But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: …

  • 1 Peter 4:9-11

    Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

  • Romans 12:6-8

    Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:28-29

    And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

  • 2 Peter 1:1

    Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

  • James 1:1

    James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

  • Galatians 1:10

    For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
his.
Mt 25:14; Joh 12:26; Ga 1:10; Jas 1:1; 2Pe 1:1
delivered.
Mt 25:15; Ro 12:6-8; 1Co 12:7-11,28,29; 1Pe 4:9-11
pounds."Mina, here translated a pound, is 12® oz., which, according to 5s. the ounce, is 3£. 2s. 6d."

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 19:12

    He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

  • Luke 19:13

    And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

  • Luke 19:14

    But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

Read all of Luke 19

Luke 19:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas llamados diez siervos suyos, les dió diez minas, y díjoles: Negociad entre tanto que vengo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ayant appelé dix de ses propres esclaves, il leur donna dix mines, et leur dit: Trafiquez jusqu’à ce que je vienne.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er berief aber seine zehn Knechte und gab ihnen zehn Pfunde und sprach zu ihnen: Handelt, bis ich komme.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vocatis autem decem servis suis, dedit eis decem mnas, et ait ad illos: Negotiamini dum venio.