Matthew 18 · Verse 24

Matthew 18:24

And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
Matthew 18:24, King James Version

Matthew 18:24 in other translations

BSBAs he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents.
WEBWhen he had begun to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
ASVAnd when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents.
YLTand he having begun to take account, there was brought near to him one debtor of a myriad of talents,
DARBYAnd having begun to reckon, one debtor of ten thousand talents was brought to him.
BBEAnd at the start, one came to him who was in his debt for ten thousand talents.
WebsterAnd when he had begun to reckon, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

What does Matthew 18:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents--If Attic talents are here meant, 10,000 of them would amount to above a million and a half sterling; if Jewish talents, to a much larger sum.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 24. Ten thousand talents. A talent was a sum of money, or weight of silver or gold, amounting to three thousand shekels. A silver shekelwas worth, after the captivity, not far from half a dollar of our money. A talent of silver was worth 1519 dollars, 23 cents, [or �342 3s. 9d.] of gold, 24,309 dollars, 88 cents, [or �5,475.] If these were silver talents, as is probable, then the sum owed by the servant was 16,180,000 dollars, [or about �8,421,876 sterling]; a sum which proves that he was not a domestic, but some tributary prince. The sum is used to show that the debt was immensely large, and that our sins are so great that they cannot be estimated or numbered. Compare Job 27:5.

(1) "thousand talents" "A talent is 750 ounces of silver, which, at 5s, the oz., is 187l. 10s."

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 Ten thousand talents - Μυριων ταλαντων, a myriad of talents, the highest number known in Greek arithmetical notation. An immense sum, which, if the silver talent be designed, amounts to 4,500,000 sterling; but if the gold talent be meant which is by far the most likely, then the amount is 67,500,000 sterling, a sum equal to the annual revenue of the British empire! See the note on Exo 25:39.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 18:21-35

Though we live wholly on mercy and forgiveness, we are backward to forgive the offences of our brethren. This parable shows how much provocation God has from his family on earth, and how untoward his servants are. There are three things in the parable: 1. The master's wonderful clemency. The debt of sin is so great, that we are not able to pay it. See here what every sin deserves; this is the wages of sin, to be…

Read the full comment on Matthew 18:21-35 →

Matthew 18:24 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.

ἀρξαμένουarxamenouWhen was beginningG757
δὲdethenG1161
αὐτοῦautouheG846
συναίρεινsunaireinto settleG4868
προσηνέχθηprosēnechthēwas brought toG4374
αὐτῷautōto himG846
εἷςheisoneG1520
ὀφειλέτηςopheiletēsa debtorG3781
μυρίωνmuriōnof ten thousandG3463
ταλάντων.talantōntalents.G5007

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

Cross references for Matthew 18:24

  • Psalms 38:4

    For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

  • Psalms 130:3-4

    If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

  • Psalms 40:12

    For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

  • Luke 13:4

    Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

  • Luke 16:5

    So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

  • Ezra 9:6

    And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

  • Luke 16:7

    Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

  • Luke 7:41-42

    There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

  • 1 Chronicles 29:7

    And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
owed.
Lu 7:41,42; 13:4; *marg:
Lu 16:5,7
ten thousand.[Murias talanton ,] a myriad of talents, the highest number known in Greek arithmetical notation. According to Prideaux, the Roman talent was equal to 216£; ten thousand of which would amount to 2,160,000£. If the Jewish talent of silver be designed, which is estimated by the same learned writer at 450£., this sum amounts to 4,500,000£.; but if the gold talent is meant, which is equal to 7200£., then the amount is 72,000,000£. This immense sum represents our boundless obligations to God, and our utter incapacity, as sinners infinitely indebted to Divine justice, of paying one mite out of the talent.
1Ch 29:7; Ezr 9:6; Ps 38:4; 40:12; 130:3,4
talents."A talent is 750 ounces of silver, which after five shillings the ounce is 187£. 10s."

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

Context

  • Matthew 18:23

    Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

  • Matthew 18:24

    And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

  • Matthew 18:25

    But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

Read all of Matthew 18

Matthew 18:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y comenzando á hacer cuentas, le fué presentado uno que le debía diez mil talentos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et quand il eut commencé à compter, on lui en amena un qui lui devait 10 000 talents.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als er aber anfing abzurechnen, wurde einer zu ihm gebracht, der zehntausend Talente schuldete.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et cum cœpisset rationem ponere, oblatus est ei unus, qui debebat ei decem millia talenta.