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

LUKE 19:13KJV
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Luke 19:13 (KJV)

What does Luke 19:13 mean?

Luke 19:13 describes a nobleman giving money to ten servants and telling them to conduct business with it during his absence. In Jesus’ story, the money is entrusted to them for a purpose, with the expectation that the nobleman will return.

The command follows the nobleman’s departure to receive a kingdom in verse 12. His instruction sets up the later account of what the servants did with the money while he was away.

The Greek behind Luke 19:13

  • “Occupy” — πραγματεύομαι (pragmateuomai): The word carries the sense of doing business or trading. Here, “Occupy” means using the money in business, rather than merely staying in a place.
  • “pounds” — μνᾶ (mna): A pound here was a unit of money, often called a mina. It was a sum of roughly three months’ wages for a laborer, not a measure of weight in the modern sense.

Why Luke 19:13 matters

  • The servants receive money belonging to the nobleman. When he returns in verse 15, he calls them to report what they gained by trading.
  • The story later treats the servants’ results individually. In verses 16–18, the first two report different gains, and each receives a response.
  • The command has a clear time limit: “till I come.” The nobleman’s return brings the period of trading to an end.

Where else these words appear

“pounds” Greek G3414 · used in 6 verses

  • Luke 19:16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
  • Luke 19:18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
  • Luke 19:24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

“ten” Greek G1176 · used in 24 verses

  • Matthew 20:24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
  • Luke 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
  • Acts 25:6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

“servants” Greek G1401 · used in 119 verses

  • Matthew 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
  • Luke 7:10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
  • 1 Corinthians 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

“called” Greek G2564 · used in 138 verses

  • Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
  • Luke 7:39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
  • Romans 9:26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.