And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

MATTHEW 25:20KJV
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Matthew 25:20 (KJV)

What does Matthew 25:20 mean?

Matthew 25:20 shows the servant who received five talents reporting to his master that he has doubled what was entrusted to him, bringing five more talents as proof of his work. The verse highlights the servant’s faithfulness and success in managing what he was given.

In this verse, Jesus is telling a parable about a master who entrusts his servants with different amounts of money (“talents”) before going on a journey. The servant with five talents comes forward to give an account, showing he has gained five more. This moment sets up the master’s response and illustrates the idea of responsibility and reward in the story.

The Greek behind Matthew 25:20

  • The word for “talents” (τάλαντα, talanta) refers to a large sum of money, not a skill or ability. This helps clarify that the story is about stewardship of resources, not natural talents.
  • The verb “gained” (ἐκέρδησα, ekerdēsa) means to earn or profit, emphasizing that the servant’s increase came through effort and wise action, not luck.
  • The word “behold” (ἴδε, ide) is a way of drawing attention, as if the servant is excited and eager to show what he has accomplished.

Why Matthew 25:20 matters

  • This verse clears up the common misunderstanding that “talents” means abilities; in the parable, it is specifically about money or entrusted resources.
  • The verse emphasizes accountability, showing that the servant must report directly to the master about what he has done with what was given.
  • Matthew 25:20 connects to the larger parable’s theme of faithful stewardship and sets up the master’s praise and reward in the following verses.

Where else these words appear

“talents” Greek G5007 · used in 8 verses

  • Matthew 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
  • Matthew 25:16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
  • Matthew 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

“gained” Greek G2770 · used in 15 verses

  • Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
  • Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
  • 1 Corinthians 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law,(being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

“behold” Greek G2396 · used in 26 verses

  • Matthew 25:22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
  • Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
  • John 11:36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

“five” Greek G4002 · used in 33 verses

  • Matthew 14:17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
  • Luke 9:13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.
  • John 6:13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.