CategoryBackground / Weight and Money Term
Modern Equivalentlarge weight or large sum of money.
KJV Word TypeNoun / measurement and value term
DefinitionA large unit of weight or value used in biblical times. In the KJV, “talent” may refer to a substantial amount of silver, gold, or money, depending on the context.
Key Verses"Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man." (Matthew 25:24); "And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance." (1 Kings 10:27)
KJV Usage NoteRefers to a large weight or value; in Matthew 25 it appears in a parable about stewardship and accountability.
Common MisunderstandingIt does not primarily mean a natural ability in the KJV context, though the English word later developed that meaning.
EtymologyFrom Greek talanton, meaning a balance, weight, or sum of money.