Quick Definition
τάλαντον, ου, τό n.n. a talent of silver or gold
Strong's Definition
neuter of a presumed derivative of the original form of tlao (to bear; equivalent to 5342); a balance (as supporting weights), i.e. (by implication) a certain weight (and thence a coin or rather sum of money) or "talent"
KJV Usage: talent
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | -ου | ταλαντιαῖος
6.82 · Artifacts · Money and Monetary Units
talent a Greek monetary unit (also a unit of weight) with a value which fluctuated, depending upon the particular monetary system which prevailed at a particular period of time (a silver talent was worth approximately six thousand denarii with gold talents worth at least thirty times that much) In MAT 25:15 what is important is the relative number of talents or sums of money. In a number of translations the respective amounts are stated in terms of local currency. For example, in English one may speak of five thousand dollars as equivalent to five talents, though in terms of buying power, five talents would be worth much more than five thousand dollars. What is important, however, in this story is not the precise sums of money but the relative amount which was given to the different servants.
The ‘ten thousand talents’ referred to in MAT 18:24 would be equivalent to millions of denarii. The sum in this parable is perhaps greatly exaggerated, precisely in order to emphasize the vast differences between the two debts. It is also true, of course, that in ancient times persons with extensive mercantile businesses sometimes became slaves as a result of defeat in war, and they were purchased by business syndicates together with their business enterprises, which they would continue to manage.
MAT 18:24 · MAT 25:15 · MAT 25:16 · MAT 25:20 · MAT 25:20 · MAT 25:20 · MAT 25:20 · MAT 25:22 · MAT 25:22 · MAT 25:22 · MAT 25:24 · MAT 25:25 · MAT 25:28 · MAT 25:28
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
τάλαντον, -ov, τό, [TAAAQ, TAAQ [to bear]) ; 1. the scale of a balance, a balance, a pair of scales (Hom.). 2. that which is weighed, a talent, i.e. a. a weight, varying in different places and times. b. asum of money weighing a talent and varying in different states and ace. to the changes in the laws regulating the currency ; the Attic talent was equal to 60 Attic minae or 6000 drachmae, and worth about 200 pounds sterling or 1000 dollars [ef. L. and 8. 5. v. II. 2b.]. But in the N. T. probably the Syrian talent is referred to, which was equal to about 237 dollars [but see BB. DD. s. v. Money]: Mt. xviii. 24; xxv. 15 sq. [18 Lchm.], 20, 22, 24 sq. 28. (Sept. for 135, Luth. Centner, the heaviest Hebrew weight ; on which see Aneucker in Schenkel vy. p. 460 sq.; [BB. DD. 8. ν. Weighis].)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
τάλαντον talanton 14x
the scale of a balance; a talent, which as a weight was among the Jews equivalent to 3000 shekels, i.e., as usually estimated, 114 lbs. 15 dwts. Troy; while the Attic talent, on the usual estimate, was only equal to 56 lbs. 11 oz. Troy, Mt. 18:24; 25:15, 16, 20, 22, 24, 25, 28*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
τάλαντον, -ου, τό
[in LXX for כִּכָּר ;]
a balance (Hom.).
that which is weighed, a talent;
a talent in weight (in Horn. always of gold);
a sum of money, whether gold or silver, equivalent to a talent in weight (v. DB, iii, 418 ff.): Mt 18:24 25:15ff.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
τάλαντόν σοι πέπρακα τὰ φο[ρτ]ία μου, the meaning is perhaps not more than “1 have sold my wares for a talent.” For an adverbial use cf. P Grenf II. 36° (B.c. 95) (= Witkowski?, p. 119) ILayaver TlaveBxovvios καὶ Παθήμει, rapa καὶ Πετεαρσεμθεῖ, where παρὰ καί = ‘‘una et” (Witkowski). On the force of παρά in composition, see Proleg. p- 247. As in the case of all the prepositions, reference should be made to the important theses by Kuhring and Rossberg, see under Abbreviations I. Full particulars of NT usage are given in Paul F. Regard’s monograph Contribution ἃ Pétude des Prépositions dans la langue du Nouveau Testament (Paris, 1919).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
τάλαντον (talanton) — talent. τᾰλαντ-ον, τό, balance, Ζεὺς.. τὸ τ. ἐπιρρέπει ἄλλοτε ἄλλως [Refs 6th c.BC+]: in this sense used by [Refs 8th c.BC+] only in plural, pair of scales, ἔχον ὥς τε τάλαντα γυνή.., ἥ τε σταθμὸν ἔχουσα καὶ εἴριον ἀμφὶς ἀνέλκει ἰσάζουσα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; especially of the scales in which Zeus weighed the fortunes of men, χρύσεια πατὴρ ἐτίταινε τ. [Refs]; ἐπὴν κλίνῃσι τ. Ζεύς, i.e. when he decides the issue of battle,[Refs 4th c.BC+]; of the scales of justice, δίκης κατέκειτο τάλαντα [Refs 3rd c.BC+]: so in singular, δίκας ῥέπει τάλαντον [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. tax paid for the use of the public scales, [Refs 6th c.BC+]
II. anything weighed,
II.1. a definite weight, talent, in [Refs 8th c.BC+] always of gold, δέκα χρυσοῖς τάλαντα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; χρυσοῦ.. εὐεργέος ἑπτὰ τ. [Refs 8th c.BC+]: from the order of the prizes in [Refs 8th c.BC+] and other passages its weight was probably not great,[Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.2. in post-[Refs 8th c.BC+] was both a commercial weight (differing in different systems), and also the sum of money represented by the corresponding weight of gold or silver; τοῖσι μὲν (of the subjects of Darius) ἀργύριον ἀπαγινέουσι εἴρητο Βαβυλώνιον σταθμὸν τ. ἀπαγινέειν, τοῖσι δὲ χρυσίον ἀπαγινέουσι Εὐβοϊκόν· τὸ δὲ Βαβυλώνιον τ. δύναται Εὐβοΐδας (ὀκτὼ καὶ add. Reiz) ἑβδομήκοντα μνέας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τ. Ἀττικόν, Αἰγιναῖον, etc., [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.2. a of money, τ. ἀργυρίου [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μνᾶ ἀπὸ τοῦ τ. [Refs]
II.2. b of weight, τὸ τ. τὸ ἐμπορικόν[Refs 4th c.BC+]; iron, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; cloth, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]