Borrowing Talent From the Bible

Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels, Exodus 25:39.

In the King James Bible a talent is always a measurement. In the case of the Exodus 25:39 which is quoted as our opening verse it is telling us the weight of gold required for a specific batch of vessels. If you look up the talent to see how much it weighed in standard or metric units you will see that it varied from civilization to civilization.

What does seem clear is that a talent was the largest weight in any measuring system. Various sources place the general weight of a talent at just about 100 pounds.* (See the note at the end.) My preaching rarely if ever goes into explaining ancient weights and measurements. Most of the time when I hear preachers explain such things it seems to be fluff to inflate the preaching and gives the impression of great learning. It is rare that it ever affects the understanding of any message.

In the New Testament a talent is a coin. It appears to be the largest coin in the system of coinage used at that time. What is interesting is that our English word "talent" comes from that coin. The Normans introduced a word "talent" into the language but its meaning is not the same as used today. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it likewise:

Old French talent will, desire, lust, appetite.

We can see that that is a different definition than what we have today for the word "talent". Today, the Oxford defines "talent" as:

A special natural ability or aptitude, usually for something expressed or implied; a natural capacity for success in some department of mental or physical activity.

When did that definition enter our language? The Oxford English Dictionary tells us:

taken from the parable of the talents, Matthew xxv. 14–30.

Herein is a case in which the first generations of English Bible readers recognized that any natural abilities or aptitude's that they were given were given by God and that they would be judged by their usage of them. Just as the man traveling in the Book of Matthew distributed talents (coins) to his servants, and just as he did so according to their abilities, God distributed natural abilities and aptitudes to people accordingly as he saw them able.

They called those natural abilities and aptitudes "talents". They knew that those abilities were from God and that they were to be used for God and that they would be judged accordingly. As the Apostle Paul said; For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?, 1st Corinthians 4:7.

I find it interesting that the person who was entrusted with the least failed the greatest. I have observed in life that a person who excels in one thing will often excel in other things. I have seen talented medical personnel who excelled with a musical instrument. I have seen outstanding athletes who achieved outstanding academic results.

There are few things more pitiful than a person with a singular talent brought to fruition who has never developed skill in any other endeavor including social or family skills. The bars and pubs of the world are filled with just such people trying to relive the glory days.

In every rescue mission or homeless shelter can be found derelicts who possess stunning talent in art, music, chess, or some other thing but who never developed any ability to function in the real world. I have warned talented young people that the bubble of pride that has formed around their singular gifted ability will not sustain them.

In reality, most people are given one talent and one talent only. They need to take care of themselves. Years ago, I heard Pastor Ron Cunningham of the Aliquippa Baptist Temple say that every young man should be taught three things:

1. To read a King James Bible.

2. To put groceries on the table.

3. To keep his own rear end clean.

If you observe much of society today you will note at least one if not all three of those things are lacking. That singular talent of taking care of themselves doled out to so many, is buried in their back yard as they destroy their health with garbage food. They destroy their virtue with the lusts of this world, and they destroy what money they are given through foolish lusts.

Where did our modern word "talent" come from? It came from the King James Bible.

*I want to thank a couple of readers who spotted my error in mixing up pounds and kilograms.