19:26

This verse is very similar to 8:18. There are also similar verses in Matthew 13:12 and 25:29 and Mark 4:25. The saying in these verses was a proverb that could be used in different ways in different contexts.

19:26a

He replied: The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the phrase He replied to make it clear that the king was speaking again to the servants standing around him.

I tell you that: The king used the words I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and that people should listen carefully to it. Some other ways to show this emphasis are:

Listen to this
-or-
I can guarantee that (God’s Word)
-or-
I assure you

In some languages it may be more natural to use an emphatic word within Jesus’ statement. For example:

to everyone who has, more will certainly be given

Emphasize this important statement in a natural way in your language.

19:26b

everyone who has will be given more: In the context the phrase everyone who has refers to people who have profit or good results from what they have done. In this context it refers to the servants who had used their coin and fulfilled their responsibility to their master. They were rewarded with more responsibility.

Some other ways to translate this proverb are:

to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
When people have/gain ⌊good results⌋ ⌊with what they receive⌋, they will receive more
-or-
If a person ⌊really⌋ has ⌊something⌋, he will be given more

will be given more: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be given more is passive. The Berean Standard Bible supplies the word more because it is implied in this context. It will be given to “everyone who has,” as in the previous clause. Some other ways to translate will be given more are:

• As a passive clause. For example:

more will be given ⌊to them⌋

• As an active clause that uses a different verb. For example:

they will receive/get more

• As an active clause that supplies a subject. This subject should probably be God. For example:

⌊God⌋ will give them more
-or-

⌊God⌋ will cause them to have/get more

19:26c–d

but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him: This statement is a paradox. It seems impossible to take something from someone who does not have anything. The statement is also a hyperbole. It indicates that the person has very little. In this context, it also indicates that the person has gained no good results from what he received. As in the parable, even what he received will be taken away.

Some other ways to translate this paradox are:

But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
But if people do not have/gain ⌊any good thing/results⌋ ⌊with what they receive⌋, even what they have/receive will be taken away ⌊from them⌋.
-or-
If a person does not ⌊really⌋ have ⌊anything⌋, even what he ⌊seems to⌋ have will be taken away.

even what he has will be taken away from him: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be taken away is passive. It is not explicit who will take this away from the person who has nothing.

Some other ways to translate even what he has will be taken away are:

• As a passive clause. For example:

everything will be taken away from those who don’t have much (God’s Word)

• As an active clause that uses a different verb For example:

whoever has nothing will forfeit even what he has (Revised English Bible)

• As an active clause that supplies a subject. For example:

⌊God⌋ will take it away from them

Notice that the Notes have supplied “God” as the subject in the final example. In the parable, the master took the coin away from the servant. However, since this verse is a proverb, it is good to translate it in a way that could also apply to other contexts.

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