King James Version

What Does Luke 19:18 Mean?

Luke 19:18 in the King James Version says “And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.” — study this verse from Luke chapter 19 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.”

Luke 19:18 · KJV

Context

16

Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

17

And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

18

And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

19

And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

20

And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds (καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ δεύτερος λέγων· Ἡ μνᾶ σου, κύριε, ἐποίησεν πέντε μνᾶς, kai ēlthen ho deuteros legōn· Hē mna sou, kyrie, epoiēsen pente mnas)—a 500% return, still excellent though half that of the first servant. The verb poieō (to make, produce) differs slightly from verse 16's prosergazomai (to gain by trading), but both indicate active, productive stewardship.

Significantly, Jesus gives no criticism of the lesser return. The parable emphasizes faithfulness with what was entrusted, not competition between servants. Different servants produce different results based on opportunities, abilities, and circumstances, but God evaluates faithfulness to what each received. This counters both envy ('Why didn't I receive more?') and pride ('Look how much I produced!'). Paul taught this principle: ministers are fellow workers, but 'God gave the increase' (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).

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Historical & Cultural Context

A fivefold return still represented extraordinary success in the ancient economy. The parable's structure—presenting two faithful servants before the unfaithful one—builds dramatic tension while establishing that varying levels of productivity all receive commendation if they represent genuine engagement with the master's resources. The first-century audience would recognize that both servants succeeded remarkably; the contrast comes with the third servant's complete failure.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can you battle comparison and competition with other believers while pursuing faithful stewardship?
  2. What does God's equal pleasure with different levels of fruitfulness teach about His evaluation of your service?
  3. How should understanding that 'God gave the increase' shape your response to both success and limited results?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 12 words
καὶ1 of 12

“And”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἦλθεν2 of 12

“came”

G2064

to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

ὁ3 of 12
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

δεύτερος4 of 12

“the second”

G1208

(ordinal) second (in time, place, or rank; also adverb)

λέγων,5 of 12

“saying”

G3004

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an

Κύριε6 of 12

“Lord”

G2962

supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)

Ἡ7 of 12
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

μνᾶς8 of 12

“pound”

G3414

a mna (i.e., mina), a certain weight

σου9 of 12

“thy”

G4675

of thee, thy

ἐποίησεν10 of 12

“hath gained”

G4160

to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)

πέντε11 of 12

“five”

G4002

"five"

μνᾶς12 of 12

“pound”

G3414

a mna (i.e., mina), a certain weight

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 19:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Luke 19:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Mark 4:20Matthew 13:232 Corinthians 8:12

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