Pound

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Pound ( μνᾶ).—The value of the denarius (Authorized Version ‘penny’) being about 9½d., the mina (Authorized Version ‘pound’), which was 100 of these, was = £4 in our money. It was the 60th part of a talent. The only Gospel reference in this sense is in the parable of the Pounds ( Luke 19:11-27). ‘Pound’ as a weight (λίτρα = 12 oz. avoird.) is alluded to in  John 12:3;  John 19:39 (see artt. Money and Weights and Measures.

Modern commentators of repute. (including Calvin) treat the story of the Pounds ( Luke 19:11-27) as a variant of the parable of the Talents ( Matthew 25:14-30). and prevailing theories on the origin of the Gospels as we have them tend to the confirmation of this view. In Mt. the parable appears as part of the prophetic discourse delivered at Jerusalem, when days of disaster were impending, and our Lord’s absence from this mortal scene became naturally an impressive theme (see art. Talents). Here in Lk., while activity during that absence is enjoined as a duty, colour is added to the story from local reminiscence. Jericho ( Luke 19:1) owed its magnificent palace to the son of Herod the Great, Archelaus, facts from whose history seem clearly drawn upon in the narrative. The Herodian princes, on coming to office ( Luke 19:12), went to Rome to receive imperial investiture (Josephus Ant. xiv. xiv. and xvii. xi. 4), and this same Archelaus was in such bad odour that an embassy of protest followed him (xv. xi. 1, etc.). Compare with this the action of the citizens, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us’ ( Luke 19:14). As if to accentuate the variation between Mt. and Lk., we have a further modification of the figures in the Gospel according to the Hebrews ( c [Note: circa, about.] . [Note: circa, about.] 20 a.d.), where one servant wastes the goods of his lord among harlots and flute-players, another multiplies the pound, while a third conceals it; in the end, one is acknowledged, another reproved, and the third committed to prison. That Jesus uttered the parable is not to be doubted, but there seems some uncertainty in the details. The harshness of  Matthew 25:27, however, as coming from His lips, can be escaped, on the theory that these words were used with reference to Archelaus, who had proved himself amply capable of cruelty.

The entire sovereignty of the Christ being not yet manifested, the broad lesson stands forth, and is unexhausted in our age, that the true note of faithfulness is active zeal in His cause ( Luke 19:13). Means diligently improved yield rich results ( Luke 19:17 and  Luke 19:19); and although these may vary among individual men, rewards are in all cases manifold ( Luke 19:17 and  Luke 19:19). The highly informing contrast conies when we turn to the Pharisaic class,—specially abhorrent to Jesus,—who not only do no sacrificing deeds, but even glory complacently in negative propriety ( Luke 19:20). The ultimate reason of their remissness is the wrong idea of God ( Luke 19:21), whom they figure as a taskmaster who exacts, instead of a kindly father who bestows. Hence the note of the ‘austere,’ which passes by reflexion into their own sorry travesty of the eternal life. Daily deeds of love are the familiar exchange ( Luke 19:23),—a mart which such religionists thoroughly neglect, since none are harder with their fellows. But innate law must prevail ( Luke 19:26), and indifference never ends in itself—the callous soon betray diminished receptivity. Steel rusts when never out of the sheath, and the saddest cases in religion are seen in those who start fair, but achieve nothing. The figure of reaping where one has not sown ( Luke 19:21), charged falsely against the master, tells truly on the critics themselves. The seed of truth lay to their hand, but it could not grow and reproduce till it was planted in the soil. Cherished mechanically, in their fashion, it was bound to shrivel into a withered husk, from which the germ of life had expired. Hence the verdict of the Master, that in spite of all appearances to the contrary, only the semblance of spiritual power remained—‘even that he hath shall be taken away from him’ ( Luke 19:26). Conversely, the more actively men employ the graces of the Christian life, the more susceptible their souls become to higher things. It is in order to emphasize this fact—and for no other purpose—that the gainers of the ten pounds and the five pounds respectively are specified and put side by side in the story. The forfeited 100 drachms are awarded to the former, not to the latter, for ‘unto every one that hath shall be given’ ( Luke 19:28). Life for us all means stewardship, and psychology more and more reveals a delicate and automatic system of rewards and punishments, under sanction of the One Supreme Being, who is revealed in teaching such as this, and who offers all men the saving presence of His Spirit.

Literature.—Trench and Bruce in their works on the Parables, in loc.  ; Lynch, Serm. for my Curates , 103 ff.

George Murray.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: λίτρα (Strong'S #3046 — Noun Feminine — litra — lee'-trah )

was a Sicilian coin, the equivalent of a Latin libra or as (whence the metric unit, "liter"); in the Nt it is used as a measure of weight, a pound,  John 12:3;  19:39 .

2: μνᾶ (Strong'S #3414 — Noun Feminine — mna — mnah )

a Semitic word, both "a weight" and "a sum of money," 100 shekels (cp.  1 Kings 10:17 , maneh;  Daniel 5:25,26 , mene), in Attic Greek 100 drachmai, in weight about 15 oz., in value near about f4IS. 3d. (see Piece), occurs in  Luke 19:13,16 (twice),18 (twice),20,24 (twice),25.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( v. t.) To strike repeatedly with some heavy instrument; to beat.

(2): ( pl.) of Pound

(3): ( n.) A level stretch in a canal between locks.

(4): ( n.) An inclosure, maintained by public authority, in which cattle or other animals are confined when taken in trespassing, or when going at large in violation of law; a pinfold.

(5): ( v. i.) To make a jarring noise, as in running; as, the engine pounds.

(6): ( v. t.) To comminute and pulverize by beating; to bruise or break into fine particles with a pestle or other heavy instrument; as, to pound spice or salt.

(7): ( v. i.) To strike heavy blows; to beat.

(8): ( n.) A British denomination of money of account, equivalent to twenty shillings sterling, and equal in value to about $4.86. There is no coin known by this name, but the gold sovereign is of the same value.

(9): ( n.) A certain specified weight; especially, a legal standard consisting of an established number of ounces.

(10): ( n.) A kind of net, having a large inclosure with a narrow entrance into which fish are directed by wings spreading outward.

(11): ( v. t.) To confine in, or as in, a pound; to impound.

King James Dictionary

Pound, n. L. pondo, pondus, weight, a pound pendo, to weigh, to bend.

1. A standard weight consisting of twelve ounces troy or sixteen ounces avoirdupois. 2. A money of account consisting of twenty shillings, the value of which is different in different countries. The pound sterling is equivalent to .44.44 cts. money of the United States. In New England and Virginia, the pound is equal to  1/3 in New York to  1/2.

Pound, n. An inclosure erected by authority, in which cattle or other beasts are confined when taken in trespassing, or going at large in violation of law a pin-fold.

Pound, To confine in a public pound.

Pound,

1. To beat to strike with some heavy instrument, and with repeated blows, so as to make an impression.

With cruel blows she pounds her blubber'd cheeks.

2. To comminute and pulverize by beating to bruise or break into fine parts by a heavy instrument as, to pound spice or salt.

Loud strokes with pounding spice the fabric rend.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Luke 19:13 (b) These pounds represent the quantity of the talents and gifts possessed rather than the quality. One Christian may be able to sing well, play well on an instrument, lead children's meetings, expound the Scriptures, and hold evangelistic services. This one has many "talents." Another Christian may have unusual ability as an evangelist, be outstanding in that particular ministry of Christian service, and not be able to play an instrument or lead singing or handle young people's work. This man's gift is the "pound." Some have less, and some have more of ability in one particular line. So some have one pound of ability, while others may have ten pounds. In the parable of the talents one may have two gifts for ministry and another may have eight or ten gifts in ministry. These are the "talents." (See under Talents).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A sum of money; the Gr. mna or mina ( Luke 19:13,16,18,20,24,25 ). It was equal to 100 drachmas, and was of the value of about ,6s. 8d. of our money. (See Money .)

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Pound'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/p/pound.html. 1897.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Pound.

1. A weight. See Weights and Measures .

2. A sum of money put in the Old Testament,  1 Kings 10:17;  Ezra 2:69;  Nehemiah 7:71, for the Hebrew, maneh , worth in silver about $25.00. In the parable of the ten pounds,  Luke 19:12-27, the reference appears to be to a Greek pound, a weight used as a money of account, of which sixty went to the talent. It was worth $15.00 to $17.00.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A weight and a sum of money, put, in the Old Testament,  1 Kings 10:17   Ezra 2:69   Nehemiah 7:71 , for the Hebrew Maneh, which see; and in the New Testament, for the Attic Mina, which was equivalent to one hundred drachmae, or about fourteen dollars.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

(See Weights.) A Greek pound; a money of account; 60 in the talent; the weight depended on that of the talent. The Attic talent then was usual in Palestine.

Holman Bible Dictionary

CoinsWeights And Measures

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Pound . See Money, § 7  ; Weights and Measures, § Iii.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

See Weights And Measures.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pound ( מנה , māneh  ; μνᾶ , mná , λίτρα , lı́tra  ; Latin, libra ): Pound does not correctly represent the Hebrew māneh , which was more than a pound (see Maneh ). The litra of   John 12:3 and   John 19:39 is the Roman pound ( libra ) of 4, 950 grains, which is less than a pound troy, being about 10 1/3 oz. In a monetary sense (its use in  Luke 19:13-25 ) it is the mna , or māneh , which was either of silver or gold, the former, which is probably the one referred to by Luke, being equal to 6, 17 British pounds, or about (in 1915); the latter 102, 10 British pounds or (in 1915). See Weights And Measures .

Figurative: "Pound," like "talent," is used in the New Testament for intellectual gifts and spiritual endowments, as in the passage given above.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(weight) is the rendering of one Heb. and one Greek word in the A. V.

1. מָנֶה, maneh ( 1 Kings 10:17;  Ezra 2:69;  Nehemiah 7:71-72). (See Manesh).

2. Λίτρα , litra ( John 12:3;  John 19:39), is a Roman pound of twelve ounces, a libra. This pound, as used in trade and authorized by the Roman government, contained 6165 Paris grains, according to Boeckh (Metallurg. Unters. p. 160 sq.). The word λίτρα was adopted in the Aramaean dialect, לַיִטְרא (Buxtorf, Lex. Rabb. col. 1138). (See Weight).