Paragraph 19:15–19
19:15
In the Greek text this verse is one long sentence. It mentions several events that happened after the event in 19:14:
The nobleman was appointed king.
He returned home.
He called his servants.
He asked them what profit they had made with the money he gave them.
In many languages, it will be helpful to use shorter clauses or sentences. See the examples in the following notes.
19:15a
When he returned from procuring his kingship: This statement tells two events. In Greek the events are in the opposite order, literally: “And it happened upon his return, having received the kingdom….” The Berean Standard Bible follows this order. Some versions relate the events in the order in which they happened. For example:
He was made king, however, and returned home (New International Version)
Use a natural order in your language. Some versions translate this part of the verse as an introductory clause. For example:
When he returned, having received royal power (New Revised Standard Version)
from procuring his kingship: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as from procuring his kingship indicates that the emperor appointed him to be king of his country. The phrase procuring his kingship is similar to the phrase “lay claim to his kingship” in 19:12c. You may be able to use a similar phrase here.
19:15b
Versions such as the New International Version and God’s Word add the conjunction “then” to introduce the next event. However, there is no conjunction in the Greek text after the introductory clause in 19:15a. Other ways to connect the events in 19:15a and 19:15b are:
After the prince had been made king, he returned and called in his servants. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
But the man became king. When he returned home, he said, ‘Call those servants….’ (New Century Version)
he summoned the servants: The clause he summoned the servants indicates that the nobleman called for the servants to come to him. He may have spoken to them directly or he may have told another servant to summon them. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:
he ordered that these slaves…be called to him (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
he sent for the servants (New International Version)
-or-
he told ⌊someone⌋ to call the servants
-or-
he told the servants…, “Come, see me!”
the servants to whom he had given the money: The phrase to whom he had given the money identifies which servants the king called. It refers back to the action in 19:13b. There the nobleman gave each of these servants some money to manage for him while he was away. He did not give it to them to own.
Refer back to these servants in a natural way in your language. In some languages it may be more natural not to repeat the identifying phrase. For example:
his servants (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version)
the money: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the money is literally “the silver.” It refers back to the minas in 19:13b. See how you translated the phrase there and refer back to this money in a natural way in your language.
19:15c
to find out what each one had earned: This phrase tells the purpose for which the king called his servants. He called them to hear what profit they had gained from doing business with his money. Some ways to translate the purpose are:
He wanted to know how much they had earned by trading. (NET Bible)
-or-
…so I can know how much they earned with it. (New Century Version)
-or-
He wanted to find out what their profits were. (New Living Translation (2004))
what each one had earned: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as what each one had earned refers to additional money that the servants may have earned from trading with their master’s money.
General Comment on 19:15b–c
In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of 19:15b and 19:15c. For example:
15cIntending to find out how much money they had made, 15bhe summoned the servants to whom he had given the money.
In some languages it may be more natural to use direct speech here. For example:
Then he said, ‘Call those servants to whom I gave money. I want to know how much each one has made by investing.’ (God’s Word)
-or-
He thought, “I want to know how much money the servants have made,” so he called them.
-or-
He called for the servants and he asked them, “What ⌊money⌋ have you gained with the money I gave you?”
In some languages it may be natural to have direct speech within direct speech. For example:
Then he said, “Call those servants to whom I gave money and tell them, ‘Come and report to the master what you have earned from the money he entrusted to you.’”
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