7:41–42b

In these verses, Jesus told a short parable as an illustration. In some languages, there may be a special way to introduce an illustration such as this. For example:

Then Jesus told him this story (New Living Translation (2004))

7:41a

The Berean Standard Bible follows the Greek text by not introducing this parable with words such as “Jesus said.” However, in some languages it may be natural to include an introductory phrase like that. For example:

So Jesus said… (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus told him… (Contemporary English Version)

In some languages it may be helpful to use a specific phrase to refer to the parable or illustration. For example:

Then Jesus told this parable…

Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender: This is background information. It indicates that at some time in the past, two men had borrowed money from the same moneylender. The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Two men were debtors is literally “there were two debtors.” Other ways to translate the clause are:

Two men were in debt to a moneylender (Revised English Bible)
-or-
A man loaned money to two people (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Two men owed money to a certain moneylender (New International Version)
-or-
Two men borrowed money from a lender

moneylender: A moneylender was a person who lent money to other people as his business. When they paid him back, they would pay him extra money as interest or payment for the loan. Other ways to translate this are:

person who lent people money for profit
-or-
creditor

7:41b

One owed him five hundred denarii: One of the men needed to give the moneylender five hundred denarii. This amount included the money he borrowed and the extra money that he had to pay as interest for the loan.

five hundred denarii: The word denarii refers to silver coins of a certain type that Romans used as money. One of these coins, which was called a “denarius,” was worth what an ordinary worker earned for one day of work. So five hundred denarii was the same as the wages for working five hundred days. Some ways to translate five hundred denarii include:

• Use a general word or expression that does not specify the name of the coin. For example:

five hundred silver coins (Good News Translation)

• Use an expression that explains the value of the coins:

money worth the pay/wages for five hundred days of work
-or-
money equal to what a man earns for working more than a year and a half

If you desire, you may want to include a footnote with more information. For example:

Each of these coins was worth as much as an ordinary worker earned for one day of work.

7:41c

the other fifty: The phrase the other fifty is an ellipsis. It means “the second man owed the moneylender fifty denarii.” Fifty denarii was the same as the wages that a worker earned for working fifty days.

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