he who, whoever

The Greek that is typically translated with a generic expressions such as “he who,” “whoever,” or “if anyone” in English is translated with the plural form (“they”) in Daga. “A literal translation of these conveys the idea that one specific unnamed individual is being discussed. Thus, for instance, in John 5:24 ‘he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life’ meant in Daga that there was one fortunate individual to whom it applied.”

See also love your neighbor as yourself.

complete verse (Matthew 25:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 25:16:

  • Uma: “The ordered-one that got five thousand gold coins, right away he used-it-in-business to hunt for an increase, and he did indeed get an increase of five thousand more.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The servant who had been given five thousand pesos immediately went and traded, and he gained five thousand pesos.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The servant that he gave five thousand pesos to, he invested his and he gained five thousand pesos more.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘So then, the one-entrusted with five talents used-it-in-business immediately, and he made-a-profit of five.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That one who had been left-in-charge of five thousand set out at once and used-it-to-stock-up-with wares. He made another five thousand in profit.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The worker who was given five thousand monies put the money to work. Another five thousand monies he gained.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Parable of the Talents

The following artwork is part of a series of 56 paintings on biblical themes by Kazakh artist Nelly Bube (born 1949):

Copyright by Norwegian Bible Society , used with permission.

For other images of Nelly Bube in TIPs, see here.

Following is a 1973 painting of the JESUS MAFA project, a response to New Testament readings from the Lectionary by a Christian community in Cameroon, Africa. Each of the readings was selected and adapted to dramatic interpretation by the community members. Photographs of their interpretations were made, and these were then transcribed to paintings:

From Art in the Christian Tradition , a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. Image retrieved March 23, 2026. Original source: librairie-emmanuel.fr.

Translation commentary on Matthew 25:16

At once is the same adverb translated “immediately” in 4.20. Here it emphasizes the immediacy with which the servant acted: “Immediately the man who had received the five thousand went…” (New American Bible).

Traded with them translates an idiomatic expression, literally “worked with them”; Good News Translation has “invested his money,” New International Version “put his money to work,” and An American Translation “went into business with the money.” In societies where investing money is not commonly done, translators may have to say “did business with the money.”

Made five talents more is more literally “gained another five”; Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “was able to double the amount.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .