Tobit 4:20 - And now I explain to you about the ten talents of silver, which I left in trust with Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages of Media.

Generated Verse: Tobit 4:20

What does "Tobit 4:20" mean?


This verse from Tobit 4:20 is a key element in the story of Tobit. Let's break down what it means:

"And now I explain to you about the ten talents of silver...": Tobit is addressing his son, Tobias, and is about to tell him about a significant sum of money he's owed.

"...which I left in trust...": Tobit had entrusted this money to someone else for safekeeping.

"...with Gabael the son of Gabrias...": This identifies the person holding the money: Gabael. It also includes his father's name, Gabrias, for further identification.

"...at Rages of Media.": This specifies the location where Gabael resides. Rages was a city in Media (a region in ancient Persia), now part of modern-day Iran.

In essence, this verse tells us that Tobit had previously deposited a substantial sum of money (ten talents of silver) with a man named Gabael in a distant city, Rages of Media. This information sets up a major plot point in the Book of Tobit: Tobias's journey to retrieve the money.

Significance:

Motivation for Tobias's Journey: The ten talents of silver provide the primary reason for Tobias's perilous journey. Tobit is now blind and getting old, and he needs the money.
Faithfulness and Trust: The verse implies that Tobit trusts Gabael's integrity. He believes that Gabael will return the money to the rightful owner (Tobias).
Divine Providence: Throughout the book, the journey to retrieve the money is presented as being guided by divine providence. It's not just about the money; it's also about testing and strengthening the faith of Tobit and Tobias.

The verse is crucial because it sets the stage for the adventure and the themes of faith, trust, and divine intervention that are central to the Book of Tobit.

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