The Meaning of
the "Knight of Pentacles" Tarot Card

A stern knight sits on his dark horse, holding his pentacle before him as if conferring with it.

The pentacle held by the Knight seems to have more weight and heft than the pentacle held by the Page of Pentacles, indicating a heavier responsibility and seriousness to the Knight's role.

The horse is a powerful draft horse, signifying labor and productivity. Although we see no cart or carriage attached, the horse wears a bright red carriage harness, signifying a capacity for hard work.

In the background we see a fertile swathe of ploughed soil, also signifying productivity and labor.

The sprig of vegetation waving from his helmet, and the vast tract of fertile land, firmly bind the knight to the element of Earth.

His work does not lie far away; It is all around him. This is a time to work...

Unlike the knight cards of the other suits, the Knight of Pentacles is not pictured striding or charging ahead. He is motionless.

This knight is not thinking about adventures in far away lands; His work is all around him in the surrounding fields. This is a time to work, and to focus on the here and now. Adventures can wait.

As with all the court cards in the Tarot, the Knight of Pentacles often represents an actual person when it appears in readings — but not always.

The Knight of Pentacles is an extremely diligent worker. He is a paragon of responsibility, dependability and focus. His sole purpose is the task at-hand, and he dedicates himself entirely to completing it. Everything else can wait.

...it represents the ideals of hard work, diligence and dedication.

When the card is not referencing a specific person, it represents the ideals of hard work, diligence and dedication.

Careful scheduling, accounting, financial planning and sticking to budgets are also referenced here.

When the Knight of Pentacles appears in a reading it's often a sign to stop dreaming about what's over the next horizon; Stop thinking about your next vacation. Focus instead on the task before you.

The Knight of Pentacles is also a gentle warning against all forms of distraction: Dedicate yourself instead to what you are doing now. The other pieces will fall into place as long as current responsibilities are fulfilled.

The Knight of Pentacles is a generally positive card, but it carries with it a serious message of responsibility and hard work. For those who can delay gratification, the future is very bright.

The reversed Knight of Pentacles has several possible meanings.

...it's a sign that distractions have clouded one's ability to focus on an important task

In many cases, it's a sign that distractions have clouded one's ability to focus on an important task. Something is interfering with a core responsibility. That "something" may be something minor like a mobile-phone, or it may be something major like a non-work activity which is eating up too much time.

In other cases, the inverted Knight of Pentacles may reference a job or a task which has become dull and boring. The daily grind of monotonous tasks has become unfulfilling and a breaking point may be near.

Lastly, the reversed Knight of Pentacles card may serve as a reminder that "all work and no play" is making someone a "dull boy". While diligence, responsibility and unwavering focus are all positive traits — life is short, and important opportunities may be passing by.