King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Show me the coin used to pay the tax!" They brought him a denarius;
Berean Standard Bible:
Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.
American Standard Version:
Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a denarius.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Shew{G1925} me{G3427} the tribute{G2778} money{G3546}. And{G1161} they brought{G4374} unto him{G846} a penny{G1220}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Matthew 18:28
- But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Revelation 6:6
- And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and [see] thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Matthew 20:2
- And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Matthew 22:19
Matthew 22:19 is part of an interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees, who were a significant religious and political group in Judea during the time of Jesus' ministry. The verse reads, "Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny." This encounter is set against the backdrop of the Roman occupation of Judea, where the issue of paying taxes to the Roman Empire was a contentious and sensitive topic among the Jewish population.
In this verse, the Pharisees, along with the Herodians—a group that supported the rule of Herod and, by extension, Roman authority—approach Jesus with a question designed to trap him. They ask him whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. The question is a political and religious minefield; if Jesus were to say yes, he would be seen as a collaborator with the occupying Romans, which would alienate many of his followers who resented Roman rule. If he said no, he could be accused of sedition against the Roman Empire.
By asking to see the tribute money, Jesus cleverly navigates the situation. The coin brought to him, a Roman denarius, bore the image of the emperor Tiberius Caesar, inscribed with the title "Divine Augustus." Jesus uses the coin's inscription and image to deliver his famous response, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21).
This verse and the surrounding passage (Matthew 22:15-22) highlight several themes: the political tension between the Jewish people and the Roman occupiers, the religious leaders' attempts to discredit Jesus, and the distinction between civic duties and spiritual obligations. Jesus' answer emphasizes the importance of discerning the appropriate spheres of authority and responsibility—recognizing the legitimate claims of the state while also affirming the ultimate sovereignty of God in the lives of believers. This teaching has had a lasting impact on discussions about the relationship between church and state, as well as the responsibilities of individuals as both citizens of earthly nations and members of the kingdom of God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G1925
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐπιδείκνυμι
Transliteration: epideíknymi
Pronunciation: ep-ee-dike'-noo-mee
Description: from ἐπί and δεικνύω; to exhibit (physically or mentally):--shew. - Strong's Number: G3427
There are 227 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μοί
Transliteration: moí
Pronunciation: moy
Description: the simpler form of ἐμοί; to me:--I, me, mine, my. - Strong's Number: G2778
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: κῆνσος
Transliteration: kēnsos
Pronunciation: kane'-sos
Description: of Latin origin; properly, an enrollment ("census"), i.e. (by implication) a tax:--tribute. - Strong's Number: G3546
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: νόμισμα
Transliteration: nómisma
Pronunciation: nom'-is-mah
Description: from νομίζω; what is reckoned as of value (after the Latin numisma), i.e. current coin:--money. - Strong's Number: G1161
There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δέ
Transliteration: dé
Pronunciation: deh
Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English). - Strong's Number: G4374
There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: προσφέρω
Transliteration: prosphérō
Pronunciation: pros-fer'-o
Description: from πρός and φέρω (including its alternate); to bear towards, i.e. lead to, tender (especially to God), treat:--bring (to, unto), deal with, do, offer (unto, up), present unto, put to. - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ. - Strong's Number: G1220
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δηνάριον
Transliteration: dēnárion
Pronunciation: day-nar'-ee-on
Description: of Latin origin; a denarius (or ten asses):--pence, penny(-worth).