### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term κοδράντης (kodrántēs, `{{G2835}}`) is a direct transliteration of the Latin word "quadrans." It refers to a specific Roman coin, representing the smallest denomination of Roman currency in circulation during the New Testament period. Its value was precisely one-fourth of an "as" (Latin *aes*), which itself was a small bronze coin. In the context of Judea, a kodrántēs was equivalent to two Jewish lepta, often translated as "mites." Therefore, its core meaning is strictly monetary, denoting a coin of extremely low value. The semantic range of κοδράντης is narrow, confined almost exclusively to its literal economic sense, without broader metaphorical applications.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word κοδράντης appears twice in the New Testament, both times within the Synoptic Gospels, highlighting its role in illustrating key teachings of Jesus:
* **[[Matthew 5:26]]**: "Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last kodrántēs."
* This verse is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, specifically within a passage addressing reconciliation and legal disputes. Jesus warns against harboring anger or unresolved conflict, emphasizing the severe consequences if one does not reconcile. The mention of "the last kodrántēs" underscores the absolute and meticulous nature of the required payment or satisfaction for an offense. It implies that every last detail, no matter how seemingly insignificant, must be accounted for before freedom or resolution is achieved. This highlights the strictness of divine justice or the comprehensive demands of true reconciliation.
* **[[Mark 12:42]]**: "And a poor widow came and put in two lepta, which makes a kodrántēs."
* This passage recounts the well-known story of the widow's offering at the Temple treasury. Jesus observes people making offerings and commends a poor widow who puts in two small coins, which Mark explicitly equates to a kodrántēs. This detail is crucial for understanding the extreme poverty of the widow and the minuscule absolute value of her contribution. Yet, Jesus declares that she "put in more than all the others" [[Mark 12:43]], because she gave "all she had to live on" [[Mark 12:44]]. Here, the κοδράντης serves as a precise measure of economic insignificance, contrasting sharply with the profound spiritual significance of her sacrificial act.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of κοδράντης is enriched by understanding its relationship to other monetary terms and broader concepts:
* **Roman Currency:** Its Latin origin and definition as a fraction of an "as" (`{{G78}}`) place κοδράντης firmly within the Roman monetary system prevalent in Judea. Other Roman coins mentioned in the New Testament include the δηνάριον (denárion, `{{G1220}}`), a silver coin worth 16 asses or 16 kodrántēs, often representing a day's wage.
* **Jewish Currency:** The explicit equation of two λεπτόν (leptón, `{{G3016}}`) (mites) to one κοδράντης in [[Mark 12:42]] demonstrates the interface between Jewish and Roman coinage. The λεπτόν was the smallest Jewish coin.
* **Concepts of Value and Debt:** In [[Matthew 5:26]], κοδράντης is intrinsically linked to the concept of complete financial or legal satisfaction. It underscores the idea that debt, whether literal or metaphorical (e.g., moral obligation), must be fully discharged.
* **Sacrificial Giving:** The account of the widow's offering ties κοδράντης to the theological concept of sacrificial giving, where the *proportion* of the gift relative to one's means and the *heart* of the giver are paramount, rather than the absolute monetary amount. This contrasts with worldly notions of wealth and contribution.
### Theological Significance
The occurrences of κοδράντης in the New Testament, though few, carry significant theological weight:
* **Divine Justice and Accountability:** In [[Matthew 5:26]], the "last kodrántēs" serves as a powerful metaphor for the thoroughness of divine justice. It implies that every aspect of one's conduct and every unresolved issue will be brought to account. This teaching encourages believers toward immediate reconciliation and sincere repentance, emphasizing that no sin or debt, no matter how seemingly small, is overlooked in God's economy of justice. It underscores the seriousness of even minor transgressions and the necessity of complete moral and spiritual reckoning.
* **The True Nature of Giving:** The narrative of the widow's mite (which totals a κοδράντης) in Mark provides a profound lesson on the nature of true generosity and faith. Jesus elevates the widow's meager offering above the large sums given by the wealthy, because she gave "out of her poverty" all that she had. This teaches that God values the heart and the spirit of sacrifice over the material size of the gift. It challenges worldly perspectives on wealth and contribution, affirming that genuine devotion is measured by faithfulness and selflessness, not by affluence or public display.
* **God's Attention to the "Least":** The use of the κοδράντης, the smallest and most insignificant coin, highlights God's meticulous attention to detail and His care for the marginalized. Just as Jesus notices the widow's tiny offering, so too does God see and value the humble, often unseen, acts of faith and obedience. This reinforces the biblical theme that God's kingdom often operates on principles contrary to worldly wisdom, where the "least" are often the greatest in His eyes.
### Summary
The Greek word κοδράντης (kodrántēs, `{{G2835}}`) denotes the smallest Roman coin, a farthing, equivalent to one-fourth of an "as" or two Jewish "lepta." Though a term of minimal economic value, its two appearances in the Gospels convey profound theological truths. In [[Matthew 5:26]], the "last kodrántēs" symbolizes the meticulous nature of divine justice and the absolute necessity of complete reconciliation and payment for all debts, emphasizing accountability. In [[Mark 12:42]], the κοδράντης represents the poor widow's sacrificial offering, illustrating that true value in God's eyes is not determined by the absolute amount given, but by the sincerity of the heart and the proportion of the gift relative to one's means. This highlights God's valuing of radical generosity and His attention to the humble and seemingly insignificant acts of faith. Thus, the κοδράντης, a coin of negligible worldly worth, becomes a powerful vehicle for conveying Christ's teachings on justice, reconciliation, and the essence of true devotion.
TRV