Matthew 22:19
New International Version
Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius,

New Living Translation
Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin,

English Standard Version
Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.

Berean Standard Bible
Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.

Berean Literal Bible
Show Me the coin of the tribute." And they presented to Him a denarius.

King James Bible
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

New King James Version
Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius.

New American Standard Bible
Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.

NASB 1995
“Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.

NASB 1977
“Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.

Legacy Standard Bible
Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.

Amplified Bible
Show me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius [a day’s wage].

Christian Standard Bible
Show me the coin used for the tax.” They brought him a denarius.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Show Me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought Him a denarius.

American Standard Version
Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a denarius.

Contemporary English Version
Let me see one of the coins used for paying taxes." They brought him a silver coin,

English Revised Version
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Show me a coin used to pay taxes." They brought him a coin.

Good News Translation
Show me the coin for paying the tax!" They brought him the coin,

International Standard Version
Show me the coin used for the tax." They brought him a denarius.

Majority Standard Bible
Show Me the coin used for the tax.? And they brought Him a denarius.

NET Bible
Show me the coin used for the tax." So they brought him a denarius.

New Heart English Bible
Show me the tax money." They brought to him a denarius.

Webster's Bible Translation
Show me the tribute-money. And they brought to him a penny.

Weymouth New Testament
Show me the tribute coin." And they brought Him a shilling.

World English Bible
Show me the tax money.” They brought to him a denarius.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Show Me the tribute-coin.” And they brought to Him a denarius;

Berean Literal Bible
Show Me the coin of the tribute." And they presented to Him a denarius.

Young's Literal Translation
show me the tribute-coin?' and they brought to him a denary;

Smith's Literal Translation
Show me the piece of money of tribute. And they brought him a drachma.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Shew me the coin of the tribute. And they offered him a penny.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Show me the coin of the census tax.” And they offered him a denarius.

New American Bible
Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin.

New Revised Standard Version
Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Show me the head-tax penny. And they brought to him a penny.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Show me a denarius of the head tax money”, and they brought a denarius to him.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Show me the tribute-money. And they brought him a denarius.

Godbey New Testament
Show me the tribute money: and they brought Him a denarion.

Haweis New Testament
Shew me the money for the tribute; and they brought him a denarius.

Mace New Testament
shew me the tribute money, and they brought him a penny.

Weymouth New Testament
Show me the tribute coin." And they brought Him a shilling.

Worrell New Testament
Show me the tribute-coin." And they brought Him a denary.

Worsley New Testament
Shew me the tribute-money. And they brought Him a Roman Penny.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paying Taxes to Caesar
18But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me? 19Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. 20“Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?”…

Cross References
Mark 12:15-17
But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.” / So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. / Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him.

Luke 20:24-26
“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. / So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” / And they were unable to trap Him in His words before the people. And amazed at His answer, they fell silent.

Romans 13:7
Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

1 Peter 2:13-17
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. / For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. ...

Proverbs 8:15-16
By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws; / By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.

Daniel 3:1-7
King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. / Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other officials of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue he had set up. / So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. ...

Daniel 6:6-9
So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever! / All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. / Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” ...

Ezra 4:13-20
Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer. / Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king / that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. ...

Nehemiah 5:4
Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.

Genesis 23:16
Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the standard of the merchants.

Exodus 30:13
Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.

2 Kings 23:35
So Jehoiakim paid the silver and gold to Pharaoh Neco, but to meet Pharaoh’s demand he taxed the land and exacted the silver and the gold from the people, each according to his wealth.

2 Chronicles 24:6
So the king called Jehoiada the high priest and said, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD and by the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?”

Isaiah 33:22
For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our King. It is He who will save us.

Jeremiah 32:9-10
So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and I weighed out seventeen shekels of silver. / I signed and sealed the deed, called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales.


Treasury of Scripture

Show me the tribute money. And they brought to him a penny.

a penny.

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.

Matthew 20:2
And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

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.

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Coin Denarius Denary Money Paying Penny Poll-Tax Presented Shew Shilling Show Tax Tribute Tribute-Money Used
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Coin Denarius Denary Money Paying Penny Poll-Tax Presented Shew Shilling Show Tax Tribute Tribute-Money Used
Matthew 22
1. The parable of the marriage of the king's son.
9. The vocation of the Gentiles.
12. The punishment of him who lacked a wedding garment.
15. Tribute ought to be paid to Caesar.
23. Jesus confutes the Sadducees for the resurrection;
34. answers which is the first and great commandment;
41. and puzzles the Pharisees by a question about the Messiah.














Show Me the coin used for the tax.
In this passage, Jesus is responding to a question from the Pharisees and Herodians, who were attempting to trap Him with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. The request to see the coin is significant because it highlights the tangible evidence of Roman authority and the economic system in place. The coin used for the tax was a denarius, a Roman silver coin that bore the image of the emperor. This request sets the stage for Jesus' teaching on the relationship between earthly and divine obligations. The coin itself, with the emperor's image, symbolizes the political and cultural dominance of Rome over Judea, reflecting the tension between Jewish religious identity and Roman political control.

And they brought Him a denarius.
The denarius was a common Roman coin, equivalent to a day's wage for a laborer, and it was the standard currency for paying the poll tax to the Roman government. The act of bringing the denarius to Jesus underscores the pervasive influence of Roman rule in everyday Jewish life. The coin typically featured the image of the reigning emperor, which at the time was Tiberius Caesar, along with inscriptions proclaiming his divinity. This imagery was offensive to many Jews, who saw it as a violation of the commandment against graven images. The presence of the denarius in this interaction highlights the broader theme of Jesus' teaching: distinguishing between the obligations to earthly authorities and those to God. This moment also foreshadows the ultimate authority of Christ, who transcends earthly powers and kingdoms.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is responding to a question about paying taxes to Caesar. His response is both wise and insightful, revealing His understanding of earthly and divine authority.

2. Pharisees and Herodians
These groups approached Jesus with the question about paying taxes. The Pharisees were a religious sect known for strict adherence to the Law, while the Herodians were a political group supporting Herod Antipas. Their collaboration in questioning Jesus highlights their shared interest in trapping Him.

3. Denarius
A Roman coin used for paying taxes. It bore the image of the emperor, which is significant in Jesus' teaching about rendering to Caesar what is Caesar's.

4. Jerusalem
The setting of this event, where Jesus was teaching and where religious and political tensions were high.

5. Caesar
The Roman emperor, representing the earthly authority to whom taxes were paid. His image on the coin is central to Jesus' teaching.
Teaching Points
Understanding Authority
Jesus acknowledges the legitimacy of earthly authorities while emphasizing the ultimate authority of God. Believers are called to respect and fulfill their obligations to both.

Discernment in Dual Citizenship
Christians are citizens of both earthly nations and the Kingdom of God. This dual citizenship requires discernment in balancing responsibilities to both.

Image and Ownership
The coin bearing Caesar's image belongs to Caesar, just as humans, bearing God's image, belong to God. This calls for a life dedicated to God's purposes.

Wisdom in Response
Jesus' response to the Pharisees and Herodians demonstrates the importance of wisdom and discernment in addressing challenging questions and situations.

Integrity in Obligations
Fulfilling obligations, such as paying taxes, is part of living a life of integrity and witness to the world.(19) Shew me the tribute money.--The parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:2) indicates that the denarius was in common circulation. It was probably part of the fiscal regulation of the Roman government that the poll-tax should be paid in that coin only. In any case, wherever it passed current, it was a witness that the independence of the country had passed away, and that Caesar was in temporal things its real ruler.

Verse 19. - The tribute money; τὸ νόμισμα τοῦ κήνσου: the coin of the tribute; that is, the coin in which the tribute was paid. The reply to the question was wholly unexpected. The Pharisaic "disciples" had hoped that Christ would have taken part against the Herodians; but he gives no decision about the matter in dispute, such as they desired. He virtually rebukes their dissimulation, and makes their own action supply the verdict which they demanded. Not seeing the drift of his request, they brought unto him a penny; a denarius (see on Matthew 18:28). This was the amount of the capitation tax, and it was paid in Roman, not Jewish, coinage. Just at this period the Jews had no mintage of their own, and were forced to use Roman coins, which might well be called "tribute money."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Show
ἐπιδείξατέ (epideixate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1925: To show, display, point out, indicate; I prove, demonstrate. From epi and deiknuo; to exhibit.

Me
μοι (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

coin
νόμισμα (nomisma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3546: Money, coin. From nomizo; what is reckoned as of value, i.e. Current coin.

used for
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

the tax.”
κήνσου (kēnsou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2778: A poll-tax. Of Latin origin; properly, an enrollment, i.e. a tax.

And
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

they brought
προσήνεγκαν (prosēnenkan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4374: From pros and phero; to bear towards, i.e. Lead to, tender, treat.

Him
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

a denarius.
δηνάριον (dēnarion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1220: A denarius, a small Roman silver coin. Of Latin origin; a denarius.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 22:19 Show me the tax money (Matt. Mat Mt)
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