The term "drachma" refers to a unit of currency used in ancient Greece and is mentioned in the context of the New Testament. The drachma was a silver coin, and its value and usage provide insight into the economic and social conditions of the time.

Historical Context

The drachma was a standard silver coin in the Greek world, widely used from the classical period through the Hellenistic era and into the Roman period. It was equivalent to a day's wage for a skilled worker or a soldier, making it a significant amount of money for the average person. The drachma's value and weight varied over time and location, but it generally weighed around 4.3 grams of silver.

Biblical References

The drachma is specifically mentioned in the New Testament in the Parable of the Lost Coin, found in the Gospel of Luke. In this parable, Jesus uses the drachma to illustrate the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.

Luke 15:8-10 states: "Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

In this parable, the "silver coins" are translated from the Greek word "drachma." The woman's diligent search for the lost drachma highlights its value and importance, symbolizing the worth of each individual soul to God.

Cultural and Economic Significance

The use of the drachma in the parable reflects the economic realities of the time. It underscores the value of money in daily life and the careful management of resources by individuals, especially women who often managed household finances. The drachma's mention in the parable also serves to connect the audience with a familiar and relatable scenario, enhancing the teaching's impact.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the parable of the lost drachma emphasizes God's relentless pursuit of the lost and the immense value He places on each person. The joy expressed by the woman upon finding the coin mirrors the joy in heaven over repentance and redemption. This parable, like others in the same chapter, underscores the themes of grace, forgiveness, and the boundless love of God for humanity.

In summary, the drachma serves as more than just a monetary unit in the biblical narrative; it is a symbol of value, diligence, and divine joy, illustrating profound spiritual truths through everyday life experiences.1. (n.) A silver coin among the ancient Greeks, having a different value in different States and at different periods. The average value of the Attic drachma is computed to have been about 19 cents.

2. (n.) A gold and silver coin of modern Greece worth 19.3 cents.

3. (n.) Among the ancient Greeks, a weight of about 66.5 grains; among the modern Greeks, a weight equal to a gram.

DRACHMA; DRAM

drak'-ma, (drachme): The word is used in the Septuagint as the rendering of beqa`, "half-shekel," which must refer to the light standard for the shekel, as its weight was about 62 grains. In the New Testament the word occurs only in Luke 15:8, 9, where it is rendered "a piece of silver" (m "drachma"). It was commonly taken as equivalent to the Roman denarius, though not strictly so.

1323. didrachmon -- a double drachma
... a double drachma. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: didrachmon Phonetic
Spelling: (did'-rakh-mon) Short Definition: a double-drachma, two drachmae ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1323.htm - 6k

1406. drachme -- as much as one can hold in the hand, a drachma (a ...
... as much as one can hold in the hand, a drachma (a Gr. ... Word Origin from drassomai
Definition as much as one can hold in the hand, a drachma (a Gr. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1406.htm - 6k

787. assarion -- an assarion, a farthing (one tenth of a drachma)
... an assarion, a farthing (one tenth of a drachma). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: assarion Phonetic Spelling: (as-sar'-ee-on) Short Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/787.htm - 6k

3414. mna -- a mina (Gr. monetary unit)
... of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: mna Phonetic Spelling: (mnah) Short
Definition: a mina Definition: a mina, a Greek monetary unit equal to 100 drachma ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3414.htm - 7k

694. argurion -- silvery, by ext. a piece of silver
... Neuter of a presumed derivative of arguros; silvery, ie (by implication) cash;
specially, a silverling (ie Drachma or shekel) -- money, (piece of) silver (piece ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/694.htm - 6k

1871. darkemon -- (a unit of value), perhaps a drachma
... (a unit of value), perhaps a drachma. Transliteration: darkemon or adarkon
Phonetic Spelling: (dar-kem-one') Short Definition: drachmas. ...
/hebrew/1871.htm - 6k

150. adarkon -- a drachma
... 149, 150. adarkon. 151 . a drachma. Transliteration: adarkon Phonetic
Spelling: (ad-ar-kone') Short Definition: darics. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/150.htm - 5k

Of the Parables of the Lost Ewe and the Lost Drachma.
... Chapter VII."Of the Parables of the Lost Ewe and the Lost Drachma. You
shall have leave to begin with the parables, where you ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on modesty/chapter vii of the parables of.htm

A Sort of Sorites, as the Logicians Call It, to Show that the ...
... Chapter XXXII."A Sort of Sorites, as the Logicians Call It, to Show that the Parables
of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Drachma Have No Suitable Application to ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xxxii a sort of sorites.htm

You Observe How Much Difference He Makes Between the Souls of Men ...
... Merely the difference between the one sheep and the others, between one drachma
and the rest. But he adds something more, a little way further; he says. ...
/.../39 you observe how much.htm

This Reasoning and Intelligent Creature, Man, at once the Work and ...
... If further confirmation of what we say is required, I think it will be found in
what is suggested by our Lord in the searching for the Lost Drachma [1420] . ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter xii this reasoning and.htm

Certain General Principles of Parabolic Interpretation These ...
... Necessary it was that the style of one engaged in searching for a "drachma" in a
"house," should be aptly fitted with the helpful accompaniment of a "besom" as ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter ix certain general principles of.htm

'That which was Lost'
... I. I ask you, then, to look with me, first, at the varying causes of loss.
The sheep was lost, the drachma was lost, the son was lost. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/that which was lost.htm

The "Demonstrations" of Aphrahat.
... Christ said:"What woman is there who has ten drachmos and shall lose one of them,
and will not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek her drachma that she ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/the demonstrations of aphrahat.htm

Examples from Scripture to Prove the Lord's Willingness to Pardon.
... Is not the fact that a woman has lost a drachma, and seeks it and finds it, and
invites her female friends to share her joy, an example of a restored sinner? ...
/.../tertullian/on repentance/chapter viii examples from scripture to.htm

The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son.
... but depraved being. "Ovis, drachma, filius perditus: peccator stupidus,
sui plane nescius, sciens et voluntarius.". The conversion ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/the lost sheep the lost.htm

And There came unto Him Publicans and Sinners to Hear his Word. .. ...
... till she found it; [1818] and when she found it, call her friends and neighbours,
and say unto them, Rejoice with me, as I [11] have found my drachma that was ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xxvi and there came.htm

Drachma (2 Occurrences)
... The average value of the Attic drachma is computed to have been about 19 cents.
2. (n.) A gold and silver coin of modern Greece worth 19.3 cents. ...DRACHMA; DRAM. ...
/d/drachma.htm - 8k

Four-drachma (1 Occurrence)
Four-drachma. Four-and-twentieth, Four-drachma. Four-fifths .
Multi-Version Concordance Four-drachma (1 Occurrence). ...
/f/four-drachma.htm - 6k

Two-drachma (1 Occurrence)
Two-drachma. Two-and-thirtieth, Two-drachma. Twoedged .
Multi-Version Concordance Two-drachma (1 Occurrence). Matthew ...
/t/two-drachma.htm - 6k

Drachm (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A drachma. 2. (n.) Same as Dram.
Multi-Version Concordance Drachm (2 Occurrences). Luke 15:8 Or ...
/d/drachm.htm - 7k

Dram
... word `adarkonim (1 Chronicles 29:7; Ezra 8:27), and the similar word darkomnim
(Ezra 2:69; Nehemiah 7:70), as equivalent to the Greek silver coin the drachma. ...
/d/dram.htm - 8k

Lost (85 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:8 Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin,
wouldn't light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she ...
/l/lost.htm - 32k

Drachmas (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Drachma. Multi-Version Concordance
Drachmas (6 Occurrences). Luke 15:8 Or, what woman having ...
/d/drachmas.htm - 8k

Wouldn't (67 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:8 Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin,
wouldn't light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she ...
/w/wouldn't.htm - 26k

Diligently (85 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:8 Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin,
wouldn't light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she ...
/d/diligently.htm - 34k

Coin (9 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:8 Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin,
wouldn't light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she ...
/c/coin.htm - 11k

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Drachma: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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