In biblical times, the term "farthing" is used to describe a small unit of currency, often representing a minimal amount of money. The concept of the farthing is primarily found in the New Testament, where it is used to illustrate teachings on value, sacrifice, and divine providence.

Biblical References:

1. Matthew 5:26 : "Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." In this passage, the term "penny" is translated from the Greek word "kodrantes," which is equivalent to the Roman quadrans, the smallest Roman coin. The farthing here symbolizes the smallest debt or obligation, emphasizing the importance of settling disputes and fulfilling obligations completely.

2. Matthew 10:29 : "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father." The "penny" in this verse is again translated from "assarion," a small Roman coin. This passage highlights God's providential care over even the smallest creatures, using the farthing to illustrate the low monetary value of sparrows, yet underscoring their worth in God's eyes.

3. Mark 12:42 : "Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a small fraction of a denarius." The "small copper coins" are often referred to as "mites" or "lepta," the smallest coins in circulation in Judea. The widow's offering, though monetarily insignificant, is portrayed as a profound act of faith and devotion, as she gave all she had to live on.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the Roman economy, the quadrans was the smallest denomination of coinage, often made of bronze or copper. It was worth one-fourth of an "as," another Roman coin. The use of such small denominations in the teachings of Jesus serves to communicate profound spiritual truths through everyday economic realities familiar to His audience.

The farthing, as a representation of minimal monetary value, is used by Jesus to teach about the kingdom of God, where the value of an offering is not measured by its monetary worth but by the heart and sacrifice behind it. This is evident in the account of the widow's mite, where her small contribution is esteemed above larger, more ostentatious gifts because it was given out of her poverty and with complete trust in God.

Theological Implications:

The references to farthings in the New Testament underscore several key theological themes:

· Divine Providence: God's care extends to all creation, even to those things considered insignificant by human standards. The use of the farthing in Jesus' teachings about sparrows illustrates God's intimate involvement in the world.

· True Value and Sacrifice: The widow's offering of two mites challenges believers to consider the nature of true generosity and sacrifice. It is not the amount given that matters, but the spirit in which it is given.

· Justice and Accountability: The mention of paying the last penny in Matthew 5:26 serves as a reminder of the importance of justice and reconciliation, urging believers to resolve conflicts and fulfill their obligations.

In summary, the concept of the farthing in the Bible serves as a powerful tool for teaching about God's kingdom, where the values of the world are often inverted, and the smallest acts of faith and devotion are of great significance.

A Short Method to Know God's Will.
... money, but only valuable pieces: trading would be too troublesome and would devour
too much time, if we were to weigh pence, halfpence, farthings and half ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xiv a short method.htm

"Pan, Pan is Dead"
... We spend our farthings, proceeds of our sales, on her cakes, and she is mollified. ...
Then we wish we had not squandered our farthings on those impossible cakes. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xxiii pan pan is.htm

"Getting Things from God"
... I "GETTING THINGS FROM GOD". "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings,
and not one of them is forgotten before God? . . . Fear ...
/.../goforth/how i know god answers prayer/i getting things from god.htm

On Divine Providence
... cast into hell." He guards them farther against it, by the consideration of an
over-ruling providence: "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 67 on divine providence.htm

Pythagoras' Cosmogony; Similar to that of Empedocles.
... as if one severs into small parts, and divides arithmetically, the myriad into
thousands, and hundreds, and tens; and drachm?? into oboli and small farthings. ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xx pythagoras cosmogony similar to.htm

Wesley Opens a New Church
... a ditch round it, with some face of a fortification; it probably (according to custom)
costs the Government a thousand a year for not three farthings' service! ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesley opens a new church.htm

I Would Now have These Most Religious Protectors and vindicators ...
... of open day. Footnotes: [83] As = 2-1/8 farthings. Sestertium = ?�7, 16s.
3d. [84] Slaves still bearing the marks of the scourge. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter vi i would now.htm

Letter Xliii. To Marcella.
... [906] Nummus. Sc. Sestertius = 4 cents = 2[pence. [907] Obolus = 3-1-2 cents = 1
penny 3[farthings. [908] Psalm 73:20, Vulg. [909] Genesis 1:26. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xliii to marcella.htm

To the Rev. A. Brandram
... days since he bespoke a Testament, but not being able to raise the money he has
not redeemed it until the present moment; he has just brought thirty farthings. ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev a brandram 49.htm

The Truth of God
... better. If a man promises to pay me in farthings, and he pays me in a
better coin, as in gold, he does not break his promise. I ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/10 the truth of god.htm

Farthings (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Farthings (3 Occurrences). Mark 12:42 But there came one
poor widow and dropped in two farthings, equal in value to a halfpenny. (WEY) ...
/f/farthings.htm - 7k

Farthing (5 Occurrences)
... till you have paid the last farthing." (WEY BBE). Luke 21:2 He also saw
a poor widow dropping in two farthings, (Root in WEY BBE). ...
/f/farthing.htm - 9k

Penny (14 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) An English coin, formerly of copper, now of bronze, the twelfth part of
an English shilling in account value, and equal to four farthings, or about two ...
/p/penny.htm - 12k

Fashion (24 Occurrences)

/f/fashion.htm - 21k

Value (138 Occurrences)
... KJV BBE WBS). Mark 12:42 But there came one poor widow and dropped in two
farthings, equal in value to a halfpenny. (WEY). Luke 12 ...
/v/value.htm - 37k

Exchange (41 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows given in
exchange for two farthings? and God has every one of them in mind. (BBE). ...
/e/exchange.htm - 20k

Dropped (52 Occurrences)
... the sea. (BBE). Mark 12:42 But there came one poor widow and dropped in
two farthings, equal in value to a halfpenny. (WEY). Luke ...
/d/dropped.htm - 22k

Dropping (33 Occurrences)
... the wealthy threw in large sums. (WEY). Luke 21:2 He also saw a poor widow
dropping in two farthings, (WEY). Luke 22:44 while He--an ...
/d/dropping.htm - 17k

Sparrow (4 Occurrences)
... Two sparrows were sold for a farthing (Matthew 10:29), and five for two farthings
(Luke 12:6). The Hebrew word thus rendered is tsippor, which properly denotes ...
/s/sparrow.htm - 13k

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