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Matthew 22:19

Shew me the tribute money.

The Pharisees ask whether it is lawful to pay tribute to Caesar.

Spoken to:
The Pharisees
KJV issues:
1
KJV

Matthew 22:19 Shew me the tribute money.

NIV

Matthew 22:19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.”

What His Listeners Heard

Show me the currency of the tax.

Greek

Greek Word Order

 

ἐπιδείξατέ μοι τὸ  νόμισμα      τοῦ κήνσου.
Show        me  the currency of the  tax.

Who knew that the catchphrase, "Show me the money!" was a Bible quote?

Lost in Translation

The meaning of "money" is the same as "custom" and "full legal measures." Jesus is conflating the use of money with the existense of earthly laws and customs. Even though the parallel to this verse is the last part of Mark 12:15, every word is different. This is very unusual in Biblical translation. This double meaning lost in Mark's version.

 

 

Vocabulary (Greek word by word)

ἐπιδείξατέ [2 verses](verb 2nd pl aor imperat act) "Shew" is epideiknymi, which means to "exhibit as a specimen," "parade" it before, "show off" or "display" for oneself or what is one's own, "give a specimen of," "show" in the sense of "point out," and "show" in the sense of "prove."

μοι (1st sg masc dat) "Me" is from emoi, which is 1st person,singular dative pronoun meaning "me' as the indirect object of a verb

τὸ (article sg neut dat)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

νόμισμα (noun sg neut acc) "Money" is from nomisma, which means "anything sanctioned by current or established usage," "custom," "current coin," "pieces of money," "coins," and "full legal measure."

τοῦ (article sg neut gen)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

κήνσου. (noun sg masc gen) "Tribute" is from kênsos, which means "the tax" or "census."

KJV — word by word

Shew  - "Show" is an unusual word for Jesus to use,  meaning to "display" or "exhibit."

me -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

tribute  - "Tribute" is from a word that means "the tax" or "census."

missing "the"  --- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

money.  - "Money" is from a word that means "anything sanctioned by current custom or usage," "institution," "coin," "money," and "full legal measure." The closest English equivalent is "currency."

NIV — word by word

Show  - "Show" is an unusual word for Jesus to use,  meaning to "display" or "exhibit."

me -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

coin .  - "Coin" is from a word that means "anything sanctioned by current custom or usage," "institution," "coin," "money," and "full legal measure." The closest English equivalent is "currency."

used for paying  - -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "used for paying" in the Greek source.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

tax- "Tax" is from a word that means "the tax" or "census."

 

Related Verses

Mar 12:15 Why tempt you me?