17
Tellεἰπὸνus,ἡμῖνthen,οὖνwhatτίdo youσοιthink?δοκεῖIs it lawfulἔξεστινto payδοῦναιthe taxκῆνσονto Caesar,Καίσαριorἢnot?”οὔ
Matthew 22:17
Study it in the app“Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay the tax to Caesar, or not?””
With the Greek beneath
Matthew 22:17, word by word
- Tellεἰπὸνeipon
say
To express something in words to others.
Where else “eipon” appears- thinkδοκεῖdokei
think
To hold something as true in one's mind, rightly or not.
Where else “dokei” appears- Is it lawfulἔξεστινexestin
it is lawful
It is permitted, it is lawful under the law.
Where else “exestin” appears- to payδοῦναιdounai
pay
To hand over what is owed, or to yield fruit.
Where else “dounai” appears- the taxκῆνσονkēnson
tax
Tax: the head tax paid to Rome.
Where else “kēnson” appears- to CaesarΚαίσαριKaisari
Caesar
Caesar: the title of the Roman emperor.
Where else “Kaisari” appears
Parallel passages
Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.
Taxes to Caesar
See them side by side
Matthew 22:15-22
15Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might trap him in his words. 16And they send to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God in truth, and you do not care about anyone, for you do not look at the face of people. 17Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay the tax to Caesar, or not?” 18But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, “Why are you testing me, hypocrites? 19Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20And he says to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” 21They say to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he says to them, “Give back, then, to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God.” 22And when they heard it, they were amazed; and leaving him, they went away.
13And they send to him some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to trap him in what he said. 14And they came and say to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and you do not care about anyone; for you do not look at the face of people, but in truth you teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay tax to Caesar, or not? Should we pay, or should we not pay?” 15But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius so that I may see it.” 16And they brought one. And he says to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” And they said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17And Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God.” And they were utterly amazed at him.
20And watching him closely, they sent spies who pretended to be righteous, so that they might catch him in a word, so as to hand him over to the rule and the authority of the governor. 21And they asked him, saying, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and do not show partiality, but teach the way of God in truth. 22Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar or not?” 23But perceiving their craftiness, he said to them, 24“Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” And they answered and said, “Caesar’s.” 25And he said to them, “Then give back the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God.” 26And they were not able to catch him in any saying in front of the people; and marveling at his answer, they fell silent.
The context
16And they send to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God in truth, and you do not care about anyone, for you do not look at the face of people.
17 · This verse (above)
18But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, “Why are you testing me, hypocrites?
To study Matthew 22 in a group
1. What it says
Which commandment did Jesus say is the greatest, and which is the second (vv. 37–39)?
2. What it means
Why does Jesus say that all the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments (v. 40)?
3. How I live it
Jesus joined loving God with loving your neighbor (vv. 37–39). What will make your love for someone near you concrete today?