Luke

Luke 20:19–26

¹⁹When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.

²⁰So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor. ²¹“Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ²²Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

²³But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them, ²⁴“Show Me a denarius.^c Whose image and inscription are on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they answered.

²⁵So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

²⁶And they were unable to trap Him in His words before the people. And amazed at His answer, they fell silent.

Footnotes

c 20:24 A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2|MAT 20:2.

Read all of Luke 20

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Luke 20:19

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
the	οἱ	hoi	Article - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3588 the
scribes	γραμματεῖς	grammateis	Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural	G1122 a scribe, town-clerk, man of learning
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
chief priests	ἀρχιερεῖς	archiereis	Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural	G749 high priest, chief priest
realized	ἔγνωσαν	egnōsan	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G1097 I come to know, learn, realize
that	ὅτι	hoti	Conjunction	G3754 that, since, because
had spoken	εἶπεν	eipen	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2036 to speak or say (by word or writing)
this	ταύτην	tautēn	Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3778 this, he, she, it
parable	παραβολὴν	parabolēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3850 a parable, comparison
against	πρὸς	pros	Preposition	G4314 to, towards, with
them	αὐτοὺς	autous	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
they sought	ἐζήτησαν	ezētēsan	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G2212 I seek, search for, desire
to arrest	ἐπιβαλεῖν	epibalein	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G1911 I throw upon, lay, strike upon
Him	αὐτὸν	auton	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
that very	αὐτῇ	autē	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
hour	ὥρᾳ	hōra	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G5610 an hour, season
But	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
they were afraid	ἐφοβήθησαν	ephobēthēsan	Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural	G5399 I fear, am terrified
of the	τὸν	ton	Article - Accusative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
people	λαόν	laon	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G2992 a people, the crowd

Luke 20:20

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So	Καὶ	Kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
they watched	παρατηρήσαντες	paratērēsantes	Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3906 I watch
sent	ἀπέστειλαν	apesteilan	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G649 I send forth, send, send away, dismiss
spies	ἐνκαθέτους	enkathetous	Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural	G1455 a spy
who pretended	ὑποκρινομένους	hypokrinomenous	Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural	G5271 I act the part, pretend
to be	εἶναι	einai	Verb - Present Infinitive Active	G1510 I am, exist
sincere	δικαίους	dikaious	Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural	G1342 just, righteous, impartial
They were hoping	ἵνα	hina	Conjunction	G2443 in order that, so that
to catch	ἐπιλάβωνται	epilabōntai	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Plural	G1949 I seize, take hold of
in His	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
words	λόγου	logou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3056 a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy
in order	ὥστε	hōste	Conjunction	G5620 so that, therefore
to hand Him over	παραδοῦναι	paradounai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G3860 I hand over, deliver, betray
to the	τῇ	tē	Article - Dative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
rule	ἀρχῇ	archē	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G746 ruler, beginning
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
authority	ἐξουσίᾳ	exousia	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G1849 power, authority, weight
of the	τοῦ	tou	Article - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3588 the
governor	ἡγεμόνος	hēgemonos	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2232 a governor

Luke 20:21

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Teacher	Διδάσκαλε	Didaskale	Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular	G1320 a teacher
they inquired	ἐπηρώτησαν	epērōtēsan	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G1905 I interrogate, question, demand of
we know	οἴδαμεν	oidamen	Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural	G1492 I know, remember
that	ὅτι	hoti	Conjunction	G3754 that, since, because
You speak	λέγεις	legeis	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular	G3004 I say, speak
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
teach	διδάσκεις	didaskeis	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular	G1321 I teach
correctly	ὀρθῶς	orthōs	Adverb	G3723 rightly
You show no partiality	οὐ	ou	Adverb	G3756 no, not
but	ἀλλ’	all’	Conjunction	G235 but, except
teach	διδάσκεις	didaskeis	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular	G1321 I teach
the	τὴν	tēn	Article - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
way	ὁδὸν	hodon	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3598 a way, road, journey
of God	Θεοῦ	Theou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
in accordance with	ἐπ’	ep’	Preposition	G1909 on, to, against, on the basis of, at
the truth	ἀληθείας	alētheias	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G225 truth

Luke 20:22

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Is it lawful	ἔξεστιν	exestin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1832 it is permitted, lawful, possible
for us	ἡμᾶς	hēmas	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural	G1473 I
to pay	δοῦναι	dounai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G1325 I offer, give
taxes	φόρον	phoron	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G5411 a tax, tribute
to Caesar	Καίσαρι	Kaisari	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G2541 Caesar
or	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
not	οὔ	ou	Adverb	G3756 no, not

Luke 20:23

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
saw through	Κατανοήσας	Katanoēsas	Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2657 I understand, perceive, consider
their	αὐτῶν	autōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
duplicity	πανουργίαν	panourgian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3834 cunning, craftiness
said	εἶπεν	eipen	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2036 to speak or say (by word or writing)
to	πρὸς	pros	Preposition	G4314 to, towards, with
them	αὐτούς	autous	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same

Luke 20:24

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Show	Δείξατέ	Deixate	Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural	G1166 I point out, show
Me	μοι	moi	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular	G1473 I
a denarius	δηνάριον	dēnarion	Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G1220 a denarius
Whose	τίνος	tinos	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G5101 who, which, what
image	εἰκόνα	eikona	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G1504 an image, likeness, bust
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
inscription	ἐπιγραφήν	epigraphēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G1923 an inscription, title
are on it	ἔχει	echei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2192 I have, hold, possess
Caesar’s	Καίσαρος	Kaisaros	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2541 Caesar
they answered	εἶπαν	eipan	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G2036 to speak or say (by word or writing)

Luke 20:25

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So	Τοίνυν	Toinyn	Conjunction	G5106 indeed now, therefore
told	εἶπεν	eipen	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2036 to speak or say (by word or writing)
them	αὐτούς	autous	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
Give	ἀπόδοτε	apodote	Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural	G591 I give back, return, sell
to Caesar	Καίσαρι	Kaisari	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G2541 Caesar
what	τὰ	ta	Article - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3588 the
Caesar’s	Καίσαρος	Kaisaros	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2541 Caesar
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
to God	Θεῷ	Theō	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
what	τὰ	ta	Article - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3588 the
God’s	Θεοῦ	Theou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god

Luke 20:26

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And	Καὶ	Kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
they were unable	ἴσχυσαν	ischysan	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G2480 I am strong, able
to trap Him in	ἐπιλαβέσθαι	epilabesthai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle	G1949 I seize, take hold of
His	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
words	ῥήματος	rhēmatos	Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular	G4487 a thing spoken
before	ἐναντίον	enantion	Preposition	G1726 before, in the presence of, in the eyes of
the	τοῦ	tou	Article - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3588 the
people	λαοῦ	laou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2992 a people, the crowd
And	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
amazed	θαυμάσαντες	thaumasantes	Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural	G2296 I wonder, admire
at	ἐπὶ	epi	Preposition	G1909 on, to, against, on the basis of, at
His	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
answer	ἀποκρίσει	apokrisei	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G612 an answer, reply
they fell silent	ἐσίγησαν	esigēsan	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G4601 I keep silent