Matthew

Matthew 22:17–21

¹⁷So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

¹⁸But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me? ¹⁹Show Me the coin used for the tax.”

And they brought Him a denarius.^a

²⁰“Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?”

²¹“Caesar’s,” they answered.

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

Footnotes

a 22:19 A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2|MAT 20:2.

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.

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So	οὖν	oun	Conjunction	G3767 therefore, then
tell	εἰπὸν	eipon	Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular	G2036 to speak or say (by word or writing)
us	ἡμῖν	hēmin	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural	G1473 I
what	τί	ti	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular	G5101 who, which, what
You	σοι	soi	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular	G4771 you
think	δοκεῖ	dokei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1380 I think, seem, appear, it seems
Is it lawful	ἔξεστιν	exestin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1832 it is permitted, lawful, possible
to pay	δοῦναι	dounai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G1325 I offer, give
taxes	κῆνσον	kēnson	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G2778 a poll-tax
to Caesar	Καίσαρι	Kaisari	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G2541 Caesar
or	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
not	οὔ	ou	Adverb	G3756 no, not

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
Jesus	Ἰησοῦς	Iēsous	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2424 Jesus
knew	Γνοὺς	Gnous	Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular	G1097 I come to know, learn, realize
their	αὐτῶν	autōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
evil intent	πονηρίαν	ponērian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G4189 wickedness, iniquities
said	εἶπεν	eipen	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2036 to speak or say (by word or writing)
You hypocrites	ὑποκριταί	hypokritai	Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural	G5273 a hypocrite, dissembler
why	Τί	Ti	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G5101 who, which, what
are you testing	πειράζετε	peirazete	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural	G3985 I try, tempt, test
Me	με	me	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular	G1473 I

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Show	ἐπιδείξατέ	epideixate	Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural	G1925 I show, prove
Me	μοι	moi	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular	G1473 I
the	τὸ	to	Article - Accusative Neuter Singular	G3588 the
coin	νόμισμα	nomisma	Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G3546 money, coin
used for	τοῦ	tou	Article - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3588 the
the tax	κήνσου	kēnsou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2778 a poll-tax
And	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
they brought	προσήνεγκαν	prosēnenkan	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G4374 I bring to, offer
Him	αὐτῷ	autō	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
a denarius	δηνάριον	dēnarion	Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G1220 a denarius

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Whose	Τίνος	Tinos	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G5101 who, which, what
image	εἰκὼν	eikōn	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1504 an image, likeness, bust
this	αὕτη	hautē	Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3778 this, he, she, it
He asked	λέγει	legei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G3004 I say, speak
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
whose	ἡ	hē	Article - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
inscription	ἐπιγραφή	epigraphē	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1923 an inscription, title

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Caesar’s	Καίσαρος	Kaisaros	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2541 Caesar
they answered	Λέγουσιν	Legousin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G3004 I say, speak
So	οὖν	oun	Conjunction	G3767 therefore, then
told	λέγει	legei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G3004 I say, speak
them	αὐτοῖς	autois	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 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