Lexical Summary dénarion: Denarius Original Word: δηνάριον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance denarius, pence, penny. Of Latin origin; a denarius (or ten asses) -- pence, penny(-worth). HELPS Word-studies 1220 dēnárion – a denarius; "a small Roman silver coin, weighing in Nero's time, 53 grams. Its value and purchasing power varied from time to time" (Souter). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Latin origin Definition denarius (a Rom. coin) NASB Translation denarii (7), denarius (9). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1220: δηνάριονδηνάριον, δηναρίου, τό (Plutarch, Epictetus, others), a Latin word, a denarius, a silver coin, originally consisting of ten (whence its name), afterward (from Topical Lexicon Historical Setting The δηνάριον (denarius) was the standard Roman silver coin from the late Republic through the New Testament era. Struck at roughly 3.9 grams of near-pure silver and stamped with the emperor’s portrait and divine titles, it embodied both economic value and political propaganda. Because Rome governed Judea and Galilee in the first century, the denarius circulated freely among Jews and Gentiles alike, becoming the common medium for taxation, wages, and commerce mentioned in the Gospels and Acts. Typical Monetary Value A single denarius represented the customary wage for one day of unskilled labor (Matthew 20:2). On that scale a hundred denarii equaled about four months of work, and three hundred denarii approximated a laborer’s annual net pay after Sabbaths and festivals. This conversion supplies the backdrop for every New Testament occurrence, sharpening the moral and theological force of each passage. Key New Testament Occurrences and Their Lessons 1. Matthew 20:1-16 – The Vineyard Workers The landowner “agreed to pay them a denarius for the day” (Matthew 20:2). When those hired last received the same wage, the parable displayed God’s sovereign generosity. The coin underscores grace over strict merit: equal pay for unequal hours highlights the divine right to dispense salvation as a gift rather than a paycheck. 2. Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26 – Caesar’s Tribute “‘Show Me the coin used for the tax.’... They brought Him a denarius” (Matthew 22:19). The emperor’s image on the coin allowed Jesus to separate civic duty from ultimate allegiance: “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” The denarius becomes an object lesson in dual citizenship—temporal submission without idolatry. 3. Luke 7:41-42 – The Creditor’s Two Debtors “‘One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.’” Cancelling both debts illustrates proportionally extravagant forgiveness. The monetary figures make clear that gratitude, not arithmetic, measures love for the Savior. 4. Luke 10:29-37 – The Good Samaritan “‘He took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper’” (Luke 10:35). Two days’ wages cover lodging and care, displaying practical compassion that involves personal cost. 5. Mark 6:37; John 6:7 – Feeding the Five Thousand Philip protests, “‘Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a little’” (John 6:7). Human resources are inadequate; the Lord multiplies them. The sizable yet insufficient sum magnifies Christ’s creative power. 6. Mark 14:3-9; John 12:3-8 – The Anointing at Bethany The perfume was worth “over three hundred denarii” (Mark 14:5). The coin value reveals Mary’s lavish devotion, exposing Judas’s covetousness and confirming that worship outweighs monetary calculations. 7. Matthew 18:23-35 – The Unforgiving Servant The servant who had been forgiven ten thousand talents throttles a peer over “a hundred denarii” (Matthew 18:28). The contrast between an unpayable national debt and a manageable personal loan exposes hypocrisy and mandates mercy. 8. Revelation 6:6 – The Black Horse of Famine “‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius’” (Revelation 6:6). When daily wages purchase only a day’s bread, global scarcity and divine judgment are in view. The familiar coin quantifies end-time hardship. Theological Themes • Grace versus Merit – Repeatedly the denarius frames parables that overturn human calculations of worth and reward. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Compensation Ethics – Employers and church leaders should honor fair wages, echoing the vineyard owner’s prompt payment. Archaeological Corroboration First-century denarii depicting Tiberius (“tribute penny”) and later emperors corroborate Gospel narratives. Finds in Judean contexts confirm their circulation and reinforce Scripture’s historical reliability. Summary The δηνάριον serves as far more than small change in the New Testament. Whether standing for a day’s labor, symbolizing state authority, or measuring lavish love, the coin consistently points to deeper realities: God’s unrivaled generosity, the call to wholehearted devotion, the stewardship of earthly resources, and the certainty of coming judgment. Forms and Transliterations δηναρια δηνάρια δηναριον δηνάριον δηναριου δηναρίου δηναριων δηναρίων denaria denária dēnaria dēnária denarion denaríon denárion dēnarion dēnariōn dēnaríōn dēnárion denariou denaríou dēnariou dēnaríouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 18:28 N-ANPGRK: αὐτῷ ἑκατὸν δηνάρια καὶ κρατήσας NAS: him a hundred denarii; and he seized KJV: an hundred pence: and INT: him a hundred denarii and having seized Matthew 20:2 N-GNS Matthew 20:9 N-ANS Matthew 20:10 N-ANS Matthew 20:13 N-GNS Matthew 22:19 N-ANS Mark 6:37 N-GNP Mark 12:15 N-ANS Mark 14:5 N-GNP Luke 7:41 N-ANP Luke 10:35 N-ANP Luke 20:24 N-ANS John 6:7 N-GNP John 12:5 N-GNP Revelation 6:6 N-GNS Revelation 6:6 N-GNS Strong's Greek 1220 |
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