Lexical Summary kermatistés: Money changer Original Word: κερματιστής Strong's Exhaustive Concordance changer of money. From a derivative of kerma; a handler of coins, i.e. Money-broker -- changer of money. see GREEK kerma NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom a derivation of kerma Definition a moneychanger NASB Translation money changers (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2773: κερματιστήςκερματιστής, κερματιστου ὁ (κερματίζω) (to cut into 'small pieces, to make small change)), a money-changer; money-broker: John 2:14. In the court of the Gentiles ((see ἱερόν, and Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, i. 244f)) in the temple at Jerusalem were the seats of those who sold such animals for sacrifice as had been selected, examined, and approved, together with incense, oil, and other things needed in making offerings and in worship; and the magnitude of this traffic had introduced the banker's or broker's business; (cf. BB. DD. under the word Topical Lexicon Term and Setting Strong’s Greek 2773 designates the “money changers” Jesus encountered in the Jerusalem temple complex (John 2:14). These traders sat at portable tables in the Court of the Gentiles, exchanging foreign coinage for the half-shekel temple tax and selling sacrificial animals. Their presence embodies the junction of commerce and worship that provoked the Lord’s righteous zeal. Historical Background: Money Changing in Second Temple Judaism 1. Currency Requirements Rabbinic sources speak of an agio (kollybos) added to each exchange. While modest in principle, the sheer number of Passover pilgrims (Josephus estimates the population in the hundreds of thousands) turned the practice into a lucrative business. The Court of the Gentiles, the only place non-Jews could pray, was transformed into a busy market. Oxen lowed, doves fluttered, and coins clattered—hardly an atmosphere for reverential worship (Isaiah 56:7). Function within Temple Worship Money changers served a legitimate logistical function: enabling obedient Israelites to offer the required tribute and procure unblemished animals. Yet the mixture of devotion and profiteering blurred the line between service and exploitation. The prophets long before had warned against commercialising sacred space (Micah 3:11; Zechariah 14:21). Jesus’ Confrontation in John 2:14 John depicts the incident early in his Gospel, underscoring Jesus’ messianic authority from the outset. “He found in the temple courts those selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables” (John 2:14). The deliberate mention of the seated changers highlights their established, institutional character. By overturning their tables, Jesus indicts a system that had lost sight of its God-ward purpose. Synoptic parallels (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46) use a different Greek noun for “money changer,” but the shared imagery reveals a consistent critique. Jesus’ citation of Jeremiah 7:11 (“den of robbers”) and Isaiah 56:7 (“house of prayer”) binds His action to prophetic tradition and underscores the moral gravity of the moment. Theological Implications 1. Holiness of Worship The episode asserts that external ritual divorced from inner reverence is unacceptable to God (Psalm 51:17; Malachi 3:1-3). Driving out the changers prefigures Christ’s priestly role and foreshadows His once-for-all atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11-14). The cleansing anticipates the replacement of the earthly temple by the risen body of Christ (John 2:19-22), pointing toward a worldwide, Spirit-filled worship (John 4:23-24). Lessons for Christian Ministry • Guarding Motives: Ministry activity can drift from service to self-interest; Jesus’ example calls leaders to continual self-examination (1 Peter 5:2-3). Related Biblical Themes Greed (Luke 12:15), purity of worship (Hebrews 12:28), prophetic protest (Amos 5:21-24), and eschatological cleansing (Revelation 21:27) all converge around the lone New Testament occurrence of κερματιστής, showing how a single word illuminates sweeping biblical truths. Church History and Application From early Church canons that forbade simony to modern debates on merchandising within churches, the figure of the money changer remains a cautionary symbol. Reformers like Martin Luther echoed Jesus’ rebuke when confronting indulgence markets. Contemporary assemblies likewise face the challenge of facilitating necessary finances without eclipsing the gospel’s freely offered salvation. See Also Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15; Luke 19:45; Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11; Zechariah 14:21. Forms and Transliterations κερματιστας κερματιστάς κερματιστὰς kermatistas kermatistàsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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