The term "drachma" refers to a unit of currency used in ancient Greece and is mentioned in the context of the New Testament. The drachma was a silver coin, and its value and usage provide insight into the economic and social conditions of the time.

Historical Context

The drachma was a standard currency in the Hellenistic world, widely circulated and recognized for its stability and value. It was equivalent to a Roman denarius, which was a day's wage for a laborer. The use of drachmas in the New Testament period reflects the influence of Greek culture and economy in the regions where the early Christian communities were established.

Biblical References

The drachma is specifically mentioned in the Parable of the Lost Coin, found in Luke 15:8-10. In this parable, Jesus illustrates the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents by comparing it to a woman who, having lost one of her ten silver coins (drachmas), lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it. Upon finding the coin, she calls her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her. The Berean Standard Bible renders this passage as follows:

"Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:8-10)

This parable highlights the value of each individual soul to God, using the drachma as a symbol of something precious and worth diligent effort to recover.

Cultural and Economic Significance

The drachma's mention in the New Testament underscores the economic realities of the time. It was a significant amount of money for ordinary people, and losing a drachma would have been a considerable loss. The parable's setting in a domestic sphere, with the woman searching her home, reflects the everyday life of first-century Judea and the importance of household management.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the use of the drachma in Jesus' teaching serves to communicate the immense value God places on each person. The parable emphasizes God's relentless pursuit of the lost and the celebration that ensues when a sinner repents and returns to Him. The drachma, therefore, becomes a metaphor for the worth of a human soul and the joy of redemption.

In summary, the drachma in the biblical narrative is more than just a coin; it is a powerful symbol of value, diligence, and divine joy. Its mention in the New Testament provides a window into the cultural and economic backdrop of the early Christian era, while also conveying profound spiritual truths about God's love and the kingdom of heaven.(n.) Plural of Drachma.1406. drachme -- as much as one can hold in the hand, a drachma (a ...
... From drassomai; a drachma or (silver) coin (as handled) -- piece (of silver). see
GREEK drassomai. (drachmas) -- 1 Occurrence. (drachmen) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1406.htm - 6k1871. darkemon -- (a unit of value), perhaps a drachma
... (a unit of value), perhaps a drachma. Transliteration: darkemon or adarkon
Phonetic Spelling: (dar-kem-one') Short Definition: drachmas. ...
/hebrew/1871.htm - 6k

How Ptolemy Philadelphus Procured the Laws of the Jews to be ...
... this answer he was much pleased; and gave order, that when they paid the soldiers
their wages, they should lay down [a hundred and] twenty drachmas [4] for ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how ptolemy philadelphus.htm

Psalm CXXXVIII.
... They came to Him, who exacted tribute: [5715] they used to demand as tribute a
didrachma, that is, two drachmas for one man; they came to the Lord to pay ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxxviii.htm

Aristeas Philokratei
... Diachutheis de eu mala tois opsoniois eipe prostheinai, 20 25 kai somatos
hekastou komizesthai drachmas eikosi, kai peri touton. ...
/.../aristeas philokratei.htm

Certain General Principles of Parabolic Interpretation These ...
... Why "an hundred sheep?" and why, to be sure, "ten drachmas?" And what is that "besom?"
Necessary it was that He who was desiring to express the extreme ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter ix certain general principles of.htm

And There came unto Him Publicans and Sinners to Hear his Word. .. ...
... [9] [1817] And what woman having ten drachmas would lose one of them, and not light
a [10] lamp, and sweep the house, and seek it with care till she found it ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xxvi and there came.htm

These Things Being Said by God, While the Trumpets Uttered their ...
... accuser shall demand. If a bull kill a servant, money to the amount of
thirty double-drachmas shall be paid to his master. If any ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xviii these things being.htm

Wherefore, Children, Let us not Faint nor Deem that the Time is ...
... For as if a man should despise a copper drachma to gain a hundred drachmas of gold;
so if a man were lord of all the earth and were to renounce it, that which ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/life of antony section 17.htm

Departure from Aradus.
... leave home for three months for the sake of eternal life?" When he had said these
things, and more to the same purpose, I presented a thousand drachmas to the ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xxivdeparture from aradus.htm

All Well Arranged.
... Then, after the address of Peter, I presented the woman who had been healed, in
the presence of all the multitude, with a thousand drachmas, for her support ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xxiv all well arranged.htm

This Reasoning and Intelligent Creature, Man, at once the Work and ...
... The thought, there, is that the widowed soul reaps no benefit from the other virtues
(called drachmas in the Parable) being all of them found safe, if that one ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter xii this reasoning and.htm

Drachmas (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Drachma. Multi-Version Concordance
Drachmas (6 Occurrences). Luke 15:8 Or, what woman having ...
/d/drachmas.htm - 8k

Stater (1 Occurrence)
... It was equal to two didrachmas ("tribute money, 17:24), or four drachmas, and to
about 2s. 6d. of our money. (see SHEKEL.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/s/stater.htm - 8k

Drachma (2 Occurrences)

/d/drachma.htm - 8k

Taxes (19 Occurrences)
... Luke 20:22; 23:2); the poll-tax (kensos, "tribute, " Matthew 17:25; 22:17; Mark
12:14); and the temple-tax ("tribute money" = two drachmas = half shekel ...
/t/taxes.htm - 14k

Didrachma (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DIDRACHMA. di-drak'-ma: Two drachmas. See DRACHMA,
DRAM. Multi-Version Concordance Didrachma (1 Occurrence). ...
/d/didrachma.htm - 7k

Drachms (1 Occurrence)

/d/drachms.htm - 6k

Mina (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) An ancient weight or denomination of money, of varying value. The Attic
mina was valued at a hundred drachmas. 2. (n.) See Myna. Int. ...
/m/mina.htm - 9k

Pound (13 Occurrences)
... (2.) A sum of money; the Gr. mna or mina (Luke 19:13, 16, 18, 20, 24, 25). It was
equal to 100 drachmas, and was of the value of about 3 dollars, 6s. 8d. ...
/p/pound.htm - 13k

Charm (5 Occurrences)
... in the above passage must have been inscribed on some very valuable material, gold
perhaps, or they could not have cost 2,000 British pounds (= 50,000 drachmas...
/c/charm.htm - 14k

Shekel (37 Occurrences)
... the public sacrifices were bought (Exodus 30:13; 2 Chronicles 24:6), consisted of
one common shekel, or a sanctuary half-shekel, equal to two Attic drachmas. ...
/s/shekel.htm - 23k

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