Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, the term "piece of money" refers to various forms of currency used in transactions and trade. The Bible, particularly in the New Testament, mentions different types of coins and monetary units that were in circulation during the time of Jesus and the early church. These pieces of money were integral to daily life, commerce, and even religious practices.Old Testament References In the Old Testament, the term "piece of money" is often translated from the Hebrew word "kesitah," which is believed to be a unit of weight or a specific type of coin. For example, in Genesis 33:19, Jacob purchases a plot of land from the sons of Hamor for "a hundred pieces of money." The exact value and form of these pieces are not clearly defined, but they were significant enough to be used in land transactions. New Testament References The New Testament provides more specific references to coins and monetary units. One of the most well-known instances is the tribute money episode in Matthew 22:19-21 : "Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. “Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Here, the "denarius" is a Roman coin, commonly used in the region, bearing the image of the emperor. Another significant mention is the "two small coins" or "mites" given by the poor widow in Mark 12:42 : "Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius." This act of giving, despite her poverty, is highlighted by Jesus as an example of true generosity and faith. Cultural and Religious Context Coins in the biblical era were not only used for economic transactions but also held cultural and religious significance. The image and inscription on coins often represented the ruling authority, as seen in the tribute money incident. This association with political power made coins a point of contention in discussions about loyalty and religious duty. In the context of temple practices, money changers played a role in converting Roman and other foreign currencies into the Tyrian shekel, which was required for the temple tax. This practice is mentioned in the account of Jesus cleansing the temple in John 2:14-16 : "In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and money changers seated at their tables. So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle. He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables." Symbolism and Lessons The use of money in the Bible often serves as a backdrop for teaching spiritual truths. Jesus frequently used monetary references in His parables and teachings to illustrate principles of stewardship, generosity, and the dangers of materialism. For instance, the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 uses money as a metaphor for the gifts and responsibilities entrusted to believers. Overall, the "piece of money" in biblical texts is more than a mere economic tool; it is a symbol of the intersection between the material and spiritual realms, challenging believers to consider their priorities and allegiances in light of God's kingdom. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Piece of MoneyPIECE OF MONEY Two words are thus rendered in the King James Version (qesiTah; stater). the Revised Version (British and American) gives only the first this rendering (Job 42:11). It is supposed to be from Arabic qassaT, "to divide equally by weight," and hence, something weighed; a piece of silver weighed for money, and perhaps stamped with its weight. The stater is the well-known Greek weight and coin (Matthew 17:27 the King James Version, margin, "stater," the Revised Version (British and American) "shekel"). In gold it was equal to about a guinea or five dollars, but in silver only to about 66 cents (in 1915). Greek 3016. leptos -- peeled, fine, thin, small, light ... thin, small, light. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: leptos Phonetic Spelling: (lep-ton') Short Definition: a small piece of money Definition: a ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3016.htm - 6k 694. argurion -- silvery, by ext. a piece of silver 4715. stater -- a stater (a coin) Strong's Hebrew 7192. qesitah -- (unit of value), perhaps piece... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition (unit of value), perhaps piece NASB Word Usage piece of money (1), pieces of money (2). piece of money silver. ... /hebrew/7192.htm - 6k 3603. kikkar -- a round, a round district, a round loaf, a round ... Library The Lost Piece of Money. Peter and the Tribute-Money. The Lost Silver Piece The Humanity of God Of those Things which a Man of God Spake by the Spirit to Eli the ... Restoration of the Town of Medzpine; Name of Sanadroug; his Death. Christ Teaching by Miracles Now, as to the Question which You Raise, when it was that I Began ... Of his Paying the Tribute Money Out of the Mouth of the Fish, an ... The Parable of the Householder. A Sermon, by Bishop Latimer. Resources What is the Codex Gigas? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the significance of the horns of the altar (Amos 3:14)? | GotQuestions.org What was the “spirit of prostitution” in Hosea 4:12? | GotQuestions.org Piece: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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