Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” New Living Translation Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” English Standard Version Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Berean Standard Bible So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Berean Literal Bible Therefore tell us, what do You think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" King James Bible Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? New King James Version Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” New American Standard Bible Tell us then, what do You think? Is it permissible to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” NASB 1995 “Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” NASB 1977 “Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” Legacy Standard Bible Therefore, tell us, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a tax to Caesar, or not?” Amplified Bible Tell us then, what do You think? Is it permissible [according to Jewish law and tradition] to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” Christian Standard Bible Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible Tell us, therefore, what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” American Standard Version Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? Contemporary English Version Tell us what you think! Should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?" English Revised Version Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? GOD'S WORD® Translation So tell us what you think. Is it right to pay taxes to the emperor or not?" Good News Translation Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?" International Standard Version So tell us what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Majority Standard Bible So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” NET Bible Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" New Heart English Bible Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" Webster's Bible Translation Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar, or not? Weymouth New Testament Give us your judgement therefore: is it allowable for us to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?" World English Bible Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versiontell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?” Berean Literal Bible Therefore tell us, what do You think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" Young's Literal Translation tell us, therefore, what dost thou think? is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?' Smith's Literal Translation Therefore say to us, What seems to thee Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleTell us therefore what dost thou think, is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Catholic Public Domain Version Therefore, tell us, how does it seem to you? Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar, or not?” New American Bible Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” New Revised Standard Version Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTell us, therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay head-tax to Caesar, or not? Aramaic Bible in Plain English “Tell us therefore, how does it seem to you? Is it lawful to give the head tax to Caesar or not?” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentTell us, therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Godbey New Testament Then tell us, what seems good to thee? is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Haweis New Testament tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to pay tribute to Cæsar, or not? Mace New Testament tell us therefore, what is your opinion? is it lawful to pay tribute to Cesar, or no? Weymouth New Testament Give us your judgement therefore: is it allowable for us to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?" Worrell New Testament tell us, therefore, what thinkest Thou: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?" Worsley New Testament Is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar, or not? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Paying Taxes to Caesar…16They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance. 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?… Cross References Romans 13:1-7 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. / For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. ... Mark 12:14-17 “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?” / But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.” / So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. ... Luke 20:22-25 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” / But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them, / “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. ... 1 Peter 2:13-17 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. / For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. ... Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious. Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. / If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. / But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.” Daniel 6:10-13 Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. / Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. / So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?” The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.” ... Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before Me. Deuteronomy 17:15 you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers. 1 Samuel 8:7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. Jeremiah 27:5-7 By My great power and outstretched arm, I made the earth and the men and beasts on the face of it, and I give it to whom I please. / So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him. / All nations will serve him and his son and grandson, until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will enslave him. Ezra 7:26 If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment. Nehemiah 9:37 Its abundant harvest goes to the kings You have set over us because of our sins. And they rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress. Genesis 41:40-44 You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” / Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.” / Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck. ... Treasury of Scripture Tell us therefore, What think you? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? What. Jeremiah 42:2,3,20 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) … Acts 28:22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. is. Deuteronomy 17:14,15 When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; … Ezra 4:13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. Ezra 7:24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them. Caesar. Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. John 19:12-15 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar… Acts 17:7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. Jump to Previous Allowable Caesar Cesar Judgement Lawful Opinion Pay Poll-Tax Right Tax Taxes Think Thinkest TributeJump to Next Allowable Caesar Cesar Judgement Lawful Opinion Pay Poll-Tax Right Tax Taxes Think Thinkest TributeMatthew 22 1. The parable of the marriage of the king's son.9. The vocation of the Gentiles. 12. The punishment of him who lacked a wedding garment. 15. Tribute ought to be paid to Caesar. 23. Jesus confutes the Sadducees for the resurrection; 34. answers which is the first and great commandment; 41. and puzzles the Pharisees by a question about the Messiah. So tell us what You think This phrase is a direct challenge to Jesus, posed by the Pharisees and Herodians. The Greek word for "tell" (εἰπὲ) is an imperative, indicating a demand for a definitive answer. The phrase "what You think" (τί σοι δοκεῖ) invites Jesus to express His personal judgment, which is a trap. The Pharisees and Herodians were attempting to force Jesus into a political dilemma. Historically, this reflects the tension between Roman authority and Jewish autonomy. The question is not just about taxes but about allegiance and authority, a theme that resonates throughout the Gospels. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Tribute.--The original gives the Latin "census," i.e., the poll-tax of a denarius per head, assessed on the whole population, the publicans being bound to transmit the sum so collected to the Roman treasury. As being a direct personal tax it was looked on by the more zealous Jews as carrying with it a greater humiliation than export or import duties, and was consequently resisted (as by Judas of Galilee and his followers) by many who acquiesced more or less readily in the payment of the customs (Acts 5:37). Verse 17. - Tell us therefore. Because you are so truthful and impartial, give us your unprejudiced opinion about the following much-disputed question. These people assume to be simple-minded inquirers, who came to Jesus to have a perplexity resolved. St. Luke gives their real character, "They sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words." Is it lawful (ἔξεστι) to give tribute (κῆνσον, censure) unto Caesar, or not? The tribute is the poll tax levied by the Romans. Caesar at this time was Tiberius; the title was now applied to the emperors, though its subsequent use was different. By asking concerning the lawfulness of the payment, they do not inquire whether it was expedient or advisable to make it, but whether it was morally and religiously right, consistent with their obligation as subjects of the theocratic kingdom. Some, as Judas of Galilee (Acts 5:37; Josephus, 'Ant.,' 18:1: 1, 6), had resorted to violence in their opposition to the tax; and indeed, the question here put was much debated between opposite parties. The Pharisees were strongly opposed to foreign domination, and thought it derogatory and sacrilegious for the people of Jehovah to pay impost to a foreign and heathen authority. The Herodians, on the other hand, submitted without reserve to the supremacy of Rome, and, for political reasons, silenced all nationalist and ultra-patriotic feeling. By putting this question, the disputants thought to force Christ into a dilemma, where he must answer directly "Yes" or "No," and where, whichever reply he made, he would equally offend one or other of the parties into which the state was divided. If he affirmed the lawfulness of the tax, he would lose his popularity with the mass of the people, as one who disowned the sovereignty of Jehovah, and would give the death blow to his own claims as Messiah-King. If he garb a negative reply, he would be deemed an enemy of Rome and a promoter of seditious views, and be liable to be handed over to the civil power for the punishment of disaffection and treason (see Luke 20:20). They falsely brought this charge against him before Pilate (Luke 23:2).Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Soοὖν (oun) Conjunction Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly. tell εἰπὸν (eipon) Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. us ἡμῖν (hēmin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. what τί (ti) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what. You σοι (soi) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. think. δοκεῖ (dokei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1380: A prolonged form of a primary verb, doko dok'-o of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem. Is it lawful ἔξεστιν (exestin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1832: It is permitted, lawful, possible. to pay δοῦναι (dounai) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give. taxes κῆνσον (kēnson) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 2778: A poll-tax. Of Latin origin; properly, an enrollment, i.e. a tax. to Caesar, Καίσαρι (Kaisari) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 2541: Of Latin origin; Caesar, a title of the Roman emperor. or ἢ (ē) Conjunction Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than. not?” οὔ (ou) Adverb Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. Links Matthew 22:17 NIVMatthew 22:17 NLT Matthew 22:17 ESV Matthew 22:17 NASB Matthew 22:17 KJV Matthew 22:17 BibleApps.com Matthew 22:17 Biblia Paralela Matthew 22:17 Chinese Bible Matthew 22:17 French Bible Matthew 22:17 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Matthew 22:17 Tell us therefore what do you think? (Matt. Mat Mt) |
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