Paying the Double Drachma Temple Tax

24 Now when[a] they arrived in Capernaum, the ones who collected the double drachma tax[b] came up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the double drachma tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he[c] came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect tolls or taxes—from their own sons, or from foreigners?” 26 And when he[d] said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 But so that we do not give offense to them, go out to the sea, cast a line with[e] a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And when you[f] open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that and[g] give it[h] to them for me and you.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 17:24 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“arrived”)
  2. Matthew 17:24 This refers to the half-shekel annual tax paid by Jewish males to support the temple; over time the name of the coin commonly used to pay the tax came to be used for the tax itself
  3. Matthew 17:25 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
  4. Matthew 17:26 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“said”) which is understood as temporal
  5. Matthew 17:27 The words “a line with” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  6. Matthew 17:27 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“open”) which is understood as temporal
  7. Matthew 17:27 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“take”) has been translated as a finite verb
  8. Matthew 17:27 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

24 And de when they autos arrived erchomai at eis Capernaum Kapharnaoum, the ho collectors lambanō of the ho temple tax didrachmon came proserchomai to ho Peter Petros and kai said legō, “ Does · ho your hymeis teacher didaskalos not ou pay teleō the ho two-drachma didrachmon tax?” 25  Yes nai,” he answered legō. And kai when he went erchomai into eis the ho house oikia, Jesus Iēsous spoke prophthanō to Peter autos first , · ho saying legō, “ What tis do you sy think dokeō, Simon Simōn? From apo whom tis do · ho earthly kings basileus · ho collect lambanō tolls telos or ē taxes kēnsos from apo · ho their autos sons hyios or ē from apo · ho outsiders allotrios?” 26 And de when he answered legō, “ From apo · ho outsiders allotrios,” Jesus Iēsous said phēmi to him autos, · ho Then ara the ho sons hyios are eimi exempt eleutheros. 27 But lest hina · de we offend skandalizō them autos, go poreuō to eis the sea thalassa, cast ballō in a hook ankistron, and kai take airō the first prōtos fish ichthus that ho comes anabainō up . · kai When you have opened anoigō · ho its autos mouth stoma, you will find heuriskō a four drachma coin statēr; take lambanō it ekeinos and give didōmi it to them autos for anti me egō and kai you sy.”

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