δίδραχμος (didrachmos)
didrachmos
two-drachma
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun didrachmos refers to a silver coin worth two drachmas, essentially a double drachma. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Matthew 17:24, where it designates the specific amount collected for the Temple tax. This sum was nearly equivalent to the Jewish half-shekel, serving as the standard contribution required from adult males for the maintenance of the sanctuary.
Its etymology is straightforward, combining a prefix meaning "two" with the word for drachma, the common Greek silver unit. The sources note that in the Septuagint, this term often translates Hebrew words for shekels or money, linking it directly to Old Testament financial practices. By using this specific denomination, the text highlights the tangible cost of religious obligation and the historical continuity between Jewish temple worship and the early Christian context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word didrachmos refers to a two-drachma silver coin, which served as the standard Temple tax for Jewish men in the first century. In Matthew 17:24, collectors approach Peter in Capernaum to ask if Jesus pays this fee. This specific currency highlights the tangible reality of religious obligation and the historical continuity between Old Testament worship practices and the early Christian community.
Understanding this coin helps us see how Jesus engaged with the world around Him. By acknowledging the tax, He demonstrated respect for established customs while simultaneously revealing His unique identity as the Son of God. This moment invites us to consider how our own faith interacts with societal structures and personal responsibilities.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- didrachmas?1×
- didrachmas1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δίδραχμα;1×
- δίδραχμα1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 17:24
When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?”
This verse records the specific moment when Temple tax collectors question Peter about Jesus, grounding the abstract concept of didrachmos in a concrete historical interaction.