κέρμα (kerma)
kerma
coin
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kerma refers to a small piece or fragment, specifically denoting a small coin or change in the New Testament. Its root meaning involves cutting or dividing, which aligns with its use for currency that has been broken into smaller units for everyday transactions.
Although the word appears only once in Scripture, it carries significant narrative weight in John 2:15. There, Jesus drives out those selling sheep and doves, overturning the tables of money changers who dealt in these small coins. This single usage highlights kerma as the practical medium of temple commerce, contrasting sharply with the spiritual purity Jesus sought to restore.
Translators typically render kerma as "money" or "change," capturing its function as low-value currency rather than large sums. By focusing on this specific term, the text emphasizes the triviality of the commercial activity within the sacred space, underscoring the disruption caused by turning a house of prayer into a marketplace.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kerma describes a small coin or change, the kind used for everyday purchases rather than large investments. In John 2:15, Jesus overturns the tables of those exchanging these coins in the temple. This act was not just about anger but about restoring the sacred nature of God's house. It reminds us that even small, seemingly harmless compromises can clutter our spiritual focus.
When we consider how easily daily routines can distract us from worship, this image challenges us to examine what occupies our hearts. Are we allowing minor concerns or material pursuits to take precedence over our relationship with God? The text invites reflection on where we place our true value and trust.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- coin,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κέρμα,1×
Key Verses
-
John 2:15
He made a whip of cords and drove all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables.
This verse uniquely uses kerma to describe the specific currency of the money changers, highlighting Jesus' direct confrontation with the commercialization of worship.