στατήρ (statēr)
statēr
coin
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun statēr refers to a specific silver coin used in the first century, valued as equivalent to four drachmas or one Jewish shekel. In the New Testament, this term appears only twice, both within the Gospel of Matthew. It serves as the precise currency for two distinct transactions: the payment made by Judas for betraying Jesus, and the coin Peter retrieves from a fish’s mouth to pay the temple tax.
This word highlights the practical intersection of daily life and theological teaching. When Jesus instructs Peter to use the stater found in the fish to settle the tax debt, He uses a common commercial object to illustrate divine provision. The coin represents a standard weight-based currency, grounding the narrative in the economic reality of the time while pointing to a miracle that bypasses ordinary means.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word statēr refers to a silver coin worth four drachmas, serving as the standard payment for the temple tax in first-century Judea. Its appearance in Scripture is rare, occurring only twice in the Gospel of Matthew. In both instances, the coin is tied to moments where Jesus demonstrates His authority over material circumstances while simultaneously respecting social obligations.
In Matthew 17, Jesus instructs Peter to find a statēr inside a fish’s mouth to pay the tax for both of them. This miracle shows that God provides in unexpected ways, meeting practical needs without compromising spiritual freedom. The coin reminds us that divine provision often arrives when we look beyond ordinary means, trusting that our Creator cares about even the smallest details of daily life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a four-drachma coin.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- στατῆρα.1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 17:27
But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you.”
This verse uniquely shows Jesus using a miraculous provision to pay the temple tax, highlighting both His authority over nature and His willingness to avoid causing offense.