Matthew 17:25

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

'Yes, He does,' Peter replied. When Peter entered the house, Jesus was the first to speak. 'What do you think, Simon?' He asked. 'From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Λέγει, Ναί. Καὶ ὅτε εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, προέφθασεν αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, λέγων, Τί σοι δοκεῖ, Σίμων; οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς ἀπὸ τίνων λαμβάνουσιν τέλη ἢ κῆνσον; ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτῶ,ν ἢ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων;

Transliteration

He legei, Yes. And when eisēlthen into the oikian, proephthasen him the Iēsous, legōn, What to you dokei, Simōn? the basileis of the gēs apo whom lambanousin telē or kēnson? apo the huiōn of them, or apo the allotriōn?

Grammar Details

• *legei*: present, active, indicative, 3rd singular - he says
• *eisēlthen*: aorist, active, indicative, 3rd singular - he entered
• *oikian*: accusative, feminine, singular - house
• *proephthasen*: aorist, active, indicative, 3rd singular - anticipated/spoke first to
• *Iēsous*: nominative, masculine, singular - Jesus
• *legōn*: present, active, participle, nominative, masculine, singular - saying
• *dokei*: present, active, indicative, 3rd singular - seems/thinks
• *Simōn*: vocative, masculine, singular - Simon
• *basileis*: nominative, masculine, plural - kings
• *gēs*: genitive, feminine, singular - earth/land
• *apo*: preposition with genitive - from
• *lambanousin*: present, active, indicative, 3rd plural - they collect/receive
• *telē*: accusative, neuter, plural - custom duties/taxes
• *kēnson*: accusative, masculine, singular - poll tax
• *huiōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - sons
• *allotriōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - strangers/foreigners

Word Meanings

• *proephthasen*: anticipated/spoke first to/preceded
• *dokei*: seems/thinks/appears
• *basileis*: kings/rulers/monarchs
• *gēs*: earth/land/world
• *lambanousin*: they collect/receive/take
• *telē*: custom duties/taxes/tolls
• *kēnson*: poll tax/tribute (Roman tax)
• *huiōn*: sons/children/descendants
• *allotriōn*: strangers/foreigners/others

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  He said, Yes. And when he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or tribute? from their own children, or from strangers?

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  He saith, Yea. And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers?

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  He sayd: ye. And when he was come into the house Iesus spake fyrst to him saying What thinkest thou Simon? of whome do ye kynges of the erth take tribute or poll money? of their chyldren or of straungers?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  He sayed: yee. And when he was come home, Iesus preuented him, and sayde: What thinkest thou Symon? Of whom do the kynges of the earth take toll or tribute? Of their children, or of straungers?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  He sayd, Yes; when he was come into the house, Iesus preuented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whome doe the Kings of the earth take tribute, or polle money? of their children, or of strangers?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  He sayth: yes. And when he was come into the house, Iesus preuented hym, saying: What thynkest thou Simon? of whom do the kynges of the earth take tribute or toule? of the chyldren, or of straungers?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, ‹What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He said, "Yes." When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?"

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And when he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, `What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth -- from whom do they receive custom or poll-tax? from their sons or from the strangers?'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  He saith, Yea. And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  He saith, Yea. And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  He says, Yes. And when he came into the house, Jesus said to him, What is your opinion, Simon? from whom do the kings of the earth get payment or tax? from their sons or from other people?

• World English Bible (2000)

  He said, "Yes." When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?"

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  He said,“Yes.” When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first,“What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes– from their sons or from foreigners?”

Referenced Verses

• Matt 22:17 : 17 Tell us, then, what you think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?
• Matt 22:19 : 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.' So they brought him a denarius.
• Matt 22:21 : 21 They said, 'Caesar’s.' Then he said to them, 'Therefore, give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.'
• Rom 13:6-7 : 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are servants of God, continually attending to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs are due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.
• 1 Sam 17:25 : 25 The Israelites said, 'Have you seen this man who comes out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him; he will also give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his family from taxes in Israel.'
• Matt 3:15 : 15 Jesus answered him, 'Allow it for now, because this is the proper way for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then John allowed Him.