Matthew 22:17

Authorized King James Version (1611)

Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Εἰπὲ οὖν ἡμῖν, Τί σοι δοκεῖ; Ἔξεστιν δοῦναι κῆνσον Καίσαρι, ἢ οὔ;

Transliteration

Eipe therefore to us, What to you dokei? Exestin dounai kēnson to Kaisari, or not?

Grammar Details

• *Eipe*: aorist active imperative, 2nd person singular - tell/say
• *dokei*: present active indicative, 3rd person singular - it seems/appears
• *Exestin*: present active indicative, 3rd person singular - it is lawful/permitted
• *dounai*: aorist active infinitive - to give
• *kēnson*: accusative, masculine, singular - tax/tribute
• *Kaisari*: dative, masculine, singular - to Caesar

Word Meanings

• *Eipe*: tell/say/speak
• *dokei*: it seems/appears/thinks
• *Exestin*: it is lawful/permitted/allowed
• *dounai*: to give/grant/pay
• *kēnson*: tax/tribute/poll tax
• *Kaisari*: to Caesar/to the emperor

Referenced Verses

• Luke 2:1 : 1 ¶ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
• Matt 17:25 : 25 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?›
• Deut 17:14-15 : 14 ¶ When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that [are] about me; 15 Thou shalt in any wise set [him] king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: [one] from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which [is] not thy brother.
• Ezra 4:13 : 13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up [again, then] will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and [so] thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
• Ezra 7:24 : 24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
• Neh 5:4 : 4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, [and that upon] our lands and vineyards.
• Neh 9:37 : 37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we [are] in great distress.
• Jer 42:2-3 : 2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, [even] for all this remnant; (for we are left [but] a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) 3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.
• Jer 42:20 : 20 For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do [it].
• Luke 3:1 : 1 ¶ Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
• John 19:12-15 : 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. 13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! 15 But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
• Acts 5:37 : 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, [even] as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
• Acts 17:7 : 7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, [one] Jesus.
• Acts 25:8 : 8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.
• Acts 28:22 : 22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
• Rom 13:6-7 : 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 ¶ Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.