In the Bible, “didrachma” means “two drachmas.” the word drachma “is used in the Septuagint as the rendering of beqa`, ‘half-shekel,’ which must refer to the light standard for the shekel, as its weight was about 62 grains. In the New Testament, the word occurs only in Luke 15:8-9, where it is rendered “a piece of silver” (m “drachma”). It was commonly taken as equivalent to the Roman denarius, though not strictly so.” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
Also see what does the Greek word tetelestai mean in the Bible?
Bible verses that use the word didrachma
Some Bible translations use the terms didrachma or drachma, while others use a general term.
| Translation | Matthew 17:24 |
|---|---|
| NIV | After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” |
| NLT | On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?” |
| ESV | When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” |
| BSB* | After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?” |
| KJV | And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? |
| NKJV | When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?” |
| NASB | When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?” |
| DRS** | And when they were come to Capharnaum, they that received the didrachmas, came to Peter and said to him: Doth not your master pay the didrachmas? |
| YLT*** | And they having come to Capernaum, those receiving the didrachmas came near to Peter, and said, ‘Your teacher — doth he not pay the didrachms?’ He saith, ‘Yes.’ |
*Berean Study Bible
**Douay-Rheims Bible
***Young’s Literal Translation
Drachma: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary
- (n.) A silver coin among the ancient Greeks, having a different value in different States and at different periods. The average value of the Attic drachma is computed to have been about 19 cents.
- (n.) A gold and silver coin of modern Greece worth 19.3 cents.
- (n.) Among the ancient Greeks, a weight of about 66.5 grains; among the modern Greeks, a weight equal to a gram.
