Devine Scripture

Luke 20:24

What does Luke 20:24 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 20:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 20:24 means

To answer their trap question about tribute to Caesar, Jesus asked them for a denarius, a common Roman coin used to pay the poll tax. He then asked, "Whose image and superscription hath it?" The spies readily answered, "Cæsar’s." This simple action and question redirected the focus, linking the question of tribute directly to the empirical reality of Roman authority. The coin itself, bearing Caesar's likeness and title, served as a tangible symbol of their submission to Roman rule. This visual aid laid the groundwork for Jesus' profound and unassailable answer.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription hath it? And they said, Cæsar’s.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cesar’s.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription hath it? And they said, Cæsar’s.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Let me see a penny. Whose image and name are on it? And they said, Caesar's.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

shew me a denary; of whom hath it an image and superscription?' and they answering said, `Of Caesar:'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Shew me a penny. Whose image and inscription hath it? They answering, said to him: Caesar's.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Shew me a denarius. Whose image and superscription has it? And answering they said, Caesar's.

Context

This verse describes Jesus' immediate and practical counter-move to the spies' loaded question about taxes. By asking for a specific coin and inquiring about its inscription, Jesus shifts the focus from an abstract theological or political debate to a tangible object, which will form the basis of His profound answer. This clever diversion immediately precedes His famous declaration, disarming His adversaries.

v.23But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them,

v.24This passage

v.25And he said unto them, Then render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 20:2

    And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

  • Acts 26:32

    And Agrippa said unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.

  • Luke 3:1

    Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituræa and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

  • Luke 20:22

    Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not?

  • Philippians 4:22

    All the saints salute you, especially they that are of Cæsar’s household.

  • Luke 23:2

    And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king.

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