Devine Scripture

Matthew 17:24

What does Matthew 17:24 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 17:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 17:24 means

Upon their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax (the half-shekel) approached Peter, asking if his teacher pays this customary levy. This question highlights a contemporary religious responsibility for adult Jewish males to support the temple. The interaction sets the stage for Jesus' teaching on His divine sonship and His relationship to the temple, framing the upcoming miraculous provision.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the half-shekel came to Peter, and said, Doth not your teacher pay the half-shekel?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the half-shekel came to Peter, and said, Doth not your teacher pay the half-shekel?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when they had come to Capernaum, those who took the Temple tax came to Peter and said, Does not your master make payment of the Temple tax?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And they having come to Capernaum, those receiving the didrachms came near to Peter, and said, `Your teacher--doth he not pay the didrachms?' He saith, `Yes.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

He said: Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying: What is thy opinion, Simon? The kings of the earth, of whom do they receive tribute or custom, of their own children, or of strangers?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And when they came to Capernaum, those who received the didrachmas came to Peter and said, Does your teacher not pay the didrachmas?

Context

This verse introduces a new scene in Capernaum, pivoting from Jesus' prophecy of His death and resurrection to a practical matter of religious obligation. It establishes the immediate context for the discussion about the temple tax. The question posed to Peter precedes Jesus' direct involvement, setting up the object lesson that will follow.

v.23and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised up. And they were exceeding sorry.

v.24This passage

v.25He 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?

Cross references

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

  • Exodus 30:13

    This they shall give, every one that passeth over unto them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary; (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel for an offering to Jehovah.

  • Exodus 38:26

    a beka a head, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that passed over to them that were numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men.

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