Logos Bible Study

Matthew 22:20–21

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22:20Jesus19 said to them, “Whose image20 is this, and whose inscription?” 22:21They replied,21 “Caesar’s.” He said to them,22 “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”23

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Footnotes

  1. 19 Grk “And he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
  2. 20 Or “whose likeness.” In this passage Jesus points to the image (Grk εἰκών, eikōn) of Caesar on the coin. This same Greek word is used in Gen 1:26 () to state that humanity is made in the “image” of God. Jesus is making a subtle yet powerful contrast: Caesar’s image is on the denarius, so he can lay claim to money through taxation, but God’s image is on humanity, so he can lay claim to each individual life.
  3. 21 Grk “they said to him.”
  4. 22 Grk “then he said to them.” τότε (tote) has not been translated to avoid redundancy.
  5. 23 Jesus’ answer to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s was a both/and, not the questioners’ either/or. So he slipped out of their trap.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them.

“Caesar’s,” they said to him.

Then he said to them, “Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

NLTNew Living Translation

he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

“Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore give to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God!”

KJV 1900King James Version

And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.