Mark 12:16
And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
The denarius was Rome's standard silver coin, a day's wage for laborers (Matthew 20:2). Tiberius Caesar reigned AD 14-37, so his image appeared on coins circulating during Jesus' ministry. The inscription's claim of divinity ("son of the divine Augustus") was imperial propaganda standard in Roman coinage. Augustus had been deified after death; Tiberius claimed divine sonship. This religious claim made the tax question even more loaded for monotheistic Jews: paying tax with coins proclaiming Caesar's divinity seemed to acknowledge his divine right to rule. Jesus' coming answer (v. 17) would brilliantly affirm legitimate civil authority while denying ultimate sovereignty to any earthly power.
Questions for Reflection
- What is significant about Jesus asking whose 'image and inscription' appears on the coin, given that humans bear God's image?
- How does their ready answer 'Caesar's' prepare for Jesus' principle distinguishing civil and divine spheres?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? (εἰκόνα, eikona; ἐπιγραφήν, epigraphēn). The word eikōn (εἰκών) meant image or likeness—the same word used in Genesis 1:26-27 (Septuagint) for humanity created in God's image. The epigraphē (ἐπιγραφή) was the inscription: "Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus, Augustus." Jesus' question was Socratic, forcing them to acknowledge the coin belonged to Caesar's sphere.
And they said unto him, Caesar's (Καίσαρος)—their answer sealed His argument. If the coin bears Caesar's image and inscription, it belongs to Caesar's domain. Jesus would next draw the crucial distinction (v. 17): while Caesar's coins bear his image and may be rendered to him, humans bear God's image (Genesis 1:27) and must be rendered wholly to God.