“Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?”
Parallel translations
- WEB He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?”
- KJV And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
- NKJV And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
- NASB And He *said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
- NLT he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus asks whose image and inscription the coin bears. The question prepares His answer about competing claims of God and Caesar.
Overview
The denarius carried Caesar's portrait and a title, marking it as belonging to the imperial system. By drawing attention to the image, Jesus moves toward distinguishing what rightly belongs to earthly authority. The mention of 'image' also subtly recalls that human beings bear God's image and so owe themselves to God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Luke 20:24“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
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Original language
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