ἀργύριον

silver, a shekel, money in general

Definition

The Greek word ἀργύριον primarily means 'silver' as a precious metal, but it also commonly refers to silver coins or money in general. In the New Testament, it often denotes specific silver coins like the shekel, such as the 'thirty pieces of silver' (Matthew 26:15) paid to Judas for betraying Jesus. More broadly, it can represent wealth or monetary resources, as seen in the Parable of the Talents where servants are entrusted with 'silver' (Matthew 25:18, 25:27). In some passages, like Matthew 27:6, it refers to the physical silver pieces themselves, highlighting their material nature.

Biblical Usage

ἀργύριον appears 20 times in the New Testament, predominantly in the Gospel of Matthew (15 occurrences), especially in the Passion narrative surrounding Judas's betrayal and the temple treasury. It is used for specific sums of coined money (Matthew 26:15, 27:3-9), for money entrusted for business (Matthew 25:18, 27), and for bribes (Matthew 28:12). The concentration in Matthew's Gospel ties the word closely to themes of betrayal, guilt, and the misuse of wealth.

Etymology

Derived from the root ἄργυρος (argyros, G696), meaning 'silver'. The suffix -ιον typically forms neuter nouns denoting material or objects made from a substance. Thus, ἀργύριον literally means 'a silver thing', which naturally extended to 'silver coin' or 'money'.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it is central to the betrayal of Jesus. The 'thirty pieces of silver' (Matthew 26:15) fulfill Old Testament prophecy (Zechariah 11:12-13, cited in Matthew 27:9-10), framing Jesus's death within God's redemptive plan. It highlights themes of the corrupting power of money, the price of betrayal, and the contrast between worldly currency and spiritual value. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by connecting the specific metal (silver) to its covenantal and prophetic symbolism.

In the 1st-century Roman world, silver was a standard for coinage and a measure of substantial wealth. The 'piece of silver' (often a silver shekel or tetradrachm) was a significant sum—thirty shekels was the price for a slave (Exodus 21:32). This cultural context makes Judas's acceptance of this amount a profound insult. Money was often stored as physical silver, unlike modern abstract banking.

χρυσός (chrysos, G5557) — gold, a more precious metal; νόμισμα (nomisma, G3546) — coinage or currency in a more formal sense; μάμωνᾶς (mamōnas, G3126) — wealth or riches, often with a negative connotation of idolatry.

Word Details

Scripture References