ἀσσάριον

a small coin

Definition

ἀσσάριον (assarion) refers to a small Roman copper coin of minimal value, specifically one-sixteenth of a denarius or one-tenth of a drachma. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively by Jesus in two parallel passages to illustrate God's meticulous care and provision. In Matthew 10:29, Jesus states that two sparrows are sold for an assarion, emphasizing the creatures' apparent worthlessness in the marketplace. In Luke 12:6, the value is given as five sparrows for two assaria, a slight variation that may reflect a bulk discount, further underscoring the sparrows' low economic value.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the New Testament, both times in the Gospels within Jesus' teaching on divine providence and the disciples' worth to God. It appears in Matthew 10:29 and Luke 12:6 as part of the same illustrative saying. The pattern is strictly comparative, using the coin's minimal purchasing power to highlight the extreme cheapness of sparrows, thereby magnifying the contrast with the infinite value God places on His people.

Etymology

The word ἀσσάριον is a direct loanword from the Latin 'as' or 'assis,' a Roman bronze or copper coin. It entered Koine Greek through common commercial use in the Roman Empire. The Greek form is a diminutive, indicating a small unit of the 'as.' Its meaning is purely monetary and did not develop further metaphorical senses in biblical Greek.

Semantic Range

Theologically, this mundane term becomes significant because Jesus uses it to teach a profound truth about God's character. The assarion represents the world's assessment of worth—minimal and transactional. By contrasting this with God's intimate knowledge and care for even the cheapest sparrow, Jesus assures believers of their far greater value to the Father (Matthew 10:31). Understanding this coin's worth enriches the passage by highlighting the shocking disparity between human and divine economies of value, emphasizing that God's providence is personal and comprehensive.

In the 1st-century Roman economy, an assarion was a coin of the lowest denomination, used by the poor for small daily purchases. Its mention would immediately convey extreme cheapness to Jesus' audience. The variation in the sparrow-to-coin ratio between Matthew and Luke likely reflects a well-known market reality: buying in bulk (five for two coins) was cheaper per unit. This cultural detail makes the illustration more vivid and relatable.

λεπτόν (lepton, G3016) — an even smaller Jewish bronze coin, worth half a quadrans; δηνάριον (dēnarion, G1220) — a silver denarius, a day's wage for a laborer, representing a much higher value; δραχμή (drachmē, G1406) — a Greek silver coin, roughly equivalent to a denarius.

Word Details

Scripture References