δραχμή

a drachma

Definition

A δραχμή (drachmē) was a standard Greek silver coin, roughly equivalent to a Roman denarius, representing a day's wage for a common laborer in the first-century Roman Empire. In the New Testament, it appears exclusively in Jesus' Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-9), where a woman searches diligently for a single lost drachma. The term carries no distinct alternate meaning in the biblical text; its significance is tied entirely to its value as currency and its symbolic use in the parable.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only in the Gospel of Luke, specifically in the Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8, 15:9). Its usage is purely illustrative, serving as the central object in a story about recovery and joy. The pattern is singular: it represents something of modest but tangible value that is lost, sought after, and found, prompting celebration.

Etymology

Derived from the classical Greek verb δράσσομαι (drassomai), meaning 'to grasp' or 'to seize,' the name δραχμή originally referred to a 'handful' (e.g., of arrows). It evolved to denote a specific weight and, subsequently, the silver coin of that weight. It was a standard unit of currency in the Greek world long before the New Testament era.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a mundane coin, its theological significance arises from its role in Jesus' parable. The lost drachma in Luke 15:8-9 symbolizes a soul that is lost to God. The woman's diligent search with a lamp and broom illustrates God's active, seeking grace for individuals often overlooked. The subsequent rejoicing with neighbors mirrors the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10), emphasizing the immense value God places on each person.

In its cultural setting, a single drachma was a meaningful but not extravagant sum—enough to be missed by a typical household. The woman's possession of ten drachmas may indicate her modest savings or perhaps a headdress of coins, a common form of personal wealth for women. The cultural understanding of its value (a day's wage) underscores the parable's point: what is lost has real, practical worth, making the search and recovery genuinely consequential.

δηναρίου (dēnariou, G1220) — The Roman denarius, a silver coin of nearly identical value to the drachma, also cited as a day's wage (e.g., Matthew 20:2). στατήρ (statēr, G4715) — A silver coin worth four drachmas, known from the story of the temple tax (Matthew 17:27).

Word Details

Scripture References