Piece of Money
Two Different Monetary Terms
The English phrase 'piece of money' translates two distinct terms in the original languages, representing very different periods and monetary systems. The Hebrew qesitah refers to an ancient unit of weighed silver from the patriarchal era, while the Greek stater denotes a specific coin from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Understanding both terms illuminates the economic and cultural contexts of their respective biblical passages.
The Qesitah: Ancient Weighed Silver
The qesitah appears in three Old Testament passages, all connected to the patriarchal period. When Jacob purchased a plot of land near Shechem, he paid a hundred qesitahs to the sons of Hamor (Genesis 33:19). After Job's trials were over, each of his relatives and friends gave him 'a piece of money and a gold ring' (Job 42:11). Joshua 24:32 records that the field at Shechem was bought for a hundred qesitahs. The word likely derives from a root meaning 'to weigh' or 'to divide equally by weight,' indicating a standardized weight of silver used before the invention of coined money.
The Stater: A Coin in a Fish's Mouth
The most memorable 'piece of money' in the Bible is the stater found in a fish's mouth. When tax collectors asked Peter whether Jesus paid the temple tax, Jesus sent Peter to catch a fish: 'Go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours' (Matthew 17:27). The stater was a Greek silver coin equivalent to four drachmas, exactly enough to pay the two-drachma temple tax for two people.
From Weighed Silver to Coined Money
The qesitah and the stater represent two stages in the evolution of money. In the patriarchal period, precious metals were weighed on scales for each transaction — Abraham 'weighed out' four hundred shekels of silver to purchase the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:16). The invention of coined money by the Lydians around 600 BC standardized values and simplified commerce. By Jesus' time, various Greek, Roman, and local coins circulated throughout Palestine, and the temple tax was denominated in specific coin values.
Jesus and the Temple Tax
The miracle of the coin in the fish's mouth teaches several things. Jesus demonstrated his sovereign power over nature while also showing his willingness to conform to social obligations. He told Peter, 'The kings of the earth — from whom do they collect duty and taxes? From their own sons or from others?' When Peter answered 'From others,' Jesus said, 'Then the sons are free. But so that we may not offend them, go and catch a fish' (Matthew 17:25-27). As the Son of God, Jesus was exempt from the temple tax, yet he paid it to avoid causing unnecessary offense.
Money and Faith in Scripture
Both the qesitah and the stater appear in contexts that illustrate God's provision. Job received qesitahs from his community as God restored his fortunes. Peter found a stater through Jesus' miraculous knowledge and provision. Scripture consistently teaches that material resources ultimately come from God, and that money serves its proper purpose when used in faith and obedience.
Biblical Context
The qesitah appears in Genesis 33:19 (Jacob's land purchase), Job 42:11 (gifts after Job's restoration), and Joshua 24:32 (reference to the Shechem purchase). The stater appears in Matthew 17:27 in the fish's mouth miracle. The broader context includes Abraham's payment for the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:16) and the temple tax system referenced throughout the Gospels.
Theological Significance
The pieces of money in Scripture illustrate God's provision across different eras. The qesitah passages show God's faithfulness in giving his people land and restoring prosperity. The stater miracle demonstrates Jesus' divine sovereignty over nature while teaching about the balance between spiritual freedom and social responsibility. Both terms point to God as the ultimate source of material provision.
Historical Background
The qesitah was likely a standard weight of silver used in the patriarchal period before coined money existed. Ancient Near Eastern texts confirm that metals were weighed for transactions using balance scales and standardized stone weights. The stater was a Greek silver coin weighing approximately 14 grams, widely circulated in the Roman Empire. Archaeological finds of staters from the first century AD have been recovered at numerous sites in Palestine. The temple tax of a half-shekel (two drachmas) per adult male was a well-established annual obligation in Second Temple Judaism.