Penny
The Coin Behind the Word
When the King James Version uses the word "penny," it translates the Greek word denarion, which itself comes from the Latin denarius. This was a small silver coin that served as the standard unit of currency throughout the Roman Empire during the New Testament period. A denarius was worth approximately one day's wages for an ordinary laborer, making it roughly equivalent to a working person's daily income.
The Penny in Jesus's Parables
Jesus used the denarius (penny) in several of his most memorable teachings. In the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16), the landowner agrees to pay each laborer "a penny" (one denarius) for a day's work. Those hired first expected more when they saw latecomers receiving the same wage, but the master responded, "Did you not agree with me for a denarius?" The parable teaches about the generosity of God's grace, which is not earned by the duration or intensity of human effort.
In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:28), the servant who had been forgiven a massive debt seized a fellow servant who owed him a hundred pence (denarii) — a relatively small amount compared to his forgiven debt. This contrast powerfully illustrates the incongruity of receiving God's mercy while withholding it from others.
The Tribute Penny
Perhaps the most famous penny in Scripture is the coin used in the question about paying taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:19-21; Mark 12:15-17; Luke 20:24-25). When the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus with the question of whether it was lawful to pay imperial taxes, Jesus asked for the coin used for the tax and inquired, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They answered, "Caesar's." Jesus replied, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." The specific coin was a denarius bearing the image and title of the reigning emperor, most likely Tiberius Caesar.
The Good Samaritan's Penny
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:35), the Samaritan gave the innkeeper "two pence" (two denarii) to care for the wounded traveler, promising to repay any additional costs. Two denarii represented roughly two days' wages, enough to cover several days of lodging and care. This detail demonstrates the practical generosity of the Samaritan's compassion.
The Value of a Denarius
Understanding the denarius as a day's wage for a laborer provides essential context for many New Testament passages. When the disciples calculated that feeding the five thousand would cost two hundred denarii (Mark 6:37; John 6:7), they were estimating roughly eight months' wages — an enormous sum for a group of itinerant followers. When Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with perfume worth three hundred denarii (Mark 14:5; John 12:5), the extravagance of her act becomes vivid: she poured out nearly a year's wages in a single gesture of devotion.
Translation Challenges
Modern translations generally avoid "penny" because the word suggests trivial value to contemporary readers. Instead, they use "denarius" or "silver coin" to preserve the sense of a significant amount. The American Standard Revised Version experimented with "shilling" in some passages, though this too has become outdated. The challenge of translating ancient currency into meaningful modern terms illustrates the ongoing work of making Scripture accessible across time and cultures.
Biblical Context
The penny (denarius) appears in Matthew 18:28, 20:2-13, 22:19; Mark 6:37, 12:15, 14:5; Luke 10:35, 20:24; John 6:7, 12:5; and Revelation 6:6. It features in key parables and in Jesus's teaching about taxes to Caesar. The coin was the standard Roman silver currency worth one day's labor.
Theological Significance
The denarius/penny in Jesus's teaching illuminates themes of God's generous grace (workers in the vineyard), the obligation of mercy (unforgiving servant), the relationship between earthly and divine authority (tribute to Caesar), and the costliness of genuine love (the Good Samaritan and Mary's anointing). The coin becomes a lens through which Jesus reveals kingdom values.
Historical Background
The Roman denarius was minted from about 211 BC onward and remained the standard silver currency through the New Testament period. It weighed approximately 3.9 grams and bore the image and titles of the reigning emperor. Archaeological finds of denarii throughout the Roman Empire, including Palestine, confirm their widespread circulation. The 'tribute penny' of Jesus's day likely bore the image of Tiberius Caesar with the inscription 'Ti Caesar Divi Aug F Augustus' (Tiberius Caesar, Son of the Divine Augustus).