VERSE STUDY • KJV

Matthew 22:15-21

¹⁵ Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in [his] talk. ¹⁶ And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any [man]: for thou regardest not the person of men. ¹⁷ Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? ¹⁸ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, [ye] hypocrites? ¹⁹ Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. ²⁰ And he saith unto them, Whose [is] this image and superscription? ²¹ They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

¹⁵ Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in [his] talk. ¹⁶ And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any [man]: for thou regardest not the person of men. ¹⁷ Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? ¹⁸ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, [ye] hypocrites? ¹⁹ Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. ²⁰ And he saith unto them, Whose [is] this image and superscription? ²¹ They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

BSB Berean Standard Bible

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance. ¹⁷ So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” ¹⁸ But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me? ¹⁹ Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. ²⁰ “Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?” ²¹ “Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

WEB World English Bible

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone. ¹⁷ Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” ¹⁸ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show me the tax money.” They brought to him a denarius. ²⁰ He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” ²¹ They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

ASV American Standard Version

¹⁵ Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him in his talk. ¹⁶ And they send to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one: for thou regardest not the person of men. ¹⁷ Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? ¹⁸ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why make ye trial of me, ye hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a denarius. ²⁰ And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? ²¹ They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees having gone, took counsel how they might ensnare him in words, ¹⁶ and they send to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we have known that thou art true, and the way of God in truth thou dost teach, and thou art not caring for any one, for thou dost not look to the face of men; ¹⁷ tell us, therefore, what dost thou think? is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?’ ¹⁸ And Jesus having known their wickedness, said, ‘Why me do ye tempt, hypocrites? ¹⁹ show me the tribute-coin?’ and they brought to him a denary; ²⁰ and he saith to them, ‘Whose is this image and the inscription?’ ²¹ they say to him, ‘Caesar’s;’ then saith he to them, ‘Render therefore the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God;’

Surrounding context — Matthew 22

12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few [are] chosen.

15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in [his] talk.

16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any [man]: for thou regardest not the person of men.

17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, [ye] hypocrites?

19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

20 And he saith unto them, Whose [is] this image and superscription?

21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

22 When they had heard [these words], they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

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HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION

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