Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the concept of tribute was a significant aspect of political and economic life, often reflecting the power dynamics between nations and rulers. Tribute generally refers to a payment made by one nation or ruler to another, usually as a sign of submission or allegiance. This payment could be in the form of money, goods, or labor.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, tribute is frequently mentioned in the context of Israel's interactions with surrounding nations. For instance, during the reign of King Solomon, Israel was a dominant power, and many neighboring nations brought tribute to him, acknowledging his authority and seeking peace.
1 Kings 10:25 states, "Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules."
Conversely, when Israel was subjugated by foreign powers, they were often required to pay tribute. An example of this is found in
2 Kings 17:3, where the Assyrian king Shalmaneser came up against Hoshea, the king of Israel, who became his vassal and paid him tribute.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the concept of tribute is also present, particularly in the context of Roman rule over Judea. The Roman Empire imposed taxes and tributes on the provinces under its control, which was a source of tension among the Jewish people. This is evident in the famous account of Jesus being questioned about paying taxes to Caesar. In
Matthew 22:17-21, the Pharisees and Herodians ask Jesus, "Tell us then, what is Your opinion? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Jesus responds by saying, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s."
This passage highlights the distinction between earthly and divine obligations, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling civic duties while maintaining spiritual devotion.
Spiritual ImplicationsFrom a spiritual perspective, the concept of tribute can be seen as a metaphor for the believer's duty to honor God with their resources and lives. Just as nations paid tribute to acknowledge the authority of a ruler, Christians are called to offer their lives as a living sacrifice to God, recognizing His sovereignty and lordship.
In
Romans 13:6-7, the Apostle Paul instructs believers to fulfill their obligations to governing authorities, stating, "This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due."
ConclusionThe biblical concept of tribute serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing authority, both earthly and divine. It underscores the believer's responsibility to live in a manner that honors God and respects the structures of society.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
TributeThe chief biblical facts connected with the payment of tribute have been already given underTAXES. The tribute (money) mentioned in (Matthew 17:24,25) was the half shekel (worth from 25 to 27 cents) applied to defray the general expenses of the temple. After the destruction of the temple this was sequestrated by Vespasian and his successors and transferred to the temple of the Capitoline Jupiter. This "tribute" of (Matthew 17:24) must not be confounded with the tribute paid to the Roman emperor. (Matthew 22:17) The temple rate, though resting on an ancient precedent-- (Exodus 30:13) --was as above a fixed annual tribute of comparatively late origin.
ATS Bible Dictionary
TributeEvery Jew throughout the world was required to pay an annual tribute or capitation-tax of half a shekel, about twenty-five cents, in acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and for the maintenance of the temple service,Exodus 30:12-15. It was with reference to this that Christ says, in effect,Matthew 17:25,26, "If this tribute be levied in the name of The Father, then I, The Son, am free."
In other New Testament passages, tribute means the tax levied by the Romans. On the question of paying tribute to foreigners and idolaters,Matthew 22:16-22, Christ gave a reply which neither party could stigmatize as rebellious, or as unpatriotic and irreligious. By themselves using Caesar's currency, both parties acknowledged the fact of his supremacy. Christ warns them to render to all men their dues; and above all to regard the claims of him whose superscription is on every thing,11 Corinthians 10:311 Peter 2:9,13.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A tax imposed by a king on his subjects (
2 Samuel 20:24;
1 Kings 4:6;
Romans 13:6). In
Matthew 17:24-27 the word denotes the temple rate (the "didrachma, " the "half-shekel, " as rendered by the R.V.) which was required to be paid for the support of the temple by every Jew above twenty years of age (
Exodus 30:12;
2 Kings 12:4;
2 Chronicles 24:6, 9). It was not a civil but a religious tax.
InMatthew 22:17,Mark 12:14,Luke 20:22, the word may be interpreted as denoting the capitation tax which the Romans imposed on the Jewish people. It may, however, be legitimately regarded as denoting any tax whatever imposed by a foreign power on the people of Israel. The "tribute money" shown to our Lord (Matthew 22:19) was the denarius, bearing Caesar's superscription. It was the tax paid by every Jew to the Romans. (seePENNY.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) An annual or stated sum of money or other valuable thing, paid by one ruler or nation to another, either as an acknowledgment of submission, or as the price of peace and protection, or by virtue of some treaty; as, the Romans made their conquered countries pay tribute.
2. (n.) A personal contribution, as of money, praise, service, etc., made in token of services rendered, or as that which is due or deserved; as, a tribute of affection.
3. (n.) A certain proportion of the ore raised, or of its value, given to the miner as his recompense.
4. (v. i.) To pay as tribute.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TRIBUTEtrib'-ut (mac, "tribute," really meaning "forced laborers," "labor gang" (1 Kings 4:6;1 Kings 9:15, 21); also "forced service," "serfdom"; possibly "forced payment" is meant inEsther 10:1; the idea contained in the modern word is better given by middah (Ezra 6:8Nehemiah 5:4)): Words used only of the duty levied for Yahweh on acquired spoils are mekhec, "assessment" (Numbers 31:28, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41), belo, "excise" (Ezra 4:13, 10Nehemiah 7:24), massa', "burden" (2 Chronicles 17:11), and `onesh, "fine" or "indemnity" (2 Kings 23:33; compareProverbs 19:19). The translation "tribute" for miccath, inDeuteronomy 16:10 is wrong (compare the Revised Version margin). kensos (Matthew 22:17Mark 12:14) = "census," while phoros (Luke 20:22;Luke 23:2Romans 13:6, 7), signifies an annual tax on persons, houses, lands, both being direct taxes. The phoroi were paid by agriculturists, payment being made partly in kind, partly in money, and are contrasted with the tele of the publicans, while kensos is strictly a poll tax. The amount of tribute required as a poll tax by the Romans was the didrachmon (Matthew 17:24), the King James Version "tribute," the Revised Version (British and American) "half-shekel." The stater (Matthew 17:27), was a tetradrachm, "one shekel," or pay for two. After the destruction of Jerusalem, the Jews were required to pay this poll tax toward the support of the worship of Jupiter Capitolinus. Different kinds of personal taxes were raised by the Romans:
(1) an income tax,
(2) the poll tax.
The latter must be paid by women and slaves as well as by free men, only children and aged people being exempted. The payment exacted began with the 14th year in the case of men and the 12th in the case of women, the obligation remaining in force up to the 65th year in the case of both. For purposes of assessment, each person was permitted to put his own statement on record. After public notice had been given by the government, every citizen was expected to respond without personal visitation by an official (seeLuke 2:1;). On the basis of the records thus voluntarily made, the tax collectors would enforce the payment of the tribute.
See alsoTAX, TAXING.
Frank E. Hirsch
TRIBUTE MONEY
(to nomisma tou kensou (Matthew 22:19), "the coin used in payment of the imperial taxes"): Lit. "the lawful money of the tax," which, in the case of the poll tax, had to be paid in current coin of the realm (seeMatthew 17:27).
Greek
5411. phoros --tribute...tribute. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: phoros Phonetic Spelling:
(for'-os) Short Definition: a tax,
tribute Definition: a tax,
tribute...2778. kensos -- to muzzle
...tribute, poll tax Of Latin origin; properly, an enrollment ("census"), ie (by
implication) a tax --tribute. (kenson) -- 3 Occurrences. (kensou) -- 1 Occurrence...
1323. didrachmon -- a double drachma
... a double drachma. From dis and drachme; a double drachma (didrachm) --tribute.
see GREEK dis. see GREEK drachme. (didrachma) -- 2 Occurrences. 1322, 1323....
Strong's Hebrew
4061. middah --tributemiddah or mindah. 4060b, 4061. middah or mindah. 4062 .
tribute. Transliteration:
middah or mindah Phonetic Spelling: (mid-daw') Short Definition:
tribute.
...1093. belo --tribute
... 1092, 1093. belo. 1094 .tribute. Transliteration: belo Phonetic Spelling:
(bel-o') Short Definition: custom. Word...tribute. (Aramaic...
4853. massa' -- a load, burden, lifting, bearing,tribute
... 4852, 4853. massa'. 4853a . a load, burden, lifting, bearing,tribute.
Transliteration: massa' Phonetic Spelling: (mas-saw') Short Definition: burden....
4503. minchah -- a gift,tribute, offering
... 4502, 4503. minchah. 4504 . a gift,tribute, offering. Transliteration: minchah
Phonetic Spelling: (min-khaw') Short Definition: offering....
4853a. massa -- a load, burden, lifting, bearing,tribute
... 4853, 4853a. massa. 4853b . a load, burden, lifting, bearing,tribute.
Transliteration: massa Short Definition: burden. Word Origin...
4060b. middah --tribute
... middah. 4061 .tribute. Transliteration: middah Short Definition: tax. Word Origin
of foreign origin Definitiontribute NASB Word Usage tax (1). 4060a, 4060b...
4530. missah -- sufficiency
... missah or missath. 4531 . sufficiency. Transliteration: missah or missath Phonetic
Spelling: (mis-saw') Short Definition:tribute.... abundance,tribute....
4060. middah -- measure, measurement, stature, size, a garment
... Short Definition: garment. garment, measuring, piece, size, great stature,
tribute, wide Feminine of mad; properly, extension, ie...
4864. maseth -- an uprising, utterance, burden, portion
... portion NASB Word Usage burden (1), cloud (2), gift (1), gifts (2), levy (2), lifting
(1), portion (1), portions (1), present (1), signal (1),tribute (1)....
4371. mekes -- computation, proportion to be paid, tax
...tribute. Probably from an unused root meaning to enumerate; an assessment (as based
upon a census) --tribute. 4370, 4371. mekes. 4372 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Peter and theTribute-Money.
... PETER AND THETRIBUTE-MONEY. It was a part of the Jewish law that all
strangers passing among the Jews should pay to the priests...
A LoyalTribute
... THE ACTS CHAP. XIII TO END A LOYALTRIBUTE. [Footnote: Preached on the
occasion of the Jubilee of Queen Victoria.] '..Seeing that...
ATribute from Enemies
... THE BOOK OF DANIEL ATRIBUTE FROM ENEMIES. Then said these men, We shall
not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find...
D. The Question as to PayingTribute. Ch. 20:19-26
... CHS. 19:29 TO 21:38 D. The Question As To PayingTribute. Ch. 20:19-26.... They asked
him a question relative to the payment oftribute to the Roman Government....
Exaction ofTribute in Antioch, and Demolition of the Statues of...
... Book VII. Chapter XXIII."Exaction ofTribute in Antioch, and Demolition of the Statues
of the Emperor. Embassy headed by Flavian the Chief Priest....
TheTribute Money
... Strong Meat for Hungry Souls: The Gospel of St. Mark CHAPTER 12:13-17 THETRIBUTE
MONEY. "And they send unto Him certain of the Pharisees...
Of his Paying theTribute Money Out of the Mouth of the Fish, an...
... The Prologue. Chapter LX."Of His Paying theTribute Money Out of the Mouth
of the Fish, an Incident Which Matthew Alone Mentions. 118....
ATribute
... ATRIBUTE. IT sometimes happens that a man, in giving to the world the truths
that have most influenced his life, unconsciously writes...
Tribute to Caesar.
... THREE HOSTILE QUESTIONS ASKED OF JESUS.TRIBUTE TO CAESAR.... Tell us therefore, What
thinkest thou? Is it lawful to givetribute unto Caesar, or not?"...
Jesus Pays theTribute Money.
... (Time: One Year Less One Week.) LXXII. Jesus Pays theTribute Money.... the kings
of the earth, from whom do they receive toll ortribute?...
Thesaurus
Tribute-silver (1 Occurrence)Tribute-silver.
Tribute-service,
Tribute-silver. Trick .
Multi-Version Concordance
Tribute-silver (1 Occurrence). 2
...Tribute (67 Occurrences)
... The "tribute money" shown to our Lord (Matthew 22:19) was the denarius, bearing
Caesar's superscription.... 4. (vi) To pay astribute. Int....
Tribute-money (2 Occurrences)
Tribute-money.Tribute-coin,Tribute-money.Tribute-service . Multi-Version
ConcordanceTribute-money (2 Occurrences). Matthew 17...
Tribute-service (1 Occurrence)
Tribute-service.Tribute-money,Tribute-service.Tribute-silver . Multi-Version
ConcordanceTribute-service (1 Occurrence). 2 Chronicles...
Tribute-coin (1 Occurrence)
Tribute-coin.Tribute,Tribute-coin.Tribute-money . Multi-Version
ConcordanceTribute-coin (1 Occurrence). Matthew 22:19 show me...
Levy (19 Occurrences)
... 6d. 3. (n.) That which is levied, as an army, force,tribute, etc.... Numbers 31:37
and Yahweh'stribute of the sheep was six hundred seventy-five. (See NAS)....
Carchemish (3 Occurrences)
... of the Assyrian king Assur-nacir-apli, who started on the 8th of Iyyar, about the
year 870 BC, to the conquest of the district, and receivedtribute from the...
Toll (8 Occurrences)
... tol: (1) Aramaic middah, "toll" or "tribute" paid by a vassal nation to its conqueror
(Ezra 4:20; Ezra 6:8 Nehemiah 5:4); written also mindah (Ezra 4:13; Ezra 7...
Ehud (12 Occurrences)
... Amalekites, crossed the Jordan and took the city of Jericho, and for eighteen years
held that whole district in subjection, exacting from it an annualtribute....
Presents (38 Occurrences)
... line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, and brought
tribute. (See JPS). 2 Samuel 8:6 Then David put garrisons...
Resources
Who was King Jehoiakim in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was King Hoshea in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Ehud? | GotQuestions.orgTribute: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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