Understanding δηνάριον (dēnarion) Strong’s G1220: The Roman Currency That Reveals Economic Context and Kingdom Values in Scripture

Pronunciation Guide: day-NAR-ee-on (with emphasis on the second syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1220: The δηνάριον was a small silver Roman coin that constituted the standard day’s wage for a common laborer in first-century Palestine. As the primary monetary unit in the Roman Empire during the New Testament era, it appears frequently in the Gospels and carries significant economic, social, and even theological implications. Its value represents approximately one day’s labor for an agricultural worker, providing crucial context for understanding Jesus’ parables and teachings.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Noun (neuter)
• Origin: Latin loanword (denarius) transliterated into Greek
• Root Word: From the Latin “deni” meaning “containing ten,” as it was originally valued at ten “asses” (a smaller Roman coin)
• Primary Usage: Found in narrative passages, particularly in the Gospels, and used in Jesus’ parables and teachings about money, taxation, and economic matters
• Language Classification: Foreign loanword in Koine Greek texts

δηνάριον Morphology:

• δηνάριον (dēnarion) – nominative/accusative singular – a denarius
• δηναρίου (dēnariou) – genitive singular – of a denarius
• δηναρίῳ (dēnariō) – dative singular – with/by a denarius
• δηνάρια (dēnaria) – nominative/accusative plural – denarii
• δηναρίων (dēnariōn) – genitive plural – of denarii
• δηναρίοις (dēnariois) – dative plural – with/by denarii

Origin & History

The δηνάριον originated in the Roman Republic around 211 BCE as a silver coin valued at ten bronze asses (hence its Latin name derived from “deni” meaning “containing ten”). By the time of the New Testament, during the early Roman Imperial period, it had become the standard silver coin of the empire. The denarius underwent several changes in weight and purity throughout its history, with Emperor Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE) standardizing it at approximately 3.9 grams of silver, making it roughly equivalent to a day’s wage for common labor.

In Greek literature outside the New Testament, the term appears in various economic and historical texts, though less frequently as Greek-speaking regions initially used drachmas before Roman currency dominance. In the Septuagint, the term does not appear since it represents a later Roman-era currency not relevant during the periods described in most Old Testament narratives. The historian Josephus uses the term in his works, particularly in “Antiquities of the Jews” and “The Jewish War,” when discussing taxation and economic conditions under Roman rule, providing valuable context for understanding its significance during the New Testament period.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Standard Daily Wage – The baseline economic unit representing what an average laborer could expect to earn for one day’s work
• Roman Taxation Unit – Used in the collection of the poll tax and other imperial fees
• Economic Measurement – A reference point for understanding the relative value of goods, services, and economic transactions
• Symbol of Roman Authority – Bearing the image of Caesar, it represented imperial power and control

δηνάριον Translation Options:

• “Denarius” – Direct transliteration preserving the historical specificity and cultural context of the Roman monetary system
• “Silver coin” – A more general translation that communicates the material value without requiring historical knowledge
• “Day’s wage” – A functional equivalent that conveys the economic significance in terms modern readers can readily understand
• “Roman coin” – Emphasizes the political origin and imperial nature of the currency
• “Penny” (in older translations like KJV) – Now considered outdated and potentially misleading as it suggests a much smaller value than the denarius actually held

Biblical Usage

The δηνάριον appears prominently in the Gospels and is mentioned 16 times in the New Testament. It serves as a tangible reference point for Jesus’ economic teachings and parables. Most memorably, when confronted about paying taxes to Caesar, Jesus asked to see a denarius, illustrating His wisdom in distinguishing between earthly and divine authority (Matthew 22:19-21). The coin frequently appears in contexts involving wages, debts, taxation, and almsgiving, providing concrete economic framing for spiritual truths.

In Jesus’ parables, the denarius takes on special significance. In the parable of the vineyard workers (Matthew 20:1-16), laborers receive one denarius regardless of when they began working, challenging conventional notions of fairness and illustrating the radical grace of God’s kingdom. The significance of two denarii given by the Good Samaritan to care for the wounded man (Luke 10:35) would have been immediately understood as a generous provision for several days of care.

• “So when his fellow slave fell down and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ He was unwilling however, but went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. So his lord, after he called him, said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ his master was angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.” (Matthew 18:28)
• “And they brought Him a denarius.” (Matthew 22:19)
• “Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” (Luke 20:24)
• “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.'” (Luke 14:28-30)
• “When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.” (Matthew 20:2)
• “Philip answered Him, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.'” (John 6:7)
• “When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.” And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:19-21)

Cultural Insights

The δηνάριον bore the image and inscription of the reigning emperor, typically with the Latin inscription “Tiberius Caesar, Son of the Divine Augustus” during Jesus’ ministry. This inscription was particularly offensive to Jews who recognized only יהוה (Yahweh) as divine and considered the emperor’s image a form of idolatry. When Jesus asked whose image was on the coin in the famous “render unto Caesar” exchange, He was doing more than addressing a question about taxation—He was highlighting the profound tension between Jewish religious identity and Roman imperial rule.

The economic context of the denarius is equally illuminating. As a day’s wage for common labor, it provides a measurement for understanding biblical valuations. When Mary anointed Jesus with perfume worth 300 denarii (John 12:5), this represented nearly a year’s wages for a laborer—an extravagant gesture of devotion. Similarly, the Good Samaritan’s two denarii payment to the innkeeper (Luke 10:35) would cover multiple days of care, demonstrating substantial generosity toward a stranger. These economic details provide crucial contextual depth to spiritual teachings about generosity, sacrifice, and the proper use of material resources.

Theological Significance

The δηνάριον appears at pivotal moments in Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of God, often serving as a tangible contrast between worldly and divine economies. In the parable of the vineyard workers (Matthew 20:1-16), the landowner pays all workers the same denarius regardless of hours worked, subverting human notions of merit and fairness. This illustrates God’s grace, which is given based not on human achievement but on His own generous character. The seemingly unfair distribution challenges us to reconsider how we value human worth and divine blessing.

In the “render unto Caesar” episode (Matthew 22:15-22), Jesus uses the denarius to establish a crucial theological principle about the relationship between earthly and divine authority. By distinguishing between what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God, He affirms that while we have legitimate obligations to earthly authorities, our ultimate allegiance belongs to God alone. This teaching provides the foundation for understanding the appropriate relationship between faith and citizenship that would shape Christian political theology for centuries to come. The denarius thus becomes a physical symbol of the dual citizenship believers hold—living under earthly governments while belonging ultimately to God’s kingdom.

Personal Application

When we encounter the δηνάριον in Scripture, we are invited to examine our own relationship with money and material possessions. The denarius appears in contexts that challenge us to consider whether we value people according to economic productivity (as in the vineyard workers parable) or according to their inherent dignity as image-bearers of God. Do we, like the unmerciful servant who was forgiven a massive debt yet refused to forgive a debt of 100 denarii (Matthew 18:21-35), fail to extend to others the grace we have received?

The denarius also challenges us to examine what bears the “image and inscription” in our lives. Just as the coin bore Caesar’s image, we bear God’s image. This invites us to consider what we are rendering unto God in our daily lives. Are we giving Him our full devotion while appropriately engaging with our earthly responsibilities? The δηνάριον reminds us that everything we have—our time, talents, and resources—ultimately belongs to God, who calls us to steward these gifts for His glory and the good of others.

Related Words

• ἀργύριον (argyrion) (ar-GÜR-ee-on) – Silver money or a silver coin; often used to refer to the temple shekel or money more generally, without specifying the exact denomination. Unlike the denarius, which was specifically Roman, silver shekels were the traditional Jewish currency. See G694
• δίδραχμον (didrachmon) (DEE-drakh-mon) – A Greek silver coin equivalent to two drachmas, used specifically for the Jewish temple tax. Worth approximately two denarii, this coin appears in Matthew’s Gospel in the context of Jesus and Peter paying the temple tax. See G1323
• κοδράντης (kodrantēs) (ko-DRAN-tace) – A Roman quadrans, the smallest Roman copper coin, worth about 1/64 of a denarius. Jesus uses this term to emphasize paying the very last penny of a debt in His teaching. See G2835
• λεπτόν (lepton) (lep-TON) – The smallest Jewish copper coin, worth about 1/128 of a denarius. Featured prominently in the widow’s offering, where its small monetary value is contrasted with its great spiritual significance. See G3016
• τάλαντον (talanton) (TAL-an-ton) – A talent, the largest monetary unit in the ancient world, worth approximately 6,000 denarii or about 16-20 years’ wages for a laborer. Used in Jesus’ parables to represent enormous sums, particularly in the parable of the unforgiving servant. See G5007

Did You Know?

• Did you know that the silver content of the δηνάριον was gradually reduced by Roman emperors over time? When Nero devalued the denarius around 64 CE, reducing its silver content from 97% to 93.5%, it represented one of the earliest examples of currency debasement in Western history. This historical detail gives added significance to Jesus’ teachings about trustworthy stewardship and the temporal nature of earthly wealth, contrasted with heavenly treasures that never lose their value.
• Did you know that archaeological discoveries have uncovered denarii from the New Testament period with remarkable preservation? Some coins clearly show the image of Tiberius Caesar, exactly as would have been handed to Jesus in the famous taxation debate. These tangible connections to biblical events help us visualize the historical reality of the Gospel narratives and remind us that the biblical accounts take place in concrete historical contexts with verifiable artifacts.
• Did you know that although the denarius was a Roman coin, its name lives on in several modern currencies? The Arabic dinar, used in several Middle Eastern countries, derives its name from the denarius, as does the former Macedonian denar and several historical European currencies. This linguistic legacy demonstrates how this biblical monetary unit has left an enduring mark on world economic history, just as the spiritual principles Jesus taught using the denarius continue to transform lives today.

Remember This

The δηνάριον in Scripture is not merely an ancient coin but a powerful symbol of the intersection between earthly economics and kingdom values, challenging us to render unto God what truly belongs to Him—our complete devotion—while using our material resources with wisdom and generosity that reflects His character.