Denarius

A Roman silver coin, often equal to a day’s wage for a common worker.

The head of Emperor Tiberius on a denarius
The head of Emperor Tiberius on a denarius (© Kwo-Wei Peng by United Bible Societies) Denarius

About Denarius

A denarius was a silver coin used in the Roman Empire. Most workers earned one denarius for working a full day.

See Coins; Money.

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The object itself Article

Form, use in ancient daily life, and how translators render the term.

Key References

Matthew 22:19

Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.

Mark 12:15

But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.”

Revelation 6:6

And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.”

All Scripture References (15)

Matthew (6)
Matthew 18:28

But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’

Matthew 20:2

He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

Matthew 20:9

The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.

Matthew 20:10

So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius.

Matthew 20:13

But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius?

Matthew 22:19

Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.

Mark (3)
Mark 6:37

But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii to give all of them bread to eat?”

Mark 12:15

But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.”

Mark 14:5

It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.

Luke (3)
Luke 7:41

“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

Luke 10:35

The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’

Luke 20:24

“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.

John (2)
John 6:7

Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.”

John 12:5

“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”

Revelation (1)
Revelation 6:6

And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.”