Matthew 17:26

Matthew 17:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
• New International Version (NIV)“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.

Context of Matthew 17:26

24When they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel [temple tax] went up to Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the half-shekel?” 25Peter answered, “Yes.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly rulers collect duties or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt [from taxation]. 27However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take it and give it to them [to pay the temple tax] for you and Me.”

Matthew 17:26 word by word

εἰπόντος δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων, ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἄρα γε ἐλεύθεροί εἰσιν οἱ υἱοί.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
• saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• strangersἀλλότριοςallotrios · another’sG245
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• saithφημίphēmi · to assertG5346
• Thenἄραara · thereforeG686
• Thenγέge · indeedG1065
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the childrenυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
• freeἐλεύθεροςeleutheros · free/freedomG1658

Commentaries on Matthew 17:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Then are the children free - As this money is levied for the support of that temple of which I am the Lord, then I am not obliged to pay the tax; and my disciples, like the priests that minister, should be exempted from the necessity of paying.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24-27Verses 24-27 And when they were come to Capernaum - See the notes at Matthew 4:13. They that received tribute - In the original this is, they who received the didrachma, or double drachma. The drachma was a Grecian coin worth about fifteen cents (7 1/2 d.) of British money. The didrachma, or double drachma, was a silver coin equal to the Attic drachma, and, in the time of Josephus, equal to the Jewish half shekel, that is, about 30 cents (circa 1880‘s)…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-27Verses 24-27 Peter felt sure that his Master was ready to do what was right. Christ spoke first to give him proof that no thought can be withholden from him. We must never decline our duty for fear of giving offence; but we must sometimes deny ourselves in our worldly interests, rather than give offence. However the money was lodged in the fish, He who knows all things alone could know it, and only almighty power could bring it to Peter's hook. The power…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25-26As an obedient Jew, Jesus would have paid the tax every year, and he did pay it. The lesson Jesus wanted to teach was that as God's Son, he is greater than the temple (Matthew 12:5–6). By this, he showed that a decisive break with the temple was coming (see 16:18–19; 21:33–46).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. Peter saith unto him, Of strangers--"of those not their children." Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free--By "the children" our Lord cannot here mean Himself and the Twelve together, in some loose sense of their near relationship to God as their common Father. For besides that our Lord never once mixes Himself up with His disciples in speaking of their relation to God, but ever studiously keeps His relation and theirs apart (see, for…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 17:26

• Citizens
• Jesus, the Christ
• King
• Miracles
• Tax
• Tribute (Taxes)

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Peter
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Peter, Simon Peter, Cephas
• Betray
• Cure
• Tabernacle
• Talking
• Taxes
• Tribute

Commentaries on Matthew 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings