Matthew 22 · Verse 20

Matthew 22:20

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

Matthew 22:20, King James Version

Matthew 22:20 in other translations

BSB	“Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?”
WEB	He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?”
ASV	And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
YLT	and he saith to them, ‘Whose is this image and the inscription?'
DARBY	And he says to them, Whose is this image and superscription?
BBE	And he said to them, Whose is this image and name on it?
Webster	And he saith to them, Whose is this image, and superscription?

What does Matthew 22:20 mean?

Barnes' Notes

Verse 20. This image. The likeness of the reigning prince was probably struck on the coins, as it is now on [English and] Spanish coins.

Superscription. The name and titles of the emperor.

(2) "superscription", or "inscription"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 20 Whose is this image and superscription? - He knew well enough whose they were; but he showed the excellency of his wisdom, 3dly, in making them answer to their own confusion. They came to ensnare our Lord in his discourse, and now they are ensnared in their own. He who digs a pit for his neighbor ordinarily falls into it himself.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 22:15-22

The Pharisees sent their disciples with the Herodians, a party among the Jews, who were for full subjection to the Roman emperor. Though opposed to each other, they joined against Christ. What they said of Christ was right; whether they knew it or not, blessed be God we know it. Jesus Christ was a faithful Teacher, and a bold reprover. Christ saw their wickedness. Whatever mask the hypocrite puts on, our Lord Jesus…

Read the full comment on Matthew 22:15-22 →

Matthew 22:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532

λέγειlegeiHe saysG3004

αὐτοῖς·autoisto them;G846

τίνοςtinosOf whom [is]G5101

ἡhē<the>G3588

εἰκὼνeikōnlikenessG1504

αὕτηhautēthisG3778

καὶkaiAndG2532

ἡhē[of whom is] theG3588

ἐπιγραφή;epigraphēinscription?G1923

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 22:20

Luke 20:24
Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cesar’s.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

superscription. or, inscription.
Lu 20:24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Matthew 22:19
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
Matthew 22:20
And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Matthew 22:21
They say unto him, Cesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

Read all of Matthew 22

Matthew 22:20 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Entonces les dice: ¿Cúya es esta figura, y lo que está encima escrito?
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et il leur dit: De qui est cette image et cette inscription?
German Elberfelder 1871	Und er spricht zu ihnen: Wessen ist dieses Bild und die Überschrift?
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et ait illis Jesus: Cujus est imago hæc, et superscriptio?