What the Bible Says About Money

"Money" comes 140 times in the King James Bible, in 123 verses. 117 are in the Old Testament and 23 in the New. The first is Genesis 17:12, "bought with money of any stranger". The last is 1 Timothy 6:10, "For the love of money is the root of all evil". "Moneychangers" comes twice more, and "mammon," a word the KJV leaves untranslated, comes four times.

112 of the Old Testament's 117 stand for keseph, which Strong's Concordance defines as "silver (from its pale color); by implication, money." The KJV prints keseph silver 287 times and money 112. In the New Testament 11 of the 23 stand for argurion, "silvery, i.e. (by implication) cash," and 4 for chrēma, "something useful or needed, i.e. wealth, price." Below are passages on money, each quoted word for word with its reference. Short notes give the Hebrew and Greek words behind the English. A table near the end counts the words behind money, and a list gives every verse where the King James text says money.

For the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10)

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)

"Love of money" is one Greek word, philarguria, which Strong's defines as "avarice." It comes nowhere else in the New Testament. Strong's derives it from philarguros, "fond of silver (money), i.e. avaricious," which is built from philos, "properly, dear, i.e. a friend," and arguros, "silver (the metal, in the articles or coin)." "Coveted after" is oregō, "to stretch oneself, i.e. reach out after (long for)." In "pierced themselves through," the pierced through is peripeirō, "to penetrate entirely, i.e. transfix (figuratively)," and it comes nowhere else in the New Testament either. The verse before it, 1 Timothy 6:9, is on the temptation page.

Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6 to 8)

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

"Gain" is porismos, which Strong's defines as "furnishing (procuring), i.e. (by implication) money-getting (acquisition)." It comes twice, here and in 6:5, "supposing that gain is godliness". "Contentment" is autarkeia, "self-satisfaction, i.e. (abstractly) contentedness, or (concretely) a competence," and the KJV prints it sufficiency in its other verse, 2 Corinthians 9:8. "Content" in 1 Timothy 6:8 is arkeō, "properly, to ward off, i.e. (by implication) to avail (figuratively, be satisfactory)." "Food" is diatrophē and "raiment" is skepasma, and neither comes anywhere else in the New Testament.

Be content with such things as ye have (Hebrews 13:5)

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)

"Without covetousness" is aphilarguros, which Strong's builds on philarguros and defines as "unavaricious." It comes in one other verse, 1 Timothy 3:3. "Content" is arkeō, the verb in 1 Timothy 6:8. It comes in eight verses, among them Luke 3:14, "be content with your wages," and 2 Corinthians 12:9, which is on the strength page. "Conversation" is tropos, which Strong's defines in part as "figuratively, deportment or character."

Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Luke 16:13 and 14)

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. (Luke 16:13-14)

Mammon is mammōnas, which Strong's says is "of Chaldee origin (confidence, i.e. wealth, personified)" and defines as "avarice (deified)." The KJV leaves it untranslated in all four of its verses, Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:9, 16:11 and 16:13. Matthew 6:24 has the same words as Luke 16:13 with "No man" in place of "No servant." "Covetous" in 16:14 is philarguros, "fond of silver (money)," and its one other verse is 2 Timothy 3:2, which the pride page names. "Derided" is ekmuktērizō, "to sneer outright at," and it comes again in Luke 23:35.

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver (Ecclesiastes 5:10 and 10:19)

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. (Ecclesiastes 10:19)

"Silver" twice in 5:10 and "money" in 10:19 are the same Hebrew word, keseph. Ecclesiastes 7:12, which is on the wisdom page, has keseph too. "Abundance" is hamon, which Strong's defines as "a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth," and "increase" is tebuah, "income, i.e. produce." "Vanity" is hebel, "emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory."

Without money and without price (Isaiah 55:1 and 2)

1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (Isaiah 55:1-2)

All three "money" are keseph. "Price" is mechir, "price, payment, wages." "Buy" in 55:1 is shabar, which Strong's defines as "to deal in grain." "Spend" in 55:2 is shaqal, "to suspend or poise (especially in trade)," the verb behind "weighed" in Genesis 23:16 and Jeremiah 32:9 below.

Four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant (Genesis 23:16 and Jeremiah 32:9)

And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. (Genesis 23:16)

And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. (Jeremiah 32:9)

Abraham is buying the field and the cave of Machpelah, where he buries Sarah in Genesis 23:19. Jeremiah buys his field while "the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem" and he is "shut up in the court of the prison" (Jeremiah 32:2). "Weighed" in both verses is shaqal. "Shekels" is sheqel, which Strong's derives from shaqal and defines as "probably a weight; used as a commercial standard." In Jeremiah 32:9 "money" and "silver" are both keseph. "Money" in Genesis 23:16 stands for no Hebrew word. The translators supplied it, and printed KJVs set it in italics, as they do the "money" of "tribute money" in Matthew 17:24.

If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor (Exodus 22:25 and Psalm 15:5)

If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. (Exodus 22:25)

He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. (Psalm 15:5)

"Usury" in both verses is neshek, "interest on a debt." Strong's derives it from nashak, "to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan." "Usurer" in Exodus 22:25 is nashah, "to lend or (by reciprocity) borrow on security or interest." "Reward" in Psalm 15:5 is shochad, "a donation (venal or redemptive)." Psalm 15 opens "LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?" (15:1), and verse 5 is its last. Keseph and neshek come together in two more verses, Leviticus 25:37, "Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury," and Deuteronomy 23:19.

Render therefore unto Cesar (Matthew 22:19 to 21)

19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 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. (Matthew 22:19-21)

The question put to him in 22:17 was "Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cesar, or not?" In "the tribute money," the money is nomisma, which Strong's defines as "what is reckoned as of value (after the Latin numisma), i.e. current coin," and it comes nowhere else in the New Testament. The tribute is kēnsos, a word of Latin origin that Strong's defines as an enrollment, or census, and by implication a tax. "Penny" is dēnarion, "a denarius (or ten asses)," and "superscription" is epigraphē, "an inscription." Mark 12:16 and 17 and Luke 20:24 and 25 tell it too.

Thou shalt find a piece of money (Matthew 17:27)

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. (Matthew 17:27)

At Capernaum "they that received tribute money" had asked Peter, "Doth not your master pay tribute?" (17:24). There the tribute is didrachmon, "a double drachma (didrachm)," and the "money" after it is supplied. "A piece of money" in 17:27 is statēr, "a stander (standard of value), i.e. (specially), a stater or certain coin." Neither word comes anywhere else in the New Testament.

And hid his lord's money (Matthew 25:18 and 27)

But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. (Matthew 25:18)

Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. (Matthew 25:27)

A man "travelling into a far country" gives his servants talents, "unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one" (25:14 and 15). "Talents" is talanton, which Strong's defines as "a balance (as supporting weights), i.e. (by implication) a certain weight (and thence a coin or rather sum of money)." "Money" in both verses is argurion. "Exchangers" is trapezitēs, "a money-broker or banker," and it comes nowhere else in the New Testament. "Usury" is tokos, "interest on money loaned (as a produce)," and it comes again in Luke 19:23.

How the people cast money into the treasury (Mark 12:41 to 44)

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. (Mark 12:41-44)

"Money" in 12:41 is chalkos, which Strong's defines as "copper (the substance, or some implement or coin made of it)." The KJV prints chalkos money twice, here and in Mark 6:8, and brass three times, among them 1 Corinthians 13:1, which is on the love page. "Treasury" is gazophulakion, "a treasure-house, i.e. a court in the temple for the collection-boxes." "Mites" is lepton, "something scaled (light), i.e. a small coin," and "farthing" is kodrantēs, "a quadrans, i.e. the fourth part of an as." "Living" in Mark 12:44 is bios, "life, i.e. (literally) the present state of existence; by implication, the means of livelihood." Luke 21:1 to 4 tells it too.

The changers of money sitting (John 2:14 and 15)

14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; (John 2:14-15)

It's when "the Jews' passover was at hand" (John 2:13). "Changers of money" in 2:14 is kermatistēs, which Strong's defines as "a handler of coins, i.e. money-broker," and "money" in 2:15 is kerma, "a clipping (bit), i.e. (specially) a coin." Neither comes anywhere else in the New Testament. "Changers" in 2:15 is kollubistēs, "a coin-dealer," the word the KJV prints moneychangers in Matthew 21:12 and Mark 11:15. "Scourge" is phragellion, "a whip, i.e. Roman lash as a public punishment," and it comes nowhere else in the New Testament.

They were glad, and promised to give him money (Mark 14:10 and 11)

10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him. (Mark 14:10-11)

"Money" is argurion. Luke 22:5 says money too, and Matthew 26:15 names the sum, "thirty pieces of silver," where the silver is argurion as well. The KJV prints argurion money 11 times and silver 9.

Brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet (Acts 4:36 and 37)

36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:36-37)

"Money" is chrēma. The KJV prints chrēma money in four verses, all of them in Acts, and riches in three, among them Mark 10:23, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!"

Thy money perish with thee (Acts 8:18 to 20)

18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. (Acts 8:18-20)

Simon is the man who "beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria" (Acts 8:9). "Money" in 8:18 and the last "money" in 8:20 are chrēma, and "thy money" is argurion. "Purchased" is ktaomai, which Strong's defines as "to get, i.e. acquire (by any means; own)."

The words behind money

The KJV says money 140 times. Counted by their Strong's numbers, the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek words in this table stand behind 138 of them. The other two, in Genesis 23:16 and Matthew 17:24, stand for no word in the Hebrew or the Greek.

Word	Language	Strong's number	Times behind money	One place
keseph	Hebrew	H3701	112	Isaiah 55:1
argurion	Greek	G694	11	Mark 14:11
chrēma	Greek	G5536	4	Acts 4:37
qesitah	Hebrew	H7192	2	Job 42:11
chalkos	Greek	G5475	2	Mark 12:41
kesaph	Aramaic	H3702	1	Ezra 7:17
kopher	Hebrew	H3724	1	Exodus 21:30
nomisma	Greek	G3546	1	Matthew 22:19
statēr	Greek	G4715	1	Matthew 17:27
kermatistēs	Greek	G2773	1	John 2:14
kerma	Greek	G2772	1	John 2:15
philarguria	Greek	G5365	1	1 Timothy 6:10

Keseph is 112 of the 117 in the Old Testament. Argurion and chrēma are 15 of the 23 in the New. Moneychangers is kollubistēs both times, and mammon is mammōnas all four times.

Every place the KJV says money

Money comes in these 123 verses.

Genesis 17:12, 17:13, 17:23, 17:27, 23:9, 23:13, 23:16, 31:15, 33:19, 42:25, 42:27, 42:28, 42:35, 43:12, 43:15, 43:18, 43:21, 43:22, 43:23, 44:1, 44:2, 44:8, 47:14, 47:15, 47:16, 47:18
Exodus 12:44, 21:11, 21:21, 21:30, 21:34, 21:35, 22:7, 22:17, 22:25, 30:16
Leviticus 22:11, 25:37, 25:51, 27:15, 27:18, 27:19
Numbers 3:48, 3:49, 3:50, 3:51, 18:16
Deuteronomy 2:6, 2:28, 14:25, 14:26, 21:14, 23:19
Judges 5:19, 16:18, 17:4
1 Kings 21:2, 21:6, 21:15
2 Kings 5:26, 12:4, 12:7, 12:8, 12:9, 12:10, 12:11, 12:13, 12:15, 12:16, 15:20, 22:7, 22:9, 23:35
2 Chronicles 24:5, 24:11, 24:14, 34:9, 34:14, 34:17
Ezra 3:7, 7:17
Nehemiah 5:4, 5:10, 5:11
Esther 4:7
Job 31:39, 42:11
Psalms 15:5
Proverbs 7:20
Ecclesiastes 7:12, 10:19
Isaiah 43:24, 52:3, 55:1, 55:2
Jeremiah 32:9, 32:10, 32:25, 32:44
Lamentations 5:4
Micah 3:11
Matthew 17:24, 17:27, 22:19, 25:18, 25:27, 28:12, 28:15
Mark 6:8, 12:41, 14:11
Luke 9:3, 19:15, 19:23, 22:5
John 2:14, 2:15
Acts 4:37, 7:16, 8:18, 8:20, 24:26
1 Timothy 6:10

Moneychangers comes in Matthew 21:12 and Mark 11:15. One of the 123, Ecclesiastes 7:12, is quoted on the wisdom page too.

Worry, fear, grief, strength, love, forgiveness, hope, peace, anger, pride, temptation, wisdom, joy and thanksgiving

How this page was made

Every verse is quoted from the 1769 standard text of the King James Version and checked word for word against two more digital copies. The printed KJV sets supplied words in italics, which this page doesn't show. Verse numbers follow the KJV. Hebrew Bibles number 14 verses named here differently. Ecclesiastes 5:10 is 5:9 there, and Exodus 22:7, 22:17 and 22:25 are 22:6, 22:16 and 22:24. Deuteronomy 23:19 is 23:20 there, and 2 Kings 12:4, 12:7, 12:8, 12:9, 12:10, 12:11, 12:13, 12:15 and 12:16 are each one verse higher.

Hebrew and Aramaic words were identified with the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. Greek words were identified with STEPBible's tagged Greek New Testament. The counts of the words behind money come from the Strong's numbers in the CrossWire Bible Society's KJV, each checked against the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible or STEPBible's Greek. Greek counts follow the Textus Receptus as STEPBible gives it. Every Greek word the notes cite in a quoted verse stands in all eight Greek editions STEPBible compares, though argurion in Matthew 25:27 and kerma in John 2:15 are singular in some and plural in others. Some quoted words don't stand in all eight. "Holy" in Acts 8:18 stands in four of the eight, "Jesus" in Mark 12:41 and "certain" in 1 Timothy 6:7 in two, and six have Joseph where Acts 4:36 has Joses. The notes cite no Greek for words like them. STEPBible is a Tyndale House Cambridge project. STEPBible's data and the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible are both shared under CC BY 4.0. The definitions come from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890). If you find a mistake, tell us through the support page.

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