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farthing

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

Two Roman bronze coins

One (Matt. 5:26²⁶Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. (Matthew 5:26); Mark 12:42⁴²And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. (Mark 12:42)), worth of a cent; the other (Matt. 10:29²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (Matthew 10:29); Luke 12:6⁶Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? (Luke 12:6)), worth 14 cents.

Concise Bible Dictionary:

See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

787 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

ἀσσάριον

Transliteration:

assarion

Phonic:

as-sar’-ee-on

Meaning:

of Latin origin; an assarius or as, a Roman coin

KJV Usage:

farthing

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Mark 12:42⁴²And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. (Mark 12:42). She threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

See also Luke 21:2²And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. (Luke 21:2).

1. The λεπτόν, or “mite,” was the smallest Greek copper coin. Its value was the eighth part of an assarion; thus making it worth about one fifth of one cent, or three eighths of one farthing. See note on Matthew 10:29²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (Matthew 10:29) (#658). It is also mentioned in Luke 12:59⁵⁹I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite. (Luke 12:59).

2. The κοδρύντης, or “farthing,” was the smallest Roman brass coin, and was worth the fourth part of an assarion, and equal to two lepta, or mites; that is, about two fifths of one cent, or three fourths of one farthing. It is also mentioned in Matthew 5:26²⁶Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. (Matthew 5:26).