17:25a
“Yes,” he answered: Peter’s answer was a simple Yes. Because his answer was so short, it seems to express confidence.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
“Yes, he does,” he replied. (New International Version)
-or-
He said, “Yes, he pays it.”
-or-
“Of course,” Peter answered. (Good News Translation)
When Peter entered the house: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as entered can also be translated as “went into” or “came into.”
The Greek does not indicate how much time passed between Peter’s answer and his entering the house. However, by looking at 17:24b, we can see that Peter probably went into the house soon after he answered the tax collectors.
Here is another way to translate this phrase:
Then he went into the house (New Living Translation (2004))
the house: The Greek does not indicate whose house this was. It was certainly the house where Jesus was at that time. It was probably the house where Jesus and his disciples were staying.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
the house ⌊where Jesus was⌋
-or-
the house ⌊where there were staying⌋
17:25b
Jesus preempted him: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Jesus preempted him is more literally “Jesus anticipated him saying.” This clause indicates that Jesus already knew what the collectors had asked Peter. He already knew how Peter had responded. So Jesus spoke before Peter could report the conversation he had with the tax collectors.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
but before he could speak, Jesus said to him (New Century Version)
-or-
But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him (New Living Translation (2004))
preempted him: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates preempted means “said/spoke first.” But here it introduces a question. So it may be more natural to translate this as:
asked him (New Living Translation (2004))
17:25c
What do you think, Simon?: Jesus’ question was an invitation for Peter to think about something.
Here are some other ways to translate this question:
Simon, how does it seem to you?
-or-
Simon, what is your opinion? (Good News Translation)
In some languages it will be more natural to put the name Simon at the beginning of the question.
Simon: Simon was Peter’s original name. Jesus added the name “Peter” to him later (see 16:18a). But when Jesus called him by name, he almost always called him Simon.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
• Transliterate the word Simon according the sounds of your language. You may also want to add a footnote to explain that Simon is Peter. Here is a sample footnote:
Simon was Peter’s original name. Jesus almost always used it when he called him by name.
• Use the word Peter. For example:
What do you think, Peter? (New Living Translation (2004))
17:25d
From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?: Before you translate these two questions, consider the most natural way to do it. Here are some other ways to translate these two questions:
• As two questions. For example:
From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others? (English Standard Version)
• As a statement followed by one or more questions. For example:
The kings of the earth collect different kinds of taxes. But who pays the taxes—the king’s children or others?” (New Century Version)
-or-
The kings of the earth collect different kinds of taxes. But who pays? Do the king’s children pay? Or do other people pay?
• As one question. For example:
Do kings tax their own family or other people?
From whom do the kings of the earth collect: The phrase kings of the earth refers to all human kings. It contrasts with God, the king of heaven.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
From whom do earthly kings take
-or-
From whom do human rulers collect
customs: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as customs refers to tolls or duties that were charged people who sold things. For example, when merchants traveled around with their goods in Judaea, they would be charged a toll when they entered a town. This was the kind of tax that Matthew collected while he sat in his toll booth (in 9:9b).
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
toll (English Standard Version)
-or-
duties (Good News Translation)
taxes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as taxes refers to a government tax on people. This was a tax that Rome collected from each adult male in an area whenever a census was taken.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
poll tax
-or-
head tax
from their own sons: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as their own sons:
(1) It is literal and refers to their own sons or the members of their family. For example:
from their family members (God’s Word)
(Berean Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, New Century Version, King James Version)
(2) It is figurative and refers to the citizens of their country. For example:
from their own people (Revised English Bible)
(Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004), Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, Revised English Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Many commentators follow this interpretation. In 17:26a, Peter seemed to answer correctly that kings do not collect taxes from their own sons. So this phrase probably does not refer to citizens. Citizens do pay the taxes. But the members of the king’s family do not.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
from the people of his own house
-or-
⌊Do they collect taxes⌋ from their own sons/family?
or from others: If you have chosen interpretation (1) above, then the word others refers to other people in the kingdom. It does not refer to foreigners or strangers outside the kingdom.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
from other people (God’s Word)
-or-
Or ⌊do they collect taxes⌋ from other people?
General Comment on 17:25d
It is possible to translate the two words “customs” and “taxes” as one word or phrase. For example:
different kinds of taxes (New Century Version)
It is also possible to translate the phrase “collect customs and taxes” as a verb. For example:
Do kings tax their own people (New Living Translation (2004))
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