κολλυβιστής
kollubistēs
moneychanger
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredBased on the data provided, the word κολλυβιστής (kollubistēs) is a Greek term that refers to a specific profession or occupation. The short definition indicates that its primary meaning is "moneychanger." This occupation likely involved exchanging one currency for another, a common need in the ancient world, especially in places like Jerusalem where multiple currencies were in circulation. The semantic domain of "Physical Action" suggests that the profession of a moneychanger was tied to tangible activities, such as handling currencies, coins, or other forms of exchange. This would have been a hands-on, day-to-day occupation that required a certain level of skill and expertise. In the biblical context, the fact that κολλυβιστής is mentioned only three times indicates that it was likely a lesser-known or relatively rare occupation among the people who produced the Greek texts. Nonetheless, the word's inclusion in the biblical account lends insight into the economic and commercial practices of ancient times, underscoring the importance of moneychangers in facilitating trade and economic exchanges.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences across the text
Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.
Mark 11:15They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables, and the seats of those who sold the doves.
John 2:15He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables.