Dictionary Article

A person who engages in loaning, exchanging, and issuing money. The development of interstate and international trade made it imperative to devise a method of banking to facilitate the transfer of funds. The appearance of coinage in the seventh century BC brought the money changer into being. The royal monopoly in commerce (2 Sm 5:11; 1 Kgs 10:14-29) gave place to a system that resembled modern banking.

Show passage in OET: SA2 5:11

OET-RV SA2 5:11

11 King Hiram from Tsor (Tyre) sent messengers to David, then he sent carpenters and stone-cutters to build a palace for David.

OET-LV SA2 5:11

11 And_ Ḩīrām the _king _of Tsor/(Tyre) _he _sent messengers to Dāvid and_wood(s)_of cedars and_craftsmen _of wood and_craftsmen _of the_stone _of a _wall and_they _built a _house for_Dāvid.

Jump to OET SA2 5:11 section.

In NT times money changers represented one aspect of the banking system. They spent their time converting Roman money into orthodox coinage for the temple half-shekel (Mt 17:24; 21:12; 25:27; Mk 11:15; Lk 19:23; Jn 2:14-15).

Show passage in OET: MAT 17:24

OET-RV MAT 17:24

24 Then when they got to Kafarnaoum (Capernaum), the tax-collectors collecting the poll tax approached Kefa (Peter; Grk. Petros) and asked him, “Isn’t your teacher going to pay the tax?”

OET-LV MAT 17:24

24 And them having _come to Kafarnaʼoum, the ones receiving the two _drachmas approached to_ the _Petros and said:
The teacher of _you _all is_ not _paying the two _drachmas?

Show passage in OET: MAT 21:12

OET-RV MAT 21:12

12 Then Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) dismounted and entered the temple. He threw out everyone who was buying and selling in the temple, and he knocked over the moneychangers’ tables and the dove-sellers’ seats,

OET-LV MAT 21:12

12 And Yaʸsous came _in into the temple, and he _throw _out all the ones selling and buying in the temple, and he _overturned the tables of _the moneychangers, and the seats of _the ones selling the doves.

Show passage in OET: MAT 25:27

OET-RV MAT 25:27

27 so you should’ve at least invested my silver with the bankers, and then I could’ve got it back with some interest.

OET-LV MAT 25:27

27 Therefore it _was _fitting you to _put the silver _coins of _me to _the bankers, and having _come, I would received _back the mine with interest.

Show passage in OET: MRK 11:15

OET-RV MRK 11:15

15 Then they came back into Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and on into the temple where Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) started driving out the sellers and the buyers that were trading in there. Then he tipped over the money-changers’ tables and the chairs of the ones selling doves,

OET-LV MRK 11:15

15 And they _are _coming to Hierousalaʸm, and having _come _in into the temple, he _began to _be _casting _out the ones selling and the ones buying in the temple, and the tables of _the moneychangers and he _overturned the seats of _the ones selling the doves.

Show passage in OET: LUK 19:23

OET-RV LUK 19:23

23 So why didn’t you take my silver to the bank? Then went I returned, at least I would have been able to collect some interest.’

OET-LV LUK 19:23

23 And for_ why _reason you_ not _gave the silver of _me to the_bank, and _I having _come, I _collected wishfully it with interest?

Show passage in OET: JHN 2:14–15

OET-RV JHN 2:14

14 There in the temple, he discovered merchants selling cows and sheep and doves, and moneychangers sitting at their tables.

OET-RV JHN 2:15

15 Yeshua formed some cords into a whip and drove the sheep and cows out of the temple grounds, and he overturned the tables—spilling the coins of the moneychangers onto the ground.

OET-LV JHN 2:14

14 And he _found in the temple the ones selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money-changers sitting.

OET-LV JHN 2:15

15 And having _made a_whip of cords, all he _throw _out both the sheep and the oxen from the temple, and he _poured _out the coins of _the moneychangers, and he _overturned the tables.

Jump to OET MAT 17:24 section.

Jump to OET MAT 21:12 section.

Jump to OET MAT 25:27 section.

Jump to OET MRK 11:15 section.

Jump to OET LUK 19:23 section.

Jump to OET JHN 2:14–15 section.

Those who lent money (lenders) and those who gave credit in financial transactions (creditors) were protected by a system of guarantees such as pieces of movable property or a pledge of some kind. Interest was theoretically forbidden by Israelite law (Ex 22:25; Dt 15:1-18), although the law was not always observed and exorbitant rates of interest were sometimes charged. Prophets and some national leaders deplored the practice (Neh 5:6-13; Ez 18:8, 13, 17 OET EZE 18:8 · OET EZE 18:13 · OET EZE 18:17; 22:12). Often, the people of Israel were afraid of their creditors (2 Kgs 4:1; Ps 109:11; Is 24:2; 50:1), who might invade their homes to recover a debt, even carrying off children as slaves (2 Kgs 4:1; Is 50:1). The parable of the creditor and the two debtors in Luke 7:41-42 represents a kindly creditor (cf. Mt 25:14-30; Lk 19:11-27).

Show passage in OET: EXO 22:25

OET-RV EXO 22:25

25 If you loan money to any my people who are poor, you mustn’t act like an impartial creditor to them—you mustn’t charge them interest.

OET-LV EXO 22:24

24  If money you _will _lend _to DOM people _of_my DOM the _poor_person with_you not you _must _be to_him/it like_a _creditor not you(pl)_must _put on/upon/above_him/it interest.

Show passage in OET: NEH 5:6–13

OET-RV NEH 5:6

6 I got very angry when I heard their complaints and desperation,

OET-RV NEH 5:7

7 and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I protested to the leading citizens and the officials, “You guys are charging interest against your own countrymen.”
¶ So I called for a gathering of all the people to deal with them,

OET-RV NEH 5:8

8 and I told them, “Our brothers, the Yehudim, were sold to other countries as slaves and we’ve done all we can to bring them back here. But now even you yourselves are buying and selling your own countrymen to make a profit.” They couldn’t argue against that, so they were just silent.

OET-RV NEH 5:9

9 “It’s not good what you’re doing,” I continued. “Shouldn’t you all respect and obey our god, because otherwise we’ll be despised by the other nations, our enemies.

OET-RV NEH 5:10

10 I myself have lent them money and grain, as have my brothers and my young men, but please let’s forgo charging interest.

OET-RV NEH 5:11

11 Please, even today, return their fields to them, and their vineyards and olive orchards, their houses, and the interest on the money and the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you are charging against them.”

OET-RV NEH 5:12

12 “Okay, we’ll do what you’re asking,” they responded. “We’ll return their property and we won’t impose any more charges on them.”
¶ So I called the priests to witness those leading citizens and officials making an oath to do what they’d said they would do.

OET-RV NEH 5:13

13 Also I shook the folds of my robe and told them, “May God shake you all out of his house like that, and shake every man’s business if he doesn’t do what he just promised—may he be shaken out like that and lose everything.”

OET-LV NEH 5:6

6 And_it _glowed/burnt to_me exceedingly just_as I _heard DOM outcry _of_their and_DOM the_words/messages the_these.

OET-LV NEH 5:7

7 And_ heart _of_my _it _considered with_me and_I_contended with the_nobles and_DOM the_officials and_I_said to/for_them usury each on_brother _of_his you(pl) are_lending and_I _made on_them an _assembly great.

OET-LV NEH 5:8

8 And_I_said to/for_them we we _have _bought DOM countrymen _of_our the_Yəhūdī/(Jews) who_had_sold _themselves to_nations according_to _the _sufficiency _of in_us and_also you(pl) you(pl)_sold DOM countrymen _of_your(pl) and_they _were _sold to/for_us and_they _were _silent and_not they _found a _message.

OET-LV NEH 5:9

9 And not is_good the_thing which you(pl) are_doing am_not in_the _fear _of our _god _of_our are _you(pl)_walking from_the _reproach _of the_nations enemies _of_our.

OET-LV NEH 5:10

10 And_also I brothers _of_my and_servants _of_my are_lending (is)_in_them money and_grain let _us _abandon please DOM the_usury (the)_this.

OET-LV NEH 5:11

11 Return please to/for_them as_this_day fields _of_their vineyards _of_their trees _of_their _olive and_houses _of_their and_one _hundred of_the _money and_the_grain the _new_wine and_the _fresh_oil which you(pl) are_lending to_them.

OET-LV NEH 5:12

12 And_they _said we _will _return_it and_from_them not we _will _require_it so we _will _do just_as you are_saying and_I _summoned DOM the_priests and_I_made _them _swear _an _oath for_doing according_the _manner (the)_this.

OET-LV NEH 5:13

13 Also bosom _of_my I _shook _out and_I_said thus the_ʼElohīm may _he _shake _out DOM every _of the_man who not he _will _carry _out DOM the_message the_this from_house _of_his and_from_property _of_his and_thus may _he _be shaken _out and_empty and_ all _of the_assembly _they _said amen and_they _praised DOM YHWH and_ the_people _he/it _made according_the _manner (the)_this.

Show passage in OET: EZE 18:8; EZE 18:13; EZE 18:17

OET-RV EZE 18:8

8 who doesn’t charge too much interest if he lends money, and doesn’t take too much profit for what he sells, who promotes true justice within the community,

OET-RV EZE 18:13

13 who lends out money at too high interest, and who makes too much profit on what he sells. Should that man live? He certainly won’t! He’ll definitely die, and his blood will be on his own head.

OET-RV EZE 18:17

17 he’s turned his back on crime, and doesn’t charge high interest, he follows my instructions and obeys my regulations—he won’t die for his father’s evil actions, but he’ll certainly live.

OET-LV EZE 18:8

8 For_interest not he _lent and_usury not he _took from_injustice he _turned _back his/its_hand justice _of faithfulness he _did between a _person and_a _person.

OET-LV EZE 18:13

13 For_interest he _has _lent and_usury he _has _taken and_will _he _live not he _will _live DOM all _of the_abominations the_these he _has _done certainly _(die) he _will _be _put _to _death blood(s)_of_his in/on/over_him/it it _will _be.

OET-LV EZE 18:17

17 From_the_poor he _has _turned _back his/its_hand interest and_usury not he _has _taken judgements _of_my he _has _done in_regulations _of_my he _has _walked he not he _will _die for_the _iniquity _of his/its_father certainly _(live) he _will _live.

Show passage in OET: EZE 22:12

OET-RV EZE 22:12

12 Those men are involved in paid assassinations within you, plus you’ve taken interest and gained too much profit, you’ve harmfully oppressed your neighbours, and you’ve forgotten me. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration.

OET-LV EZE 22:12

12 A _bribe they _have _taken in_you so _as to _shed blood interest and_usury you _have _taken and_you _have _made _unjust _gain neighbour _of_your by_oppression and_me you _have _forgotten the _utterance _of my_master YHWH.

Show passage in OET: KI2 4:1

OET-RV KI2 4:1

4 One day a woman who was a wife of one of the prophets-in-training, called out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, died, and you yourself know that your servant served Yahweh. Now the moneylender has come to take two of my children in payment to become his slaves.”

OET-LV KI2 4:1

4 And_a _woman one of_the _wives _of of _the _sons _of of_the _prophets she _cried _out to ʼElīshāˊ to_say servant _of_your husband _of_my he _is _dead and_you(ms) you _know if/because _that servant _of_your he _was fearing DOM YHWH and_the_creditor is_about _to _come to_take/accept/receive DOM the _two _of children _of_my to_him/it to_slaves.

Show passage in OET: PSA 109:11

OET-RV PSA 109:11

11 May the creditor take all he owns.
⇔ ≈ May strangers plunder what he earns.

OET-LV PSA 109:11

11 A _creditor may _he _strike to/from_all/each/any/every that to_him/it and_ strangers _may _they _plunder property _of_his.

Show passage in OET: ISA 24:2

OET-RV ISA 24:2

2 Then the priest won’t be any better off than the people,
⇔ the master than his slave,
⇔ the mistress than her maids,
⇔ the seller than the buyer,
⇔ the borrower than the lender,
⇔ or the creditor than the debtor.

OET-LV ISA 24:2

2 And_it _was as_people as_priest as_servant as_master(s)_of_his as_maidservant as_mistress _of_her as_buyer as_seller as_lender as_borrower as_creditor just_as a _creditor in_him/it.

Show passage in OET: ISA 50:1

OET-RV ISA 50:1

50 Yahweh says this:
⇔ Where’s the divorce papers for your mother who I sent away?
⇔ Which of my creditors did I sell you all to,
⇔ because you were all sold because of your disobedience?
⇔ ≈ And your mother was sent away because of your rebellion.

OET-LV ISA 50:1

50 Thus YHWH he _says where this is_the _document _of the _divorce _of your _mother _of_your(pl) which I_sent _her _away or who is_one_of_my _creditors whom I _sold you(pl) to_him/it HERE for_iniquities _of_your(pl) you(pl)_were _sold and_for_transgressions _of_your(pl) mother _of_your(pl) she _was _sent _away.

Show passage in OET: LUK 7:41–42

OET-RV LUK 7:41

41 Then Yeshua told him this story: “Once there were two people who had borrowed from a money lender: one borrowed five-hundred coins and the other borrowed fifty.

OET-RV LUK 7:42

42 But neither of them was able to repay him, so he wrote-off both of their debts. Now after that, which one of them do you think would appreciate him more?”

OET-LV LUK 7:41

41 There _were two debtors to_a_ certain _moneylender:
the one was _owing five _hundred daʸnarion_coins, and the other fifty.

OET-LV LUK 7:42

42 And them having no money to _give _back, he _forgave to _both.
Therefore which of _them, will _be _loving him more?

Jump to OET EXO 22:25 section.

Jump to OET NEH 5:6–13 section.

Jump to OET EZE 18:8 section. · OET EZE 18:13 section. · OET EZE 18:17 section.

Jump to OET EZE 22:12 section.

Jump to OET KI2 4:1 section.

Jump to OET PSA 109:11 section.

Jump to OET ISA 24:2 section.

Jump to OET ISA 50:1 section.

Jump to OET LUK 7:41–42 section.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary