What is the significance of thirty pieces of silver

The Tyrian coin was more than 90 percent pure, and so it mattered a great deal whose currency was employed. Small wonder that the money changers of the Bible were held in such contempt by Jesus and others, because to trade coins of a similar weight made it very easy for a savvy banker to sell less silver for more.

The Hebrew Scripture give us a few more clues. The Torah tells us that if an ox gored a slave, the owner of the dead slave had to be compensated the sum of 30 shekels of silver, and the ox got executed. Exodus Of course, no one knows whatever happened to the original 30 pieces of silver, although various ancient coins purporting to be the originals were preserved in shrines of the middle ages as relics.

Write to him at Professing Faith, P. His death is the value of the death of a slave. Others have seen the story of Joseph as a symbol or prefiguration of Jesus Christ. Genesis 37 describes Joseph, son of Jacob, as the favored son who dreams and interprets dreams. They are irritated that Joseph interprets dreams in his own favor, describing the brothers as bowing in servitude to Joseph.

The elder brothers conspire to kill Joseph, but later Judah convinces them to sell Joseph as a slave. All of these above insights are compelling and informative. But the insight I find most compelling comes from the ancient Sumerian culture. Over the years archaeologists have discovered and translated hundreds of thousands of Sumerian tablets, which record their stories, songs, and sayings. What has been discovered? Since thirty shekels of silver was actually a considerable sum of money during the Sumerian culture, this seems like a strange and contradictory way to describe something as worthless.

Why did the Sumerians come up with this statement in the first place, to describe worthless and valueless objects? Kadalikatt Joseph Sibichan Kadalikatt Joseph Sibichan 7, 3 3 gold badges 21 21 silver badges 51 51 bronze badges.

What did your research show you? Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Edit: I found the references to the 30 pieces of silver and the connection to the prophecy in Zechariah from the Catholic Encyclopedia, part of which says this: St.

Improve this answer. Lesley Lesley Is there a source for that tidbit? Kris I think the scripture that some would use is Act This could lean someone to the interpretation that the field that was purchased, by the Jewish leaders, is the same as the one in which Judas died. This, of course, would be a different topic than what is being discussed here.

I'm assuming inflation was a thing during biblical times and so 30 pieces in Jesus's day was even less than it was in Zechariah's day, no? Matt Cremeens It wasn't the monetary value of the pieces of silver that mattered. It was the fact that God in his infinite wisdom knew that His one and his only Son would be betrayed. From before the founding of the world, God the Father, the Son known as the Logos or Word and the Holy Spirit were in complete agreement that the Son of man would be betrayed, put to death and would then be resurrected, proving who is really in control.

You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Have you ever wondered what those 30 pieces of silver were exactly - or how much they were worth? Scholars have debated these questions for years. The details of this story are found in the biblical book of Matthew, chapters 26 and Later Judas, filled with remorse for his betrayal, threw the coins back at the priests in the Temple before he went and hanged himself.

In 33 A. This coin contained 14 grams of silver. The coins themselves, being ancient and historical , would of course be priceless, but at the time they were just regular silver coins used as instruments of commerce.