τελώνης
telṓnēs
tax collector
A person who collects taxes or customs duties, particularly those levied on behalf of a ruling authority or occupying power. The term most commonly refers to an agent responsible for assessing and collecting tolls, tariffs, or tribute, frequently acting as an intermediary between the authorities (such as the Roman government) and local populations. In various contexts, the position could encompass both the chief franchise-holder who leased the rights to collect taxes as well as subordinate employees serving at tax stations or checkpoints. The term carries nuanced connotations of fiscal authority, legal prerogative, and—especially in certain contexts—social opprobrium due to widespread perceptions of collaboration or extortion.
Matthew 18:17 · Word #21
Lexicon G5057
| Lemma | τελώνης |
| Transliteration | telṓnēs |
| Strong's | G5057 |
| Definition | A person who collects taxes or customs duties, particularly those levied on behalf of a ruling authority or occupying power. The term most commonly refers to an agent responsible for assessing and collecting tolls, tariffs, or tribute, frequently acting as an intermediary between the authorities (such as the Roman government) and local populations. In various contexts, the position could encompass both the chief franchise-holder who leased the rights to collect taxes as well as subordinate employees serving at tax stations or checkpoints. The term carries nuanced connotations of fiscal authority, legal prerogative, and—especially in certain contexts—social opprobrium due to widespread perceptions of collaboration or extortion. |
Morphology N NOM M SG
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Case | NOM — Nominative — The subject of the sentence |
| Gender | M — Masculine — Grammatical masculine |
| Number | SG — Singular — One |
Common Translation
| Phrase | tax collector |
| Literal | tax-collector / publican |
Lexical Info
| Lemma | τελώνης |
| Strong's | G5057 |
SIBI-P1 Translation G5057-03
tax collector
| Morphological Notes | Noun; nominative masculine singular (Gr,N,,,,,NMS); denotes one male tax-collecting agent as subject. |
| Rendering Rationale | "Tax collector" directly reflects the root τελ- (tax, toll) and denotes one who assesses and gathers public revenue. The nominative masculine singular form identifies a single male agent performing this fiscal role. |
View full lexicon entry for G5057 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
tax collector
| Same as P1 | Yes |
| Rationale | 'tax collector' is a correct and specific noun rendering for τελώνης in this context. |