Greek word · G2773

κερματιστής

kermatistēs

moneychanger

A dealer in small coins, a money changer. It comes from kerma, 'a piece cut off', hence 'small coin' (from keirō, 'to cut, shear'). It is very rare in Greek, and the New Testament example here is its best-known use.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 30, 2026

What it means

κερματιατής, -οῦ, ὁ

(κερματίζω, to cut small, coin into small money),

a money changer: John 2:14.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of John 2:14

Range of meaning: A dealer in small coins, a money changer. It comes from kerma, 'a piece cut off', hence 'small coin' (from keirō, 'to cut, shear'). It is very rare in Greek, and the New Testament example here is its best-known use.
Against the English: 'Money changers' is accurate. NLT's 'dealers at tables exchanging foreign money' explains the job well. Modern readers may picture bankers, moneylenders or loan sharks, but nothing in the word suggests lending.
How it drifted: In popular speech 'money changers in the temple' has come to mean greedy financiers in general. The word itself names a narrow job: changing coins for a fee.
Used elsewhere in the period: Exod 30:13 set a half-shekel offering for every Israelite man. In the first century it was paid every year for the upkeep of the temple. Mishnah Shekalim 1:3 says changers' tables were set up in the countryside on 15 Adar and in the temple on 25 Adar, the month before Passover. Shekalim 1:6–7 names a set fee (qolbon) added to the exchange, which is the source of John's other word in v.15, kollybistēs. Tosefta Ketubot 13:3 and Mishnah Bekhorot 8:7 name the Tyrian silver coin as the standard for temple payments. That coin was known for its high, steady silver content.

Where it appears

John · 1

John 2:14 κερματιστὰς money changers

In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and money changers seated at their tables.

Here: Literally 'small-coin men', from kerma, 'chopped bit, small coin'. They changed the coins pilgrims brought into the silver coin the temple accepted. This is a rare word. In v.15 John switches to the more usual kollybistēs.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.