Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 21:2
And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
2. also ] If the kai be genuine, it should perhaps follow the tina “some one even a widow.”
two mites ] “which make a farthing,” Mar 12:42. The lepton or prutah was the smallest of coins, and the Rabbis did not allow any one to give less than two.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. A certain poor widow] A widow miserably poor; this is the proper import of , and her being miserably poor heightened the merit of the action.
Two mites.] Which Mark says, Mr 12:42, make a farthing or quadrans, the fourth part of an AS, or penny, as we term it. In Plutarch’s time we find the smallest piece of brass coin in use among the Romans was the quadrans, but it appears that a smaller piece of money was in circulation among the Jews in our Lord’s time, called here, and in Mark, Mr 12:42, a lepton, i.e. small, diminished, from , I fail. In ancient times our penny used to be marked with a deep indented cross, dividing the piece into four equal parts, which, when broken in two, made the half-penny, and, when broken into four, made the fourthing, what we have corrupted into farthing. Probably the Roman quadrans was divided in this way for the convenience of the poor. Our term mite seems to have been taken from the animal called by that name; for as that appeared to our ancestors to be the smallest of all animals, so this being the smallest of all coins was called by its name. Junius says that mite was a small base coin among the Dutch. Our word mite seems to be a contraction of the Latin minutum, a small thing, whence the French miete, a crumb, a very small morsel. See Clarke on Mr 12:41.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
2. two mites“which makea farthing” (Mr 12:42),the smallest Jewish coin. “She might have kept one”[BENGEL].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he saw also a certain poor widow,…. Whom he took particular notice of above all the rest: the poor, and the widow, are regarded by him, and are his care; nor are their mean services, done in faith, and from a principle of love, despised by him, but preferred to the greater services of others, where faith and love are wanting:
casting in thither two mites; the value of a farthing. The Persic version renders it, “two bottoms of yarn”;
[See comments on Mr 12:42]:
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Poor (). A rare word from (, to work for one’s living). Latin penuria and Greek , to be hungry are kin to it. Here only in the N.T. Mr 12:42 has , a more common word from , to be frightened, to strike and hide from fear, to be in beggary. And Luke uses this adjective also of her in verse 3.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Poor. See on Mt 5:3.
Mites. See on Mr 12:42.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And he saw also a certain poor widow,” (eiden de tina cheran penichran) “Then he saw an impoverished widow,” an indigent, Luk 18:3; 2Co 6:10; Mar 12:42. The widow was almost a “beggar,” she was so poor.
2) “Casting in thither two mites.” (ballousun ekei lepta duo) “Casting or tossing there (into the treasury) two (lepta) mites,” Mar 12:42. The smallest amount the Rabbis allowed anyone to give. The mite was one eighth of one cent. The two mites made about one fourth of a penny, called a farthing. The mite was the smallest Jewish coin, but it was her all.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(2) A certain poor widow.St. Lukes word for poor differs from St. Marks, and seems to have been carefully chosen to express the fact that the widow, though needy, and compelled to work for her scanty maintenance, was yet not a beggar, as the more common word for poor suggested. It is not found elsewhere in the New Testament.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And he saw a certain poor widow casting in there two mites.’
But then Jesus noted a woman who cast in ‘a very few lepta’, the very smallest Jewish coin. The number ‘two’ was often used to indicate ‘a very few’ (compare 1Ki 17:12). Numbers in those days tended not to be used strictly mathematically but as adjectives which were intended to convey an impression. Thus Jesus may not have known the exact amount. Although if it was a vow offering it would be declared. In this latter case we can imagine what the priest thought when he announced ‘two lepta’. Even if he was a good man he would not have been moved by the thought of it. But whether it was a general gift or a vow offering, in either case Jesus knew that it was all that she had. And He was moved in His heart by how much she had given.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
Ver. 2. Casting in thither two mites ] That is, two eighth parts of a half-penny, saith the Syriac. See Trapp on “ Mar 12:41 “ See Trapp on “ Mar 12:42 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Luk 21:2 . , needy, from or ; a poetic word rarely used, here only in N.T. , Mk.’s word, is stronger = reduced to beggary. . Lk. does not think it necessary to explain what the coin was or what the contribution amounted to. Mk. states its value in Roman coinage ( ).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
also a certain poor widow = a certain poor widow also.
poor. Greek. penichros = one who works for daily bread. Occurs only here.
mites. Greek. lepta. See App-51.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 21:2. ) He saw a certain woman, and her too a widow.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
mites: Mar 12:42, *marg.
Reciprocal: Lev 14:21 – poor Pro 11:16 – gracious Mar 12:41 – sat Mar 12:44 – all her
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
The widow cast in two mites instead of one as is generally stated. According to Robinson’s lexicon, a mite was equal to about one fifth of a cent. The widow contributed about one half of a cent to the good work. The actual amount of money was not the main point as Jesus explains.