Custom

From BibleEncyclopedia.Net

A tax imposed by the Romans. The tax-gatherers were termed publicans (q.v.), who had their stations at the gates of cities, and in the public highways, and at the place set apart for that purpose, called the “receipt of custom” (Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14), where they collected the money that was to be paid on certain goods (Matthew 17:25). These publicans were tempted to exact more from the people than was lawful, and were, in consequence of their extortions, objects of great hatred. The Pharisees would have no intercourse with them (Matthew 5:46, Matthew 5:47; Matthew 9:10, Matthew 9:11).

A tax or tribute (q.v.) of half a shekel was annually paid by every adult Jew for the temple. It had to be paid in Jewish coin (Matthew 22:17-19; Mark 12:14, Mark 12:15). Money-changers (q.v.) were necessary, to enable the Jews who came up to Jerusalem at the feasts to exchange their foreign coin for Jewish money; but as it was forbidden by the law to carry on such a traffic for emolument (Deuteronomy 23:19, Deuteronomy 23:20), our Lord drove them from the temple (Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15).

Custom (1)

kus´tum (tax):

(a) הלך, hălākh, Ezra 4:13, Ezra 4:10; Ezra 7:24 the King James Version;

(b) בּלו, belō, Ezra 4:13, etc.;

(c) τελώνιον, telōnion, Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27, “receipt of custom” the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) “place of toll,” the collectors' office;

(d) τέλος, télos, Matthew 17:25 (the Revised Version (British and American) “toll”); Romans 13:7; 1 Maccabees 11:35 (the Revised Version (British and American) “tolls”; compare 1 Maccabees 10:31). The tax designated by hălākh in Ezra 4:13, etc., is usually taken to mean a road tax, a toll, from root hălākh, but compare Winckler, Altorientalische Forschungen, II, 463, which derives from root ilku, a command, a decree, hence, an imposed tax. Belō from root yābhal is supposed to be a tax on merchandise or produce (as distinguished from “tribute” or the tax on houses, lands and persons), usually paid in kind and levied for the support of the native or provincial government. See Ryle, Cambridge Bible, Ezra-Nehemiah, in the place cited. Telos in New Testament and Maccabees is an indirect tax farmed out to the publicans.

Custom (2)

kus´tum (usage):

In the Old Testament, except, Genesis 31:35 where the Revised Version (British and American) renders, better, “manner” (דּרך, derekh, “way”), the words translated “custom” are ḥōḳ, ḥuḳḳāh, “statute,” and mishpāṭ, “judgment.” Such passages as Judges 11:39; Jeremiah 32:11, and especially Ezra 3:4 (the King James Version “custom,” the Revised Version (British and American) “ordinance”), illustrate the difficulty of deciding upon the proper translation, in cases where “custom” might become “statute,” “usage” establish itself as “law.” In Leviticus 18:30; Jeremiah 10:3 the reference is to heathen religious practices.

In the New Testament Luke 1:9; Luke 2:42; Acts 6:14; Acts 15:1 (the King James Version “manner”); Acts 16:21; Acts 21:21; Acts 26:3; Acts 28:17 (ἔθος, éthos), and Luke 2:27 from the same Greek root, refer likewise to definitely established religious practices; in every case except Acts 16:21, those of the Jewish law. The Revised Version (British and American) makes the translation of ethos uniform, reading “custom” in Luke 22:39 (the King James Version “wont”) and in John 19:40; Acts 25:16; Hebrews 10:25 (the King James Version “manner”). Greek εἰωθός, eiōthós, from the same root, is rendered “custom” in Luke 4:16 by English Versions of the Bible, and by the Revised Version (British and American) also in Acts 17:2, its only other occurrence in the New Testament. In John 18:39; 1 Corinthians 11:16 “custom” is the translation of Greek sunḗtheia, in the sense of “usage” rather than of “law.”