The Biblical Words for “Publican” (Hebrew & Greek)

The English word publican is used in older translations (like KJV) to describe a very specific kind of person in the New Testament world.

It does not mean “public official.” It means tax collector — but with a very particular social and political meaning.

Let’s break down the original words.

GREEK TERMS (New Testament)

There is no Old Testament “publican” because the role is tied to the Roman Empire.

A. τελώνης — telōnēs

Meaning: tax collector, specifically a local collector of Roman taxes.

This is the main NT word translated “publican.”

A telōnēs was:

• a Jewish man
• hired by Rome
• to collect taxes from his own people
• often charging extra for personal profit

This made them:

• collaborators
• traitors in Jewish eyes
• ritually unclean
• socially despised

This is why “publicans and sinners” is a common phrase in the Gospels.

B. τελώνιον — telōnion

Meaning: tax office, toll booth.

This is where publicans worked.

Example:

• Matthew 9:9 — Matthew is sitting at the telōnion when Jesus calls him.

C. ἀρχιτελώνης — architelōnēs

Meaning: chief tax collector.

Used only once:

• Luke 19:2 — Zacchaeus is a chief tax collector.

This means he supervised other publicans and was even wealthier — and even more hated.

What Publicans Actually Did

Publicans were not IRS agents. They were part of a Roman tax farming system:

• Rome auctioned off tax districts
• Wealthy men bought the rights to collect taxes
• They hired local collectors (publicans)
• Publicans collected taxes plus whatever extra they could get away with
• Rome didn’t care as long as they got their cut

So publicans were seen as:

• greedy
• corrupt
• extortionists
• collaborators with Rome
• ritually unclean (because of constant contact with Gentiles)

This is why they appear alongside “sinners” in the Gospels.

Timeline of the Publican in Scripture

Stage 1: No publicans in the Old Testament

Israel was not under Roman rule. Taxes existed, but not Roman-style tax farming.

Stage 2: Roman occupation (Intertestamental period)

Rome conquers Judea. Tax farming begins. Publicans emerge as a hated class.

Stage 3: Publicans in the Gospels

This is where the word becomes theologically important.

Publicans appear as:

• despised outcasts
• symbols of corruption
• examples of God’s mercy
• surprising models of repentance

Key figures:

• Matthew (Levi) — a publican called to be an apostle
• Zacchaeus — a chief publican who repents
• The repentant publican in Jesus’ parable (Luke 18:9–14)

Jesus:

• eats with publicans
• calls them
• defends them
• uses them as examples of humility

This shocks the religious establishment.

Stage 4: Publicans in the Early Church

After Jesus:

• publicans who follow Him become part of the early Christian community
• Matthew writes a Gospel
• Zacchaeus becomes a symbol of radical repentance

The early church becomes a place where outcasts are welcomed.

The Publican in Jesus’ Teaching

Jesus uses publicans to teach:

A. God’s mercy reaches the despised

“Tax collectors and prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you” (Matthew 21:31).

B. Humility is greater than religious pride

The publican in Luke 18 beats his chest and says:

“God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Jesus says he, not the Pharisee, goes home justified.

C. Repentance transforms lives

Zacchaeus gives half his goods to the poor and repays fourfold.

D. Jesus’ mission is to seek the lost

Publicans represent the people Jesus came to save.

Comparison of Publicans in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Judaism

Publicans were:

• traitors
• collaborators
• ritually unclean
• excluded from synagogue life

They were considered among the worst sinners.

Christianity

Publicans become:

• symbols of grace
• examples of repentance
• proof that Jesus welcomes outcasts
• early disciples (Matthew)

Christianity transforms the publican from villain to redeemed follower.

Islam

Islam does not have “publicans” as a religious category, but it does address:

• unjust taxation
• corruption
• oppression of the poor

Islamic teaching condemns:

• extortion
• bribery
• unjust gain

So while the role doesn’t exist, the moral issues do.