CategoryBackground / Coin and Value Term
Modern Equivalentvery small coin; small amount of money.
KJV Word TypeCoin term / value term
DefinitionA very small coin or amount of money. In the KJV, “farthing” can refer to small Roman coin values such as the assarion or quadrans.
Key Verses"Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing." (Matthew 5:26); "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." (Matthew 10:29)
KJV Usage NoteUsed for very small coin values, often emphasizing small debt, low price, or God’s care over even low-valued creatures.
Common MisunderstandingIt does not mean a modern U.S. coin; it refers to a small ancient or older coin value used in KJV translation.
EtymologyFrom Old English feorðing ("fourth part"), originally a fourth of a penny.