What Does “Publican” Mean in the Bible?
Office or title
A tax collector. In the time of Jesus they collected taxes for the Romans, who ruled the land of Israel. Many kept more than was due. That is why people thought of them as sinners.
Today
Like a tax collector, but working for a foreign government.
Where it appears in the Bible
Luke 19:2; Luke 19:7
What the Bible says
Luke 19:2
And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, who was the chief of the publicans, and he was rich.
Luke 19:7
And when all saw it, they murmured, saying, that he was gone to be a guest with a man that was a sinner.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Publican”; NABRE note on Mark 2:14; Luke 3:12-13