What Does “Tribute” Mean in the Bible?
The tax a people had to pay to the king or the empire that ruled it.
Where it appears in the Bible
Matthew 22:17-21
What the Bible says
Matthew 22:17-21
17Tell us therefore what dost thou think, is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? 18But Jesus knowing their wickedness, said: Why do you tempt me, ye hypocrites? 19Shew me the coin of the tribute. And they offered him a penny. 20And Jesus saith to them: Whose image and inscription is this? 21They say to him: Caesar’s. Then he saith to them: Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God, the things that are God’s.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: RAE, “tributo”