primarily denoted "a farmer of the tax" (from telos, "toll, custom, tax"), then, as in the NT, a subsequent subordinate of such, who collected taxes in some district, "a tax gatherer;" such were naturally hated intensely by the people; they are classed with "sinners," Matthew 9:10,11; 11:9; Mark 2:15,16; Luke 5:30; 7:34; 15:1; with harlots, Matthew 21:31,32; with "the Gentile," Matthew 18:17; some mss. have it in Matthew 5:47 , the best have ethnikoi, "Gentiles." See also Matthew 5:46; 10:3; Luke 3;12; 5:27,29; 7:29; 18:10,11,13 .
Note: For architelones, "a chief publican," see CHIEF , B, No. 4.