Tributary, Tribute

A tributary was a person, people, or nation required to pay tribute to a ruler. A tributary ruler was sometimes called a “vassal,” meaning a ruler who served a more powerful king.

Tribute was a payment of money, goods, or labor that showed submission to a king or empire. Conquered nations often paid tribute to avoid further attack or punishment (2 Kings 17:3; 2 Chronicles 17:11). The Bible also describes Israel and Judah paying tribute to foreign rulers (2 Kings 15:19–20; 18:14–16).

See also Tax, Taxation.