Plural of firmarius; Roman tax collectors or publicans who farmed taxes for the government.
From Latin 'firmarius,' derived from 'firma' (tax or lease), related to 'firmare' (to make firm or binding). The term designated those who held government contracts to collect taxes.
Roman 'firmarii' were hated—they'd pay the state one amount, then squeeze citizens to make a profit, which is why the Bible condemns 'publicans' so harshly; these were the same hated tax farming contractors.
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