Barter, the direct exchange of goods and services without the use of money, is an ancient practice that predates the use of currency. In biblical times, barter was a common method of trade, especially in agrarian societies where money was not always readily available. The Bible provides several instances and principles related to barter, reflecting its significance in the daily lives of the people.

Biblical Instances of Barter

1. Abraham and Ephron: One of the earliest examples of barter in the Bible is found in the transaction between Abraham and Ephron the Hittite. In Genesis 23, Abraham seeks to purchase a burial site for his wife Sarah. Although the transaction ultimately involves silver, the initial negotiation reflects a barter-like exchange, where Abraham offers to pay for the field and cave, and Ephron offers it as a gift. This interaction highlights the customary practices of negotiation and exchange in ancient times.

2. Joseph's Brothers in Egypt: During the severe famine in Egypt, Joseph's brothers traveled to Egypt to buy grain. In Genesis 42, they initially brought money to purchase food. However, as the famine persisted, the Egyptians and others eventually resorted to bartering their livestock and land for food, as described in Genesis 47:16-17: "Then Joseph said, 'Give me your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.' So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, the flocks of sheep and goats, the herds of cattle, and the donkeys. And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock."

3. Solomon's Trade with Hiram: In 1 Kings 5, King Solomon engaged in a barter agreement with Hiram, the king of Tyre. Solomon needed cedar and cypress timber for the construction of the temple, and in exchange, he provided Hiram with wheat and olive oil. This exchange illustrates the international trade relationships and the reliance on barter for acquiring necessary resources.

Principles and Reflections

· Resourcefulness and Stewardship: Barter in biblical times required resourcefulness and wise stewardship of one's possessions. The ability to negotiate and exchange goods effectively was crucial for survival and prosperity. This principle is echoed in Proverbs 31:16, where the virtuous woman considers a field and buys it, demonstrating prudence and resourcefulness.

· Community and Relationships: Barter often involved personal interactions and relationships, fostering a sense of community. The negotiations between Abraham and Ephron, and between Solomon and Hiram, reflect the importance of maintaining good relations and mutual respect in trade.

· Trust and Integrity: Successful barter required trust and integrity between parties. The Bible emphasizes honesty in transactions, as seen in Leviticus 19:35-36: "You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt."

Barter, as depicted in the Bible, was more than a mere economic activity; it was a means of building relationships, exercising stewardship, and practicing integrity. These principles continue to hold value in understanding the biblical worldview on trade and commerce.1. (v. i.) To traffic or trade, by exchanging one commodity for another, in distinction from a sale and purchase, in which money is paid for the commodities transferred; to truck.

2. (v. t.) To trade or exchange in the way of barter; to exchange (frequently for an unworthy consideration); to traffic; to truck; -- sometimes followed by away; as, to barter away goods or honor.

3. (n.) The act or practice of trafficking by exchange of commodities; an exchange of goods.

4. (n.) The thing given in exchange.

4453. poleo -- to exchange or barter, to sell
... to exchange or barter, to sell. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: poleo Phonetic
Spelling: (po-leh'-o) Short Definition: I sell Definition: I sell, exchange ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4453.htm - 7k

4231. pragmateuomai -- to busy oneself
... 4229 , "a matter, what is pragmatic") -- properly, the ancient mercantile term for
(exchanging) to make gain, ie to do business (barter etc.); , exchanging ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4231.htm - 7k

8545. temurah -- exchange, recompense
... exchanging, recompense, restitution. From muwr; barter, compensation --
(ex-)change(-ing), recompense, restitution. see HEBREW muwr. 8544, 8545. ...
/hebrew/8545.htm - 6k

6148. arab -- to take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange
... A primitive root; to braid, ie Intermix; technically, to traffic (as if by barter);
also or give to be security (as a kind of exchange) -- engage, (inter ...
/hebrew/6148.htm - 6k

3739. karah -- to trade, get by trade
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to trade, get by trade NASB Word Usage bargain
(1), barter (1), bought (1), purchase (1). buy, prepare. ...
/hebrew/3739.htm - 6k

4171. mur -- to change
... exchange, remove. A primitive root; to alter; by implication, to barter, to dispose
of -- X at all, (ex-)change, remove. 4170, 4171. mur. 4172 . ...
/hebrew/4171.htm - 6k

To a Mantellata of Saint Dominic Called Catarina Di Scetto
... And thus we ought to do; if men are untrue to us, we ought to be true to them, and
faithfully to seek their salvation; loving them of grace, and not by barter. ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to a mantellata of saint.htm

Worthy-Not Worthy
... Every man is born with a Pharisee in himself, who thinks that religion is a matter
of barter, that it is so much work, buying so much favour here, or heaven ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/worthy-not worthy.htm

The Evolution of a Father
... Among barbarous nations marriage is not a case of love, but of capture; among the
semi-barbarous it is a case of barter; and among the imperfectly civilized ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter ix the evolution of.htm

History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 2
... of handicraftsmen -- Aspect of the towns: houses, furniture, women in family life --
Festivals; periodic markets, bazaars: commerce by barter, the weighing of ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 2/title page.htm

The Preface
... Men barter vices, and as if each had not enough of his own growth, transplant out
of his neighbors soil, and that which was intended to cultivate and civilize ...
//christianbookshelf.org/allestree/the government of the tongue/the preface.htm

The Birth of a Movement.
... Brought up under the influence of the descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers, they prized
too highly their religious liberty to barter it for lands or gold, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclean/william black/i the birth of a.htm

Grace Abounding
... buy wine and milk," but is it not added "Without money and without price?" "I will
love them freely;" that is "I will not accept their works in barter for my ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/grace abounding.htm

Christian Unity.
... Better that a man be "narrow" than that he be so "broad" as to take in "the devil
and all his angels." Out upon our folly when we barter away the truth of God ...
/.../rees/the heart-cry of jesus/chapter v christian unity.htm

Besides These Men, There is Still Another Class, -- Inventors of ...
... and producers; in the social functions, only labor of the hands:"to labor, to sow,
to reap, to hew, to build, to forge, to weave, to barter, to exchange, to ...
/.../lamartine/atheism among the people/ix besides these men there.htm

30TH DAY. A Crown of Life.
... princes and monarchs of the earth wade through seas of blood for a corruptible crown;
and wilt thou permit thyself to lose the incorruptible, or barter it for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/the faithful promiser/30th day a crown of.htm

Barter (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To trade or exchange in the way of barter; to exchange (frequently for an
unworthy consideration); to traffic; to truck; -- sometimes followed by away ...
/b/barter.htm - 8k

Trade (33 Occurrences)
... 4. (v.) Specifically: The act or business of exchanging commodities by barter,
or by buying and selling for money; commerce; traffic; barter. ...
/t/trade.htm - 40k

Leaks (3 Occurrences)
... 9 The elders of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee repairing thy leaks;
all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee, to barter with thee ...
/l/leaks.htm - 7k

Traffic (12 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To pass goods and commodities from one person to another for an equivalent
in goods or money; to buy or sell goods; to barter; to trade. ...
/t/traffic.htm - 12k

Buying (12 Occurrences)
... course, no organized commerce. Yet they buy and sell, by barter and exchange,
in rude and simple ways. When tribes become settled ...
/b/buying.htm - 23k

Bargain (7 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To transfer for a consideration; to barter; to trade; as, to bargain one
horse for another. ... (See RSV). Job 41:6 Will traders barter for him? ...
/b/bargain.htm - 9k

Cost (28 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To require to be given, expended, or laid out therefor, as in barter, purchase,
acquisition, etc.; to cause the cost, expenditure, relinquishment, or ...
/c/cost.htm - 15k

Trader (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) One engaged in trade or commerce; one who makes a business of buying and
selling or of barter; a merchant; a trafficker; as, a trader to the East Indies ...
/t/trader.htm - 8k

Traders (31 Occurrences)
... or twice. (BBE NAS). Job 41:6 Will traders barter for him? Will they part
him among the merchants? (WEB BBE NAS RSV NIV). Proverbs ...
/t/traders.htm - 15k

Repairing (12 Occurrences)
... 9 The elders of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee repairing thy leaks;
all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee, to barter with thee ...
/r/repairing.htm - 10k

Does a cashless society have anything to do with the end times? | GotQuestions.org

Barter: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus