In the context of the Bible, the term "traffic" primarily refers to the exchange or trade of goods and services, rather than the modern understanding of vehicular movement. The concept of traffic, as trade, is woven throughout the Scriptures, illustrating both the economic activities of ancient societies and the moral implications of such exchanges.

Biblical References and Context

1. Ezekiel 28:16 : "By the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence within, and you sinned; so I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones." This passage addresses the King of Tyre, whose wealth and pride, derived from extensive trade, led to his downfall. The term "trade" here is synonymous with "traffic," highlighting the moral dangers associated with greed and corruption in commerce.

2. Proverbs 31:18 : "She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night." The virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 engages in trade, ensuring her household's prosperity. Her traffic in goods is portrayed positively, emphasizing diligence, wisdom, and the ethical management of resources.

3. Revelation 18:11-13 : "And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo—cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; all kinds of citron wood and articles of every kind made of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; and cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine, olive oil, fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and chariots; and slaves and souls of men." This passage describes the fall of Babylon, a symbol of worldly wealth and corruption. The lament of the merchants underscores the transient nature of material wealth and the moral bankruptcy of a society consumed by excessive trade and exploitation.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The Bible presents traffic, or trade, as a neutral activity that can lead to either positive or negative outcomes depending on the moral character of those involved. Ethical trade is encouraged, as seen in the example of the Proverbs 31 woman, who conducts her business with integrity and care for her household. Conversely, the negative aspects of traffic are highlighted in the condemnation of Tyre and Babylon, where trade becomes a vehicle for pride, exploitation, and moral decay.

Historical and Cultural Insights

In ancient times, trade was a vital part of life, facilitating the exchange of goods and cultural ideas across regions. Cities like Tyre and Babylon were major trade centers, known for their wealth and influence. The Bible's references to traffic reflect the economic realities of these societies, while also providing timeless lessons on the ethical dimensions of commerce.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the Bible's treatment of traffic serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning economic activities with God's principles of justice, fairness, and stewardship. Believers are called to engage in trade that honors God, benefits others, and reflects the values of the Kingdom of God. The ultimate measure of success in traffic is not the accumulation of wealth, but the demonstration of righteousness and love in all dealings.1. (v. i.) 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.

2. (v. i.) To trade meanly or mercenarily; to bargain.

3. (v. t.) To exchange in traffic; to effect by a bargain or for a consideration.

4. (v.) Commerce, either by barter or by buying and selling; interchange of goods and commodities; trade.

5. (v.) Commodities of the market.

6. (n.) The business done upon a railway, steamboat line, etc., with reference to the number of passengers or the amount of freight carried.

TRAFFIC, TRAFFICKER

traf'-ik, traf'-ik-er (kena`-an, micchar, cachar, rekhullah):

(1) Kena`an = "Canaan," and, as the Canaanites were celebrated merchants, came to mean "merchant," and so "traffic" (see CANAAN). Ezekiel 17:4 refers to the great eagle who "cropped off the topmost of the young twigs (of cedar) thereof, and carried it unto a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants."

(2) Micchar means "trade," and so "traffic"; comes from a root meaning "to travel round," e.g. as a peddler. 1 Kings 10:15 reads: "Besides that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants." This refers to the income of Solomon.

(3) Cachar means "to go about," "occupy with," "trade," "traffic," "merchant," and so the business of the moving merchant or peddler. Joseph said to his brothers: "So will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land" (Genesis 42:34). He evidently meant that they should have license to become, throughout Egypt, traveling traders.

(4) Rekhullah, from a root meaning "to travel for trading," and so a peddled traffic, as in spices, etc. Ezekiel speaks against the prince of Tyre: "By thy great wisdom and by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches" (28:5); and against the king of Tyre: "in the unrighteousness of thy traffic," etc. (Ezekiel 28:18).

See MARKET; MERCHANDISE; SHIPS AND BOATS, II, 2, (2); TRADE.

William Edward Raffety

1710. emporeuomai -- to travel in, to traffic, by impl. to trade
... 1709, 1710. emporeuomai. 1711 . to travel in, to traffic, by impl. ... Word Origin
from en and poreuomai Definition to travel in, to traffic, by impl. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1710.htm - 7k

4097. piprasko -- to sell
... of prao (prah'-o); (which occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses) contracted
from perao (to traverse; from the base of peran); to traffic (by travelling ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4097.htm - 7k

1711. emporia -- commerce, business, trade.
... Word Origin fem. from emporos Definition commerce, business, trade. merchandise,
trade Feminine from emporos; traffic -- merchandise. see GREEK emporos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1711.htm - 6k

1712. emporion -- a trading place
... Noun, Neuter Transliteration: emporion Phonetic Spelling: (em-por'-ee-on) Short
Definition: market, market-house Definition: a place of traffic, mart, market ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1712.htm - 6k

4223. Potioloi -- Puteoli, a city on the Bay of Naples
... Transliteration: Potioloi Phonetic Spelling: (pot-ee'-ol-oy) Short Definition: Puteoli
Definition: Puteoli, the great harbor for traffic with Alexandria on the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4223.htm - 6k

7404. rekullah -- traffic, merchandise
... 7403, 7404. rekullah. 7405 . traffic, merchandise. Transliteration: rekullah
Phonetic Spelling: (rek-ool-law') Short Definition: trade. ... merchandise, traffic ...
/hebrew/7404.htm - 6k

4536. mischar -- probably merchandise
... Word Origin from sachar Definition probably merchandise NASB Word Usage wares (1).
traffic. From cachar; trade -- traffic. see HEBREW cachar. 4535, 4536. ...
/hebrew/4536.htm - 6k

5506. sechorah -- merchandise
... Word Origin from sachar Definition merchandise NASB Word Usage market (1). merchandise.
From cachar: traffic -- merchandise. see HEBREW cachar. 5505, 5506. ...
/hebrew/5506.htm - 6k

3667. Kna'an -- a son of Ham, also his desc. and their land West ...
... Canaan, merchant, traffic From kana'; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the
country inhabited by him -- Canaan, merchant, traffick. see HEBREW kana'. ...
/hebrew/3667.htm - 5k

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

4627. maarab -- articles of exchange, merchandise
... market, merchandise. From arab, in the sense of trading; traffic; by implication,
mercantile goods -- market, merchandise. see HEBREW arab. 4626, 4627. ...
/hebrew/4627.htm - 6k

5503. sachar -- to go around or about, travel about
... trade (3), traders (2), trafficked (1). go about, merchantman, occupy with,
pant, trade, traffic. A primitive root; to travel round ...
/hebrew/5503.htm - 6k

The Cleansing of the Temple.
... It was in this last named court that the traffic was conducted that aroused the
indignation of the Savior. Those that sold oxen and sheep and doves. ...
/.../the new testament commentary vol iii john/the cleansing of the temple.htm

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
... their agents. Edersheim says that this traffic alone cleared the priests
about three hundred thousand dollars a year. Though churches ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxiv jesus attends the first.htm

The Destruction of Babylon.
... They are those who have the control of her preferments, benefices and revenues,"
who traffic in her indulgences, and thereby become themselves enriched. ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the destruction of babylon.htm

The Second Day in Passion-Week - the Barren Fig-Tree - the ...
... Christ had come to it, the services were probably over, and the Sanctuary comparatively
empty of worshippers and of those who there carried on their traffic. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the second day.htm

In his Temple
... The money changing gave opportunity for fraud and extortion, and it had grown into
a disgraceful traffic, which was a source of revenue to the priests. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 16 in his temple.htm

Prudence and Faith
... 'What is the use of talking about suppressing the liquor traffic or housing
the poor? ... For instance, the opium traffic; how is it defended? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/prudence and faith.htm

The Second Cleansing of the Temple
... Now, in the fullness of His newly asserted royalty, He calls it My House: He denounces
the iniquity of their traffic by branding it as a den of robbers; He ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 11 15-19 the second cleansing.htm

The Ministry of Love, the Blasphemy of Hatred, and the Mistakes of ...
... [2736] Indeed, all that district seems to have been engaged in this industry. [2737]
It was also reputed for its traffic in turtle-doves and pigeons for ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxii the ministry of.htm

Thursday Night - Before Annas and Caiaphas - Peter and Jesus.
... We have seen what immense revenues the family of Annas must have derived from the
Temple-booths, and how nefarious and unpopular was the traffic. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xiii thursday night -.htm

Violent and Uncanonical Intrusion of Gregory.
... presence of those among the laity and clergy who demanded the change; and not that
a person brought from a distance by Arians, as if making a traffic of the ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 2 violent and uncanonical.htm

Traffic (12 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To trade meanly or mercenarily; to bargain. 3. (vt) To exchange in traffic;
to effect by a bargain or for a consideration. ...TRAFFIC, TRAFFICKER. ...
/t/traffic.htm - 12k

Trafficker (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One who traffics, or carries on commerce; a trader;
a merchant. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TRAFFIC, TRAFFICKER. ...
/t/trafficker.htm - 9k

Commerce (3 Occurrences)
... the exchange of merchandise, on a large scale, between different places or communities;
extended trade or traffic. ... 5. (vi) To carry on trade; to traffic. ...
/c/commerce.htm - 15k

Merchandise (34 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The act or business of trading; trade; traffic. 3. (vi) To trade; to carry
on commerce. 4. (vt) To make merchandise of; to buy and sell. Int. ...
/m/merchandise.htm - 22k

Market (24 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A meeting together of people, at a stated time and place, for the purpose
of traffic (as in cattle, provisions, wares, etc.) by private purchase and ...
/m/market.htm - 19k

Trading (24 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Ezekiel 16:29 Thou hast moreover multiplied thy harlotry with the land of
traffic, even with Chaldea; and yet thou didst not have enough herewith. ...
/t/trading.htm - 13k

Barter (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) 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 ...
/b/barter.htm - 8k

Minor (2 Occurrences)
... Caicus, Hermus and Meander. These valleys lie East and West, naturally
conducting traffic in those directions. 4. Rivers, Lakes ...
/m/minor.htm - 62k

Merchants (34 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 10:15 besides that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants,
and of all the kings of the mixed people, and of the governors of the ...
/m/merchants.htm - 16k

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

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