Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the concept of a "bargain" can be understood as an agreement or negotiation between parties, often involving the exchange of goods, services, or promises. While the term "bargain" itself is not explicitly used in the Berean Standard Bible, the principles and practices surrounding bargaining are evident throughout Scripture.
Old Testament ContextIn the ancient Near Eastern culture, bargaining was a common practice, especially in trade and commerce. The Bible provides several examples of bargaining, reflecting the customs and economic practices of the time.
One notable instance of bargaining is found in the account of Abraham negotiating with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. In
Genesis 18:23-33, Abraham intercedes for the cities, asking God to spare them if righteous people can be found. This passage illustrates the concept of negotiation, as Abraham respectfully but persistently seeks a favorable outcome.
Another example is the transaction between Abraham and Ephron the Hittite for the purchase of the cave of Machpelah as a burial site for Sarah. In
Genesis 23:3-16, Abraham insists on paying the full price for the land, despite Ephron's initial offer to give it to him. This account highlights the importance of fair dealings and the cultural norms of bargaining in property transactions.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the practice of bargaining is less explicitly depicted, but the principles of fair and honest dealings are emphasized. Jesus' teachings often address the attitudes and behaviors that should govern economic interactions.
In the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (
Matthew 20:1-16), Jesus illustrates the kingdom of heaven through a landowner who hires workers at different times of the day but pays them the same wage. This parable challenges conventional notions of fairness and highlights the generosity and sovereignty of God, rather than focusing on human bargaining.
The Apostle Paul, in his letters, also addresses the ethics of economic transactions. In
1 Thessalonians 4:6, he warns against defrauding or taking advantage of others, emphasizing the importance of integrity and fairness in all dealings.
Biblical PrinciplesWhile the Bible does not provide a systematic theology of bargaining, several principles can be gleaned from its teachings:
1.
Honesty and Integrity: The Bible consistently upholds honesty and integrity in all transactions.
Proverbs 11:1 states, "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight." This underscores the importance of fairness and truthfulness in bargaining.
2.
Generosity and Fairness: Believers are called to be generous and fair in their dealings with others. In
Luke 6:38, Jesus teaches, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
3.
Contentment and Trust in God: The Bible encourages contentment and reliance on God's provision rather than excessive bargaining for personal gain.
Hebrews 13:5 advises, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'"
In summary, while the act of bargaining is a cultural and economic practice reflected in the Bible, the overarching biblical principles emphasize honesty, fairness, generosity, and trust in God's provision. These principles guide believers in their interactions and transactions, ensuring that their conduct aligns with God's righteous standards.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) An agreement between parties concerning the sale of property; or a contract by which one party binds himself to transfer the right to some property for a consideration, and the other party binds himself to receive the property and pay the consideration.
2. (n.) An agreement or stipulation; mutual pledge.
3. (n.) A purchase; also (when not qualified), a gainful transaction; an advantageous purchase; as, to buy a thing at a bargain.
4. (n.) The thing stipulated or purchased; also, anything bought cheap.
5. (n.) To make a bargain; to make a contract for the exchange of property or services; -- followed by with and for; as, to bargain with a farmer for a cow.
6. (v. t.) To transfer for a consideration; to barter; to trade; as, to bargain one horse for another.
Greek
4934. suntithemi -- to place together, hence observe, agree... Middle voice from sun and tithemi; to place jointly, ie (figuratively) to consent
(
bargain, stipulate), concur -- agree, assent, covenant. see GREEK sun.
...Strong's Hebrew
3739. karah -- to trade, get by trade... 3738b, 3739. karah. 3740 . to trade, get by trade. Transliteration: karah Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-raw') Short Definition:
bargain. Word Origin a prim.
...6161. arubbah -- a thing exchanged, pledge, token
... Feminine passive participle of Anammelek in the sense of abargain or exchange;
something given as security, ie (literally) a token (of safety) or...
6148. arab -- to take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange
... 1), become surety (1), becomes (1), becomes surety (2), dare to risk (1), deal
(1), dealers (1), guarantor (1), intermingled (1), make abargain (2), mingled (...
4117. mahar -- to acquire by paying a purchase price
... A primitive root (perhaps rather the same as mahar through the idea of readiness
in assent); tobargain (for a wife), ie To wed -- endow, X surely....
8566. tanah -- to hire
... hire. A primitive root; to present (a mercenary inducement), ieBargain with (a
harlot) -- hire. 8565, 8566. tanah. 8567 . Strong's Numbers.
3772. karath -- to cut off, cut down
... primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume;
specifically, to covenant (ie Make an alliance orbargain, originally by...
Library
A BadBargain
... GENESIS A BADBARGAIN. 'And... soul? How many shrewd 'men of the highest
commercial standing' are making as bad abargain as Esau's!...
Pottage Versus Birthright
... Jacob. (b) TheBargain.... 'This their way is their folly.'. 3. How well the
bargain worked at first, and what came of it at last. No...
The Sunday Christian.
... If they did not do it at the first operation, they rarely omitted it afterwards,
and for sufficient reason; he was sharp at making abargain, and never felt...
Judas Hangs Himself.
... Your accursed pieces of silver!". Annas interrupted him, saying, "Thou didst propose
it thyself and close thebargain.".... I tear up your shamefulbargain....
The Merchantmen in the Temple
... Any one can understand that this is but a trade and a merchandise " they give one
thing to get another, and think they can thus drive abargain with the Lord...
The Third Day in Pasion-Week - the Last Series of Parables: to the...
... eleventh hour. This is in accordance with their not having made anybargain
at the first, but trusted entirely to the householder. But...
Sermon for Palm Sunday
... they wish to give one thing in exchange for another, and would fain thus drive a
traffic with our Lord; and they are deceived in theirbargain, for all that...
Thou Shalt not Steal.
... and queer finances or dexterous tricks takes advantage of him; likewise, when one
overcharges a person in a trade and wantonly drives a hardbargain, skins and...
Of the First Covenant.
... There is no latitude left in thebargain to admit endeavours instead of performance,
or desire instead of duty. There is no place for repentance here....
Servants of Sin.
... Being filled with pride, he refused to bow down to God, and made abargain with
Satan that he was to have his own way, and every wish gratified for a certain...
Thesaurus
Bargain (7 Occurrences)... 3. (n.) A purchase; also (when not qualified), a gainful transaction; an
advantageous purchase; as, to buy a thing at a
bargain.
...Contract (3 Occurrences)
... a disease. 4. (n.) To enter into, with mutual obligations; to make abargain
or covenant for. 5. (n.) To betroth; to affiance. 6...
Buying (12 Occurrences)
... buyers do today. Every where you find them now keen for bargains, but
"striking abargain" is a tedious process. They grow warm...
Traffic (12 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To trade meanly or mercenarily; tobargain. 3. (vt) To exchange
in traffic; to effect by abargain or for a consideration....
Earnest (33 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) Something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of token
or pledge, to bind thebargain and prove the sale. Int....
Mart (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A market. 2. (n.) Abargain. 3. (vt) To buy or
sell in, or as in, a mart. 4. (vt) To traffic. 5. (n.) The god Mars....
Pennyworth (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Hence: The full value of one's penny expended; due return for money laid
out; a goodbargain; abargain. 3. (n.) A small quantity; a trifle....
Cheap (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Abargain; a purchase; cheapness.... 4. (adv.)
Cheaply. 5. (vi) To buy; tobargain. Multi-Version Concordance...
Strike (168 Occurrences)
... a light. 12. (vt) To cause to ignite; as, to strike a match. 13. (vt) To
make and ratify; as, to strike abargain. 14. (vt) To take...
Nail (9 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) To fasten, as with a nail; to bind or hold, as to abargain or to
acquiescence in an argument or assertion; hence, to catch; to trap....
Resources
Why did Abraham bargain with God in regard to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18)? | GotQuestions.orgIs it possible to make a deal with the devil? | GotQuestions.orgQuestions about Genesis | GotQuestions.orgBargain: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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