Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the concept of freight primarily involved the transportation of goods and commodities across land and sea. The Bible provides various references to the movement of goods, which was essential for trade, economic sustenance, and the fulfillment of divine purposes.
Old Testament ContextThe Old Testament frequently mentions the transportation of goods, often in the context of trade and commerce. The ancient Near East was a hub of trade routes, with caravans transporting spices, textiles, metals, and other valuable items.
Genesis 37:25 describes a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, "Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh on their way down to Egypt." This passage highlights the use of camels as a means of transporting freight across long distances.
The construction of the Temple under King Solomon also involved significant freight activity. In
1 Kings 5:9, Solomon arranges with Hiram, king of Tyre, for the transportation of cedar and cypress timber from Lebanon: "My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place you indicate to me." This illustrates the use of maritime freight to transport heavy materials.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the movement of goods is often associated with the spread of the Gospel and the economic activities of the early Christian communities. The Apostle Paul's missionary journeys frequently involved sea travel, which was a common method for transporting both people and goods across the Roman Empire.
Acts 27 provides a detailed account of Paul's voyage to Rome, where the ship was laden with cargo. In
Acts 27:18, it is noted, "We were being pounded by the storm so violently that the next day they began to jettison the cargo." This passage underscores the risks associated with maritime freight, especially during adverse weather conditions.
Symbolic and Spiritual ImplicationsFreight in the Bible can also carry symbolic meanings. The movement of goods and wealth can represent the spread of God's blessings and the fulfillment of His promises.
Isaiah 60:5 speaks of the abundance brought to Zion: "The wealth of the nations will come to you." This prophetic vision uses the imagery of freight to convey the idea of divine provision and prosperity.
Moreover, the concept of freight can be seen as a metaphor for the burdens and responsibilities carried by individuals and communities. Jesus' invitation in
Matthew 11:28-30 to "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" can be understood as an offer to relieve the spiritual and emotional freight that weighs down humanity.
Cultural and Economic SignificanceThe transportation of freight was crucial for the economic stability and cultural exchange in biblical times. The exchange of goods facilitated not only economic prosperity but also the spread of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices. The interconnectedness of ancient societies through trade routes laid the groundwork for the dissemination of the Gospel in the New Testament era.
In summary, freight in the Bible encompasses the practical aspects of transporting goods, the symbolic representation of divine blessings, and the metaphorical understanding of burdens. The biblical narrative reflects the importance of freight in the ancient world and its broader spiritual implications.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) That with which anything in fraught or laden for transportation; lading; cargo, especially of a ship, or a car on a railroad, etc.; as, a freight of cotton; a full freight.
2. (n.) The sum paid by a party hiring a ship or part of a ship for the use of what is thus hired.
3. (n.) The price paid a common carrier for the carriage of goods.
4. (n.) Freight transportation, or freight line.
5. (a.) Employed in the transportation of freight; having to do with freight; as, a freight car.
6. (v. t.) To load with goods, as a ship, or vehicle of any kind, for transporting them from one place to another; to furnish with freight; as, to freight a ship; to freight a car.
Greek
1117. gomos -- a ship'sfreight, cargo... a ship's
freight, cargo. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: gomos
Phonetic Spelling: (gom'-os) Short Definition: a cargo,
freight Definition: a
...5413. phortion -- a burden
... a burden. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: phortion Phonetic Spelling:
(for-tee'-on) Short Definition: a burden,freight Definition: a burden; the...
Library
Slavery of Redemptioners.
... upon us, and, uniting with the French, drive all Englishmen out." Many of the Germans
were so-called Redemptioners, who, in payment of theirfreight, were sold...
But when the Living Father Perceived that the Soul was in...
... moon becomes full, it ferries its passengers across toward the east wind, and thereby
effects its own waning [1497] in getting itself delivered of itsfreight....
Christmas Carol
... A ship comes sailing onwards. With a preciousfreight on board; It bears the only
Son of God,. It bears the Eternal Word. A preciousfreight it brings us,....
Chapter five
... usual quick, business-like manner, before he saw that what he was reading was not
intended for his office but for the superintendent of thefreight department....
The Power of an Endless Life
... Our sense of the difference between good and evil, our penitence, our aspiration,
all this moralfreight with which our souls are laden, is a cargo consigned...
Letter iii. Having in the Former Two Letters Defined the Doctrine...
... thousands, and accepted prayers of saints and prophets, sent back, as it were, from
heaven, like doves, to be let loose again with a newfreight of spiritual...
The Adventures of Saint Anthony of Italy.
... His faithful Squire shouted also with such good effect, that the monster was fain
to turn tail and to leave the ship and its honouredfreight to proceed...
Acts XXI
... 4. The time employed by the sailors in putting outfreight, and taking on board
a fresh cargo, gave Paul another opportunity for communing with brethren on...
The Prayer of Jabez
... The ship is often long coming home, because detained on the road by excess of cargo.
Expect herfreight to be the better when she reaches the port....
Letter ii.
... No merchant, having once suffered shipwreck, and lost hisfreight, desists from
sailing, but again crosses the sea and the billows, and the broad ocean, and...
Thesaurus
Freight (1 Occurrence)... n.) That with which anything in fraught or laden for transportation; lading; cargo,
especially of a ship, or a car on a railroad, etc.; as, a
freight of cotton
...Wagon (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A wheeled carriage; a vehicle on four wheels, and usually drawn by horses;
especially, one used for carryingfreight or merchandise....
Cargo (7 Occurrences)
... (n.) The lading orfreight of a ship or other vessel; the goods, merchandise,
or whatever is conveyed in a vessel or boat; load;freight....
Frequent (10 Occurrences)
Local (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A train which receives and deposits passengers orfreight along the line
of the road; a train for the accommodation of a certain district....
Lading (7 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Lade. 2. (n.) The act of loading. 3. (n.) That which lades or constitutes
a load or cargo;freight; burden; as, the lading of a ship. Int....
Lade (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To load; to put a burden orfreight on or in; --
generally followed by that which receives the load, as the direct object....
Ferry (1 Occurrence)
... 5. (n.) A franchise or right to maintain a vessel for carrying passengers andfreight
across a river, bay, etc., charging tolls. Multi-Version Concordance...
Free-woman's (1 Occurrence)
Free-woman's. Free-woman, Free-woman's.Freight . Multi-Version Concordance...
(YLT). Free-woman, Free-woman's.Freight . Reference Bible.
Traffic (12 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) The business done upon a railway, steamboat line, etc., with reference to
the number of passengers or the amount offreight carried. Int....
Resources
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