1711. emporia

Lexical Summary

emporia: Commerce, trade, business

Original Word: ἐμπορία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: emporia
Pronunciation: em-por-ee'-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (em-por-ee'-ah)
KJV: merchandise
Word Origin: [feminine from G1713 (ἔμπορος - merchants)]

1. traffic

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

merchandise, trade

Feminine from emporos; traffic -- merchandise.

see GREEK emporos

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 1711 emporía – a business trip for the purpose of trading (used only in Mt 22:5; see also Lk 19:13). See 1713 (emporia).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
fem. from emporos
Definition
commerce, business, trade.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1711: ἐμπορία

ἐμπορία (see ἐν, III. 3), ἐμπορίας, ἡ (ἔμπορος), trade, merchandise: Matthew 22:5. (Hesiod and following; the Sept..)

Topical Lexicon

Definition and Concept

ἐμπορία denotes commercial activity—buying, selling, and the pursuit of profit. It evokes the bustling world of merchants, trade routes, and market stalls that characterized the Greco-Roman economy of the first century.

Biblical Usage

Matthew 22:5 is the word’s single appearance in the New Testament: “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business”. In the parable, ἐμπορία stands for everyday commercial pursuits that distract invitees from the king’s banquet, symbolizing the kingdom of heaven.

Historical Background

1. Commerce was integral to first-century life. Roman roads and Mediterranean shipping lanes enabled rapid movement of goods such as grain, oil, textiles, and spices.
2. Jewish society participated actively in this trade network, especially in Galilee, which lay on important north–south routes. Jesus’ listeners would have immediately grasped the lure and urgency of business obligations.
3. Greek literature often contrasts commerce with philosophical or civic duties; the New Testament employs the image similarly to highlight spiritual priorities.

Related Scriptures

• Matthew 13:45 speaks of “a merchant in search of fine pearls,” illustrating a positive form of commerce when rightly directed toward the priceless kingdom.
• John 2:16: “Take these things away! Stop turning My Father’s house into a market!” warns against desecrating sacred space for profit.
• James 4:13-15 cautions traders who boast of future gains without acknowledging God’s sovereignty.
• Revelation 18:11-17 laments worldly merchants whose riches cannot save them from divine judgment.
• Proverbs 31:14 (LXX) praises the virtuous wife “like a merchant ship,” showing commerce as honorable when governed by wisdom.

Theological Implications

1. Priority of the Kingdom: Jesus contrasts ἐμπορία with the royal wedding feast to expose misplaced loyalties. Earthly enterprises become spiritually perilous when they eclipse obedience to God’s invitation.
2. Temporal vs. Eternal Values: Commerce offers immediate reward, whereas the gospel offers eternal joy. The parable presses listeners to choose enduring treasure (Matthew 6:19-21).
3. Accountability: Scripture never condemns trade itself but demands integrity (Leviticus 19:35-36) and warns that commerce dominated by self-interest invites judgment (Revelation 18:3).

Practical Ministry Application

• Discipleship training should address the pull of work and profit that may sabotage spiritual commitments.
• Pastors can help congregants integrate vocation and faith, turning their “business” into an arena for witness rather than an excuse for neglecting worship.
• Stewardship teaching should encourage believers to view profit as a trust from God, to be used for kingdom purposes (2 Corinthians 9:6-11).

See Also

ἐμπόρος (merchant) • πώλησις (selling) • πλεονεξία (greed)

Forms and Transliterations

εμπορία εμποριαν εμπορίαν ἐμπορίαν εμπορίας emporian emporían

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 22:5 N-AFS
GRK: ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμπορίαν αὐτοῦ
KJV: to his merchandise:
INT: to the business of him

Strong's Greek 1711
1 Occurrence

ἐμπορίαν — 1 Occ.