Lexical Summary póleó: To sell Original Word: πωλέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sell, whatever is sold. Probably ultimately from pelomai (to be busy, to trade); to barter (as a pedlar), i.e. To sell -- sell, whatever is sold. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition to exchange or barter, to sell NASB Translation dealers (1), sell (7), selling (8), sells (1), sold (5). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4453: πωλέωπωλέω, πώλω; imperfect ἐπώλουν; 1 aorist ἐπώλησα; present passive πωλοῦμαι; (πελῶ πέλομαι, to turn, turn about, (Curtius, § 633, p. 470), from which (through the noun πωλη; Lob. in Alexander Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Spr. ii. 57 bottom) πωλοῦμαι, Latinversor, followed by εἰς with the accusative of place, to frequent a place; cf. the Latinvenio andveneo); from Herodotus down; the Sept. for מָכַר; properly, to barter, i. e. to sell: absolutely (opposed to ἀγοράζειν), Luke 17:28; Revelation 13:17; οἱ πωλοῦντες (opposed to οἱ ἀγοράζοντες, buyers), sellers, Matthew 21:12; Matthew 25:9; Mark 11:15; Luke 19:45; with the accusative of a thing, Matthew 13:44; Matthew 19:21; Matthew 21:12; Mark 10:21; Mark 11:15; Luke ( Topical Lexicon OverviewStrong’s Greek 4453 appears 22 times across 8 New Testament books and consistently conveys the act of selling—whether property, animals, goods, or, figuratively, the surrender of earthly assets for heavenly gain. The word functions in narrative, parable, command, and prophecy, allowing Scripture to address economic activity from multiple angles: stewardship, worship, discipleship, community life, and eschatology. Commerce in Daily Life 1 Corinthians 10:25 reflects ordinary marketing: “Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience.” Luke 12:6 and Matthew 10:29 cite the tiny monetary value of sparrows to assure believers of divine care. Luke 17:28 recalls the routine of buying and selling in Lot’s day, underscoring how easily spiritual alertness can be dulled by business as usual. Selling and Discipleship Jesus repeatedly links selling possessions with wholehearted devotion. To the rich young ruler He says, “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor… Then come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21; see also Mark 10:21; Luke 18:22). Luke 12:33 generalizes the call: “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out.” In the parable of the hidden treasure (Matthew 13:44), a man “sold all he had” to secure unfading riches, modeling the joyful abandonment of lesser things for the kingdom. The Early Church Community Acts 4:34-35 reports, “There was not a needy one among them, for those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds, and lay them at the apostles’ feet.” This voluntary sale of assets expressed love-driven generosity rather than imposed redistribution. The sobering account of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) warns that deception in stewardship affronts the Holy Spirit, turning an act meant for blessing into judgment. Purity of Worship All four Gospels record Jesus cleansing the temple, expelling those “selling doves” and other merchandise (John 2:14-16; Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15; Luke 19:45). The issue was not trade itself but its intrusion into sacred space and its exploitation of worshipers. Commerce that obstructs or manipulates worship provokes divine displeasure. Provision and Prudence Recognizing practical needs, Jesus allows legitimate liquidation of assets for pressing purposes: “If you have no sword, sell your cloak and buy one” (Luke 22:36). The wise virgins in Matthew 25:9 likewise urge the foolish, “Go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves,” showing preparedness through proper procurement. Eschatological Control of Trade Revelation 13:17 foresees a time when allegiance to the beast dictates who may “buy or sell.” Economic coercion becomes a tool of idolatry, contrasting with the freedom of those who, like early believers, could sell at will to serve Christ. The passage prepares the church to value faithfulness over financial access. Ethical and Ministry Applications 1. Stewardship: Selling assets can liberate resources for gospel advance and care of the needy. Motive—love, not compulsion—determines its worth. Historical Background First-century commerce operated through forums, markets (agorai), and the temple precincts. Currency exchange was essential for temple offerings, and animal vendors provided sacrifices for pilgrims. Land transactions followed Roman and Jewish legal customs, allowing early believers to liquidate property for community support. Summary Strong’s 4453 threads through the New Testament to present selling as a morally neutral act whose value depends on context and heart posture. Whether enabling generosity, exposing hypocrisy, supporting daily life, or becoming a battleground of end-time allegiance, it challenges believers to honor God in every economic decision. Forms and Transliterations επώλει επώλησε επωλησεν ἐπώλησεν επωλουν επώλουν ἐπώλουν πωλει πωλεί πωλεῖ πωλείν πωλειται πωλείται πωλεῖται πωλείτε πωλησαι πωλήσαι πωλῆσαι πωλησας πωλήσας Πωλησατε Πωλήσατε πωλησατω πωλησάτω πωλήσει πωλησον πώλησον πώλησόν πωλουμενον πωλούμενον πωλουμένους πωλούντα πωλουνται πωλοῦνται πωλουντας πωλούντας πωλοῦντας πωλουντες πωλούντες πωλοῦντες πωλουντων πωλούντων πωλούσα πωλουσιν πωλούσιν πωλοῦσιν πωλών epolesen epōlēsen epṓlesen epṓlēsen epoloun epōloun epṓloun polei poleî pōlei pōleî poleitai poleîtai pōleitai pōleîtai polesai polêsai pōlēsai pōlē̂sai polesas polḗsas pōlēsas pōlḗsas Polesate Polḗsate Pōlēsate Pōlḗsate polesato polesáto pōlēsatō pōlēsátō poleson pōlēson pṓleson pṓlesón pṓlēson pṓlēsón poloumenon poloúmenon pōloumenon pōloúmenon polountai poloûntai pōlountai pōloûntai polountas poloûntas pōlountas pōloûntas polountes poloûntes pōlountes pōloûntes polounton poloúnton pōlountōn pōloúntōn polousin poloûsin pōlousin pōloûsinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 10:29 V-PIM/P-3SGRK: στρουθία ἀσσαρίου πωλεῖται καὶ ἓν NAS: sparrows sold for a cent? KJV: two sparrows sold for a farthing? and INT: sparrows for an assarion are sold and one Matthew 13:44 V-PIA-3S Matthew 19:21 V-AMA-2S Matthew 21:12 V-PPA-AMP Matthew 21:12 V-PPA-GMP Matthew 25:9 V-PPA-AMP Mark 10:21 V-AMA-2S Mark 11:15 V-PPA-AMP Mark 11:15 V-PPA-GMP Luke 12:6 V-PIM/P-3P Luke 12:33 V-AMA-2P Luke 17:28 V-IIA-3P Luke 18:22 V-AMA-2S Luke 19:45 V-PPA-AMP Luke 22:36 V-AMA-3S John 2:14 V-PPA-AMP John 2:16 V-PPA-DMP Acts 4:34 V-PPA-NMP Acts 4:37 V-APA-NMS Acts 5:1 V-AIA-3S 1 Corinthians 10:25 V-PPM/P-ANS Revelation 13:17 V-ANA Strong's Greek 4453 |
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