Lexical Summary ballantion: Money bag, purse Original Word: βαλλάντιον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bag, purse. Probably remotely from ballo (as a depository); a pouch (for money) -- bag, purse. see GREEK ballo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom a prim. root bal- Definition a purse NASB Translation money belt (3), money belts (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 905: βαλάντιονβαλάντιον and βαλλάντιον (so L T Tr WH; cf. (Tdf. Proleg., p. 79); Fritzsche on Mark, p. 620; Winers Grammar, p. 43; Passow, Lex. (also Liddell and Scott) under the word), βαλαντίου, τό, a money-bag, purse: Luke 10:4; Luke 12:33; Luke 22:35f (the Sept. Job 14:17 cf. (Simonides 181); Aristophanes ran. 772; Xenophon, syrup. 4, 2; Plato, Gorgias, p. 508 e.; Herodian, 5, 4, 4 (3, Bekker edition), and other writings.) Topical Lexicon Conceptual OverviewStrong’s Greek 905 (βαλλάντιον) denotes a small leather pouch or purse used for carrying coins. In Luke’s Gospel it becomes a symbolic marker for dependence, provision, and preparedness in the disciple’s life. Occurrences in Luke–Acts 1. Luke 10:4 – Initial mission: “Do not carry a money bag…” Literary and Narrative Significance Luke alone preserves every use of βαλλάντιον, weaving it into three strategic moments: • Mission of the Seventy-Two (Luke 10): Christ sends His workers out in utter reliance upon God’s hospitality through others, modeling kingdom dependence. • Sermon on Watchfulness (Luke 12): The purse becomes a metaphor for heavenly treasure, contrasting fading earthly security with eternal reward. • Upper Room Discourse (Luke 22): A transition occurs as Jesus faces arrest. The earlier prohibition is reversed; the disciples must now anticipate opposition and take practical steps for self-support. Historical Background First-century travelers typically wore the money bag under the cloak, tied to the belt. To go without one was to travel in radical trust, counting on welcome from synagogue communities and individual households—a well-known custom for itinerant rabbis but here intensified by Christ’s explicit command. Theological Themes Dependence vs. Self-Provision Luke 10 and 22 juxtapose two complementary truths: God provides when He sends; yet prudent stewardship is not unbelief when circumstances warrant it. The Gospel emphasizes both faith in divine care and responsible preparation. Generosity and Eternal Investment Luke 12 moves the discussion from literal coin purses to “unfailing treasure in heaven.” The believer’s secure “purse” is devotion expressed in sacrificial giving, echoing Proverbs 19:17 and reinforcing stewardship ethics found throughout Scripture. Eschatological Urgency The final use (Luke 22:36) signals shifting conditions after the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Persecution looms; mobility and resources will aid the global spread of the Gospel. The money bag, once left behind, now becomes part of the missionary toolkit. Implications for Ministry • Short-term missions may call for visible expressions of faith that highlight God’s sustaining power. • Long-term church planting and frontier evangelism require financial planning, partnership, and accountability—modern equivalents of the ancient money bag. • Believers are urged to hold possessions loosely, recognizing their primary function as instruments for kingdom advance, not personal security. Connections to the Old Testament The ethos behind βαλλάντιον echoes manna (Exodus 16) and the widow’s flour (1 Kings 17)—episodes where God supplies daily needs. Conversely, wisdom literature commends prudence (Proverbs 6:6-8). Luke harmonizes both strands, portraying stewardship that neither hoards nor presumes. Application for Contemporary Disciples 1. Examine whether current financial habits mirror trust in God or reliance on wealth. See Also Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Forms and Transliterations βαλάντια βαλάντιον βαλαντίου βαλαντίω βαλλαντια βαλλάντια βαλλαντιον βαλλάντιον βαλλαντιου βαλλαντίου ballantia ballántia ballantion ballántion ballantiou ballantíouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 10:4 N-ANSGRK: μὴ βαστάζετε βαλλάντιον μὴ πήραν NAS: Carry no money belt, no bag, KJV: Carry neither purse, nor scrip, INT: Neither carry purse nor bag Luke 12:33 N-ANP Luke 22:35 N-GNS Luke 22:36 N-ANS Strong's Greek 905 |
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