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 Context

In 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 Context

In 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 Principles

While 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.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.

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. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4934.htm - 6k3739. 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. ...
/hebrew/3739.htm - 6k

6161. arubbah -- a thing exchanged, pledge, token
... Feminine passive participle of Anammelek in the sense of a bargain or exchange;
something given as security, ie (literally) a token (of safety) or ...
/hebrew/6161.htm - 6k

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 a bargain (2), mingled ( ...
/hebrew/6148.htm - 6k

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); to bargain (for a wife), ie To wed -- endow, X surely. ...
/hebrew/4117.htm - 6k

8566. tanah -- to hire
... hire. A primitive root; to present (a mercenary inducement), ie Bargain with (a
harlot) -- hire. 8565, 8566. tanah. 8567 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8566.htm - 5k

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 or bargain, originally by ...
/hebrew/3772.htm - 6k

A Bad Bargain
... GENESIS A BAD BARGAIN. 'And ... soul? How many shrewd 'men of the highest
commercial standing' are making as bad a bargain as Esau's! ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a bad bargain.htm

Pottage Versus Birthright
... Jacob. (b) The Bargain. ... 'This their way is their folly.'. 3. How well the
bargain worked at first, and what came of it at last. No ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/pottage versus birthright.htm

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 a bargain, and never felt ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/the sunday christian.htm

Judas Hangs Himself.
... Your accursed pieces of silver!". Annas interrupted him, saying, "Thou didst propose
it thyself and close the bargain.". ... I tear up your shameful bargain. ...
/.../stead/king of the jews/chapter vi judas hangs himself.htm

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 a bargain with the Lord ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter xvi the merchantmen in.htm

The Third Day in Pasion-Week - the Last Series of Parables: to the ...
... eleventh hour. This is in accordance with their not having made any bargain
at the first, but trusted entirely to the householder. But ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v the third day.htm

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 their bargain, for all that ...
/.../xiii sermon for palm sunday.htm

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 hard bargain, skins and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/thou shalt not steal.htm

Of the First Covenant.
... There is no latitude left in the bargain to admit endeavours instead of performance,
or desire instead of duty. There is no place for repentance here. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xxii of the first.htm

Servants of Sin.
... Being filled with pride, he refused to bow down to God, and made a bargain with
Satan that he was to have his own way, and every wish gratified for a certain ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlii servants of sin.htm

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. ...
/b/bargain.htm - 9k

Contract (3 Occurrences)
... a disease. 4. (n.) To enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain
or covenant for. 5. (n.) To betroth; to affiance. 6 ...
/c/contract.htm - 8k

Buying (12 Occurrences)
... buyers do today. Every where you find them now keen for bargains, but
"striking a bargain" is a tedious process. They grow warm ...
/b/buying.htm - 23k

Traffic (12 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To trade meanly or mercenarily; to bargain. 3. (vt) To exchange
in traffic; to effect by a bargain or for a consideration. ...
/t/traffic.htm - 12k

Earnest (33 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) Something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of token
or pledge, to bind the bargain and prove the sale. Int. ...
/e/earnest.htm - 20k

Mart (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A market. 2. (n.) A bargain. 3. (vt) To buy or
sell in, or as in, a mart. 4. (vt) To traffic. 5. (n.) The god Mars. ...
/m/mart.htm - 11k

Pennyworth (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Hence: The full value of one's penny expended; due return for money laid
out; a good bargain; a bargain. 3. (n.) A small quantity; a trifle. ...
/p/pennyworth.htm - 7k

Cheap (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A bargain; a purchase; cheapness. ... 4. (adv.)
Cheaply. 5. (vi) To buy; to bargain. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/c/cheap.htm - 7k

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 a bargain. 14. (vt) To take ...
/s/strike.htm - 46k

Nail (9 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) To fasten, as with a nail; to bind or hold, as to a bargain or to
acquiescence in an argument or assertion; hence, to catch; to trap. ...
/n/nail.htm - 14k

Why did Abraham bargain with God in regard to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18)? | GotQuestions.org

Is it possible to make a deal with the devil? | GotQuestions.org

Questions about Genesis | GotQuestions.org

Bargain: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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