In the context of the Bible, the concept of "sale" primarily pertains to the exchange of goods, property, or services, often involving a transaction of money or other valuable consideration. The practice of buying and selling is deeply rooted in the economic and social life of biblical times, reflecting both the cultural norms and the moral teachings of the Scriptures.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides numerous references to the practice of sale, particularly in the context of land, livestock, and goods. The Mosaic Law includes specific regulations regarding sales to ensure fairness and justice among the Israelites. For instance, Leviticus 25:14-16 instructs, "If you make a sale to your neighbor or buy from him, you must not wrong one another. You are to buy from your neighbor based on the number of years since the Jubilee. He is to sell to you based on the number of remaining harvest years. You shall increase the price if there are many years, and decrease it if there are few, because he is selling to you a given number of harvests."

This passage highlights the importance of honesty and integrity in transactions, emphasizing that sales should be conducted with consideration of the Jubilee, a time of economic reset and liberation. The Jubilee year, occurring every 50th year, was a time when land was to be returned to its original owners, and debts were forgiven, reflecting God's desire for economic justice and social equity.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of sale is often used metaphorically to illustrate spiritual truths. Jesus frequently employed parables involving sales to convey the values of the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 13:45-46 , Jesus shares the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." This parable underscores the incomparable value of the Kingdom of Heaven, suggesting that it is worth sacrificing all earthly possessions to obtain.

The New Testament also addresses the moral implications of sales and wealth. In Acts 5:1-11, the account of Ananias and Sapphira serves as a cautionary tale about deceit in financial dealings. They sold a piece of property but lied about the proceeds, keeping back part of the money while claiming to have donated the full amount to the apostles. Their deceit resulted in divine judgment, highlighting the seriousness of honesty in financial matters.

Ethical Considerations

The Bible consistently emphasizes ethical conduct in sales and transactions. Proverbs 11:1 states, "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight." This proverb reflects the broader biblical principle that God values honesty and fairness in all dealings. The use of honest scales and measures was a common metaphor for integrity in business, underscoring the expectation that God's people conduct their affairs with righteousness.

Furthermore, the Bible warns against the love of money and the pursuit of wealth at the expense of one's spiritual well-being. In 1 Timothy 6:10 , Paul writes, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." This admonition serves as a reminder that while sales and commerce are necessary aspects of life, they should not become the primary focus or lead to unethical behavior.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on sale encompasses both practical guidelines for fair transactions and deeper spiritual lessons about the values of God's Kingdom. Through the teachings of the Old and New Testaments, believers are called to conduct their business with integrity, prioritize spiritual wealth over material gain, and recognize the ultimate worth of the Kingdom of Heaven.1. (n.) See Sallow.

2. (n.) The act of selling; the transfer of property, or a contract to transfer the ownership of property, from one person to another for a valuable consideration, or for a price in money.

3. (v. t.) Opportunity of selling; demand; market.

4. (v. t.) Public disposal to the highest bidder, or exposure of goods in market; auction.

SALE

sal (mimkar): The word is used: (1) in the sense of the transaction (Leviticus 25:50); (2) in the sense of the limit of time involved in the transaction (Leviticus 25:27); (3) in the sense of the price paid in the transaction (Deuteronomy 18:8), though it may be the same as (1) above.

4097. piprasko -- to sell
... devoted to. Word Origin from pernemi (to export for sale) Definition to sell
NASB Word Usage sales (1), selling (1), sold (7). sell. A ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4097.htm - 7k

4204. porne -- a prostitute
... Word Origin probably from pernemi (to export for sale) Definition a prostitute NASB
Word Usage harlot (6), harlots (1), prostitute (2), prostitutes (3). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4204.htm - 6k

4465. mimkar -- a sale, ware
... 4464, 4465. mimkar. 4466 . a sale, ware. Transliteration: mimkar Phonetic
Spelling: (mim-kawr') Short Definition: sale. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4465.htm - 6k

4466. mimkereth -- a sale
... a sale. Transliteration: mimkereth Phonetic Spelling: (mim-keh'-reth) Short Definition:
sale. ... of mimkar Definition a sale NASB Word Usage sale (1). sold as. ...
/hebrew/4466.htm - 6k

4242. mechir -- price, hire
... Word Origin from the same as machar Definition price, hire NASB Word Usage
cost (2), payment (1), price (10), sale (1), wages (1). ...
/hebrew/4242.htm - 6k

4376. makar -- to sell
... root Definition to sell NASB Word Usage certainly sell (1), destruction (1), make
(1), merchants (1), offer yourselves for sale (1), sell (23), seller (3 ...
/hebrew/4376.htm - 6k

Whether a Sale is Rendered Unlawful through a Fault in the Thing ...
... (D) BY SINS COMMITTED IN BUYING AND SELLING (Q ) Whether a sale is rendered
unlawful through a fault in the thing sold? Objection ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a sale is rendered.htm

If any Bishop Should Ordain for Money, and Put to Sale a Grace ...
... Canon II. If any Bishop should ordain for money, and put to sale a grace
which cannot? If any Bishop should ordain for money, and ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon ii if any bishop.htm

Whether the Seller is Bound to State the Defects of the Thing Sold ...
... sold. Since the seller does not bind the buyer to buy, he would seem to
leave it to him to judge of the goods offered for sale. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the seller is bound.htm

Whether it is Lawful to Receive Money for Things Annexed to ...
... things. Consequently it is altogether unlawful to sell such things, because
the sale thereof implies the sale of things spiritual. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 24.htm

Letter S
... Sabin, Elijah R. "Received 1799, Located 1812 * Sabin, Peter "Received 1826 * Sail,
John "Received 1829, Located 1833 * Sale, Alexander "Received 1808 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter s.htm

Chapter xxxviii
... at the same time by the rhetorical skill of the author who makes this chapter serve
the purpose of letting us feel the lapse of time after the sale of Joseph. ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxviii.htm

The Reformation
... is easy to understand how in a country where such societies already existed, Tetzel,
the German Dominican, to whom Leo X. had confided the sale of indulgences ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/the reformation.htm

Whether it is Lawful to Give and Receive Money for Spiritual ...
... says: "Their need allows them to receive the wherewithal to live, charity demands
that this should be given to them: yet the Gospel is not for sale, nor is a ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 23.htm

To the Rev. A. Brandram
... You are aware that I have established in Madrid a shop, or despacho, as it is here
called, for the sale of Testaments, and you are doubtless anxious to receive ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev a brandram 34.htm

Talking in Salesmanship
... ability. Obviously, what he offers for sale must have intrinsic merit,
and he should possess a thorough knowledge of his wares. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kleiser/talks on talking/talking in salesmanship.htm

Sale (12 Occurrences)
... market; auction. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SALE. sal (mimkar ... 1) above.
Multi-Version Concordance Sale (12 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians ...
/s/sale.htm - 11k

Market-place (7 Occurrences)
... resort, and hence a public place or broad street (Matthew 11:16; 20:3), as well
as a forum or Market-place proper, where goods were exposed for sale, and where ...
/m/market-place.htm - 9k

Market (24 Occurrences)
... together of people, at a stated time and place, for the purpose of traffic (as in
cattle, provisions, wares, etc.) by private purchase and sale, and not by ...
/m/market.htm - 19k

Laws (184 Occurrences)
... Those might be redeemed within a year of sale: in default the property passed
for ever and was unaffected by the jubilee (Leviticus 25:29). ...
/l/laws.htm - 47k

Agrarian
... Those might be redeemed within a year of sale: in default the property passed
for ever and was unaffected by the jubilee (Leviticus 25:29). ...
/a/agrarian.htm - 17k

Buying (12 Occurrences)
... But they don't mean it all, and at last they find a common basis; the sale is made
with flattering compliments to one another, and, if we may believe ...
/b/buying.htm - 23k

Fair (147 Occurrences)
... 18. (n.) A festival, and sale of fancy articles. etc., usually for some charitable
object; as, a Grand Army fair. 19. (n.) A competitive ...
/f/fair.htm - 40k

Publication (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The act of offering a book, pamphlet, engraving, etc., to the public
by sale or by gratuitous distribution. 3. (n.) That ...
/p/publication.htm - 7k

Stall (7 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A stable; a place for cattle. 3. (n.) A small apartment or shed in which
merchandise is exposed for sale; as, a butcher's stall; a bookstall. ...
/s/stall.htm - 11k

Reckon (34 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 25:27 then let him reckon the years since its sale, and restore the surplus
to the man to whom he sold it; and he shall return to his property. ...
/r/reckon.htm - 16k

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