Topical Bible: Sell

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, the concept of selling is primarily associated with the exchange of goods, property, or services for money or other valuable considerations. The act of selling is mentioned numerous times throughout the Scriptures, reflecting its significance in the economic and social life of ancient Israel and the early Christian communities.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, selling is often related to the transfer of land, livestock, and goods. The Mosaic Law provided specific regulations regarding the sale of property, especially land, to ensure that the inheritance of the tribes of Israel remained intact. Leviticus 25:23-24 states, "The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine, and you are but foreigners and sojourners with Me. Thus for every piece of property you possess, you must provide for the redemption of the land."

The concept of the Year of Jubilee, as outlined in Leviticus 25, further underscores the temporary nature of land sales. Every fiftieth year, land that had been sold was to be returned to its original owner, emphasizing the idea that the land ultimately belonged to God and was not to be permanently alienated from the family to which it was allotted.

The sale of goods and services is also addressed in the Old Testament. Honest weights and measures were commanded in Leviticus 19:35-36 : "You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt." This command highlights the importance of integrity and fairness in commercial transactions.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the act of selling is often mentioned in the context of discipleship and the early Christian community. Jesus' teachings frequently addressed the relationship between wealth and spiritual devotion. In Matthew 19:21 , Jesus tells the rich young ruler, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me." This passage illustrates the call to prioritize spiritual wealth over material possessions.

The early church also practiced communal living, where believers sold their possessions to support one another. Acts 4:34-35 describes this practice: "There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need." This reflects the early Christians' commitment to caring for each other and living out the teachings of Christ.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The Bible consistently emphasizes ethical considerations in selling. Honesty, fairness, and concern for the well-being of others are paramount. Proverbs 11:1 states, "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight." This underscores the importance of integrity in all business dealings.

Furthermore, the Scriptures warn against the dangers of greed and the love of money. 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 the pursuit of wealth should never supersede one's devotion to God and care for others.

In summary, the biblical perspective on selling encompasses both practical guidelines for economic transactions and profound spiritual teachings on the proper attitude toward wealth and possessions.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Self.

2. (n.) A sill.

3. (n.) A cell; a house.

4. (n.) A saddle for a horse.

5. (n.) A throne or lofty seat.

6. (v. t.) To transfer to another for an equivalent; to give up for a valuable consideration; to dispose of in return for something, especially for money.

7. (v. t.) To make a matter of bargain and sale of; to accept a price or reward for, as for a breach of duty, trust, or the like; to betray.

8. (v. t.) To impose upon; to trick; to deceive; to make a fool of; to cheat.

9. (v. i.) To practice selling commodities.

10. (v. i.) To be sold; as, corn sells at a good price.

11. (n.) An imposition; a cheat; a hoax.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SELL, SELLER

sel'-er.

See TRADE; LYDIA.

Greek

4453. poleo -- to exchange or barter, to sell
... to exchange or barter, to sell. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: poleo Phonetic
Spelling: (po-leh'-o) Short Definition: I sell Definition: I sell, exchange ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4453.htm - 7k

4097. piprasko -- to sell
... to sell. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: piprasko Phonetic Spelling:
(pip-ras'-ko) Short Definition: I sell Definition: I sell; pass: I am a slave to, ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4097.htm - 7k

591. apodidomi -- to give up, give back, return, restore
... return, restore. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apodidomi Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-od-eed'-o-mee) Short Definition: I give back, return, sell Definition: ( ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/591.htm - 9k

4205. pornos -- a fornicator
... 4205 (from , "to sell off") -- properly, a male prostitute. 4205 () is ", 'a male
prostitute' (so Xen., etc.); , " ie anyone engaging in sexual immorality. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4205.htm - 7k

1710. emporeuomai -- to travel in, to traffic, by impl. to trade
... traffic, by impl. to trade NASB Word Usage engage in business (1), exploit
(1). buy and sell, trade, make merchandise. From en and ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1710.htm - 7k

4202. porneia -- fornication
... 4205 ) which is derived from , "to sell off") -- properly, a (surrendering) of sexual
purity; of any (every) type. [See also the contrasting term, 3430 (""). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4202.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

4376. makar -- to sell
... 4375, 4376. makar. 4377 . to sell. Transliteration: makar Phonetic Spelling:
(maw-kar') Short Definition: sold. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/4376.htm - 6k

7666. shabar -- to buy grain
... Word Origin denominative verb from sheber Definition to buy grain NASB Word Usage
bought (1), buy (12), buy grain (2), sell (3), sells (1), sold (2). buy, sell. ...
/hebrew/7666.htm - 6k

7069. qanah -- to get, acquire
... A primitive root; to erect, ie Create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase
(causatively, sell); by implication to own -- attain, buy(-er), teach ...
/hebrew/7069.htm - 6k

Library

Whether, in Trading, it is Lawful to Sell a Thing at a Higher ...
... Whether, in trading, it is lawful to sell a thing at a higher price than
what was paid for it? Objection 1: It would seem that it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether in trading it is.htm

Whether it is Lawful to Sell a Thing for More than Its Worth?
... (D) BY SINS COMMITTED IN BUYING AND SELLING (Q ) Whether it is lawful to
sell a thing for more than its worth? Objection 1: It would ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 15.htm

That Presbyters Should not Sell the Goods of the Church in which ...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon XXXIII. (Greek xxxvi.) That presbyters should
not sell the goods of the Church in which they are constituted; and that no ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xxxiii greek xxxvi that.htm

Whether Simony is an Intentional Will to Buy or Sell Something ...
... ON SIMONY (SIX ARTICLES) Whether simony is an intentional will to buy or sell
something spiritual or connected with a spiritual thing? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether simony is an intentional.htm

Of the Little Children on whom He Laid his Hands; of the Rich Man ...
... Chapter LXIII."Of the Little Children on Whom He Laid His Hands; Of the Rich Man
to Whom He Said, "Sell All that Thou Hast;" Of the Vineyard in Which the ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxiii of the little children.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 21,"Go, Sell that Thou Hast ...
... xix. 21,"Go, sell that thou hast, and give to the poor," etc. ... On the words of the
Gospel, Matthew 19:21,"Go, sell that thou hast, and give to the poor," etc. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xxxvi on the words.htm

Studies in the Life of the Christian
... Title Page. STUDIES IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN His Faith
and His Service. By. HENRY T. SELL, DD. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/sell/studies in the life of the christian/title page.htm

Bible Studies in the Life of Paul
... Title Page. BIBLE STUDIES IN THE LIFE OF PAUL. HISTORICAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE.
BY. REV. HENRY T. SELL, DD. Author of "Supplemental Bible ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sell/bible studies in the life of paul/title page.htm

Preface
... It is uniform with the author's "Bible Studies in the Life of Christ," "Bible Studies
in the Life of Paul" and his other Bible study books. HENRY T. SELL. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sell/studies in the life of the christian/preface.htm

Preface
... the life and work of Paul even better known, have been the motives which
have led to its preparation. CHICAGO, ILL. HENRY T. SELL. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sell/bible studies in the life of paul/preface.htm

Thesaurus

Sell (58 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SELL, SELLER. sel'-er. ... Multi-Version Concordance
Sell (58 Occurrences). Matthew 10:29 Do not two sparrows sell for a halfpenny? ...
/s/sell.htm - 26k

Sale (12 Occurrences)
... WEY). Leviticus 25:14 "'If you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy from
your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another. (See NAS). ...
/s/sale.htm - 11k

Possess (193 Occurrences)
... Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have,
and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come ...
/p/possess.htm - 42k

Trade (33 Occurrences)
... 9. (v.) Refuse or rubbish from a mine. 10. (vi) To barter, or to buy and sell; to
be ... 11. (vi) To buy and sell or exchange property in a single instance. 12. ...
/t/trade.htm - 40k

Selling (23 Occurrences)
... (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Sell. ... (YLT). Amos 8:6 To purchase with money the poor, And the
needy for a pair of sandals, Yea, the refuse of the pure corn we sell. ...
/s/selling.htm - 13k

Buy (71 Occurrences)
... by giving an accepted price or consideration therefor, or by agreeing to do so;
to acquire by the payment of a price or value; to purchase; -- opposed to sell. ...
/b/buy.htm - 29k

Trust (201 Occurrences)
... given; especially, delivery of property or merchandise in reliance upon future payment;
exchange without immediate receipt of an equivalent; as, to sell or buy ...
/t/trust.htm - 38k

Treasure (66 Occurrences)
... Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have,
and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come ...
/t/treasure.htm - 36k

Buying (12 Occurrences)
... course, no organized commerce. Yet they buy and sell, by barter and exchange,
in rude and simple ways. When tribes become settled ...
/b/buying.htm - 23k

Merchandise (34 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The act or business of trading; trade; traffic. 3. (vi) To trade; to carry
on commerce. 4. (vt) To make merchandise of; to buy and sell. Int. ...
/m/merchandise.htm - 22k

Resources

What is the Jezebel spirit? | GotQuestions.org

Can Christians live their best life now? | GotQuestions.org

What is the story of Joseph and his brothers? | GotQuestions.org

Sell: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Sell (58 Occurrences)

Matthew 10:29
Do not two sparrows sell for a halfpenny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave.
(WEY)

Matthew 19:21
Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 25:9
But the wise answered, saying,'What if there isn't enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Mark 10:21
Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 12:33
Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don't grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn't fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 18:22
When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 22:36
Then he said to them, "But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 4:34
For neither was there any one in want among them; for as many as were owners of lands or houses, selling them, brought the price of what was sold
(Root in DBY YLT NAS)

Hebrews 12:16
lest any one be a fornicator, or a profane person, as Esau, who in exchange for one morsel of food did sell his birthright,
(YLT)

James 4:13
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
(KJV WBS)

Revelation 13:17
and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 23:4
"I am a stranger and a foreigner living with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight."
(See NIV)

Genesis 23:9
that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me among you for a possession of a burying-place."
(See NIV)

Genesis 25:31
Jacob said, "First, sell me your birthright."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 37:27
Come, and let's sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh." His brothers listened to him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 37:28
And Midianite merchantmen pass by and they draw out and bring up Joseph out of the pit, and sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty silverlings, and they bring Joseph into Egypt.
(YLT)

Genesis 47:16
Joseph said, "Give me your livestock; and I will give you food for your livestock, if your money is gone."
(See NIV)

Genesis 47:22
Only he didn't buy the land of the priests, for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh, and ate their portion which Pharaoh gave them. That is why they didn't sell their land.
(WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 21:7
"If a man sells his daughter to be a female servant, she shall not go out as the male servants do.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 21:8
If she doesn't please her master, who has married her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, seeing he has dealt deceitfully with her.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 21:35
"If one man's bull injures another's, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live bull, and divide its price; and they shall also divide the dead animal.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 22:1
"If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it, or sells it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 25:14
"'If you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Leviticus 25:15
According to the number of years after the Jubilee you shall buy from your neighbor. According to the number of years of the crops he shall sell to you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 25:16
According to the length of the years you shall increase its price, and according to the shortness of the years you shall diminish its price; for he is selling the number of the crops to you.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 25:25
"'If your brother becomes poor, and sells some of his possessions, then his kinsman who is next to him shall come, and redeem that which his brother has sold.
(Root in WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 25:29
"'If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it has been sold. For a full year he shall have the right of redemption.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 25:37
You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.
(See NIV)

Leviticus 25:39
"'If your brother has grown poor among you, and sells himself to you; you shall not make him to serve as a slave.
(Root in WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 25:42
For they are my bondmen, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as men sell bondmen.
(DBY)

Leviticus 27:20
but if he do not redeem the field, or if he sell the field to another man, it cannot be redeemed any more;
(DBY)

Deuteronomy 2:28
You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only let me pass through on my feet,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 14:21
You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself: you may give it to the foreigner living among you who is within your gates, that he may eat it; or you may sell it to a foreigner: for you are a holy people to Yahweh your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 21:14
It shall be, if you have no delight in her, then you shall let her go where she will; but you shall not sell her at all for money, you shall not deal with her as a slave, because you have humbled her.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 24:7
If a man be found stealing any of his brothers of the children of Israel, and he deal with him as a slave, or sell him; then that thief shall die: so you shall put away the evil from the midst of you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 28:68
Yahweh will bring you into Egypt again with ships, by the way of which I said to you, You shall see it no more again: and there you shall sell yourselves to your enemies for bondservants and for bondmaids, and no man shall buy you.
(WEB JPS ASV)

Judges 4:9
She said, "I will surely go with you: nevertheless, the journey that you take shall not be for your honor; for Yahweh will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ruth 4:3
He said to the near kinsman, "Naomi, who has come back out of the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 21:6
He said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him,'Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it.' He answered,'I will not give you my vineyard.'"
(See NIV)

1 Kings 21:15
It happened, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead."
(See NIV)

1 Kings 21:25
But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
(KJV ASV DBY)

2 Kings 4:7
Then she came and told the man of God. He said, "Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 7:1
Elisha said, "Hear the word of Yahweh. Thus says Yahweh,'Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.'"
(See NIV)

2 Kings 7:18
It happened, as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, "Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria;"
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 21:22
Then David said to Ornan, Give me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build thereon an altar to Yahweh: for the full price you shall give it to me, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people.
(See NIV)

Nehemiah 5:8
I said to them, We after our ability have redeemed our brothers the Jews, that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us? Then held they their peace, and found never a word.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 10:31
and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 44:12
You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS)

Proverbs 11:26
People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 23:23
Buy the truth, and don't sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 50:1
Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
(See NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 30:12
I will make the rivers dry, and will sell the land into the hand of evil men; and I will make the land desolate, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I, Yahweh, have spoken it.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 48:14
They shall sell none of it, nor exchange it, nor shall the first fruits of the land be alienated; for it is holy to Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joel 3:8
and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah, and they will sell them to the men of Sheba, to a faraway nation, for Yahweh has spoken it."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Amos 2:6
Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Israel, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes-
(See JPS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Amos 8:5
Saying,'When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may market wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel large, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Amos 8:6
that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes, and sell the sweepings with the wheat?'"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 11:5
Their buyers slaughter them, and go unpunished. Those who sell them say,'Blessed be Yahweh, for I am rich;' and their own shepherds don't pity them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Pawn: General Scriptures Concerning

Sell

Related Terms

Lydia (5 Occurrences)

Buyer (7 Occurrences)

Thyatira (4 Occurrences)

Sell (58 Occurrences)

Lender (4 Occurrences)

Listening (47 Occurrences)

Giver (21 Occurrences)

Worshipping (49 Occurrences)