The market was a central feature of life in biblical times. Some of the biblical terms for redemption are drawn from the market-place.
Ancient market-places
1 Kings 20:34 Ahab's treaty with Ben-Hadad suggests that by the 9th century B.C. there was a highly developed system of international trade.; Isaiah 23:3; Ezekiel 27:24
The market as a place of commerce
Methods of trading
Cash: Genesis 23:10–18; John 2:14–16; Genesis 47:17; Hosea 3:2
Sealing transactions
Ruth 4:7 with a sandal; Jeremiah 32:11–12 by signature
Other activities in the market-place
It was where children played
Matthew 11:16–17 parallel Luke 7:32
It was where labourers waited for hire
It was where meat was sold
1 Corinthians 10:25 Some of this meat had come from pagan sacrifices.
It was where magistrates were present
God's work in the market-place
Jesus Christ healed the sick
And wherever He went — villages and towns and countrysides — they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.
Paul preached
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.
Sins in the market-place
Greed, dishonesty and materialism
See also Hosea 12:7; Amos 8:5; Micah 6:11
The hypocrisy of the Pharisees
Matthew 23:7 parallels Mark 12:38, Luke 20:46; Mark 7:4 the problem was ritual defilement; Luke 11:43
Rough crowds
The temple courts become a market
John 2:14–16 parallels Matthew 21:12–13, Mark 11:15–17, Luke 19:45–46
In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and money changers seated at their tables. So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle. He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those selling doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a marketplace!”
Markets will be destroyed in judgment
See also Zephaniah 1:11; Revelation 18:11–13
Biblical terms for redemption are drawn from market language
In the gospel call
Proverbs 8:3–5 The city gates were often places for business deals; Isaiah 1:18, Isaiah 55:1, Isaiah 55:2; Matthew 13:45–46
God's people have been bought
Acts 20:28 See also Exodus 15:16; Psalm 74:2; 1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Corinthians 7:23; 2 Peter 2:1; Revelation 5:9, Revelation 14:4
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
God's people have been redeemed
Galatians 4:4–5 The Greek word “exagorazo” means “to buy” and was used, for example, of the buying of slaves. See also Galatians 3:13–14; Revelation 14:3 The Greek “agorazo”, translated here as “redeemed”, may also be translated as “bought”. Elsewhere (e.g., Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18), “lutro” meaning “to release” is used, conveying a similar idea.
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.
Redeeming the time
The Greek exagorazo'' here translated asmake the most of'': Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.