סָחַר
sa.char (H5503)
to trade
AI Word Study
# סָחַר (Sachar): Trade and Commerce in Ancient Hebrew The Hebrew word סָחַר (sachar) refers to the activity of trading or engaging in commerce. With 21 occurrences across the biblical text, it represents a concrete economic activity rather than an abstract concept. The word describes the practical work of buying, selling, and exchanging goods—the fundamental operations that sustained commercial life in the ancient Near Eastern world that produced the Hebrew Bible. The frequency of this term's appearance (21 times) indicates that trading was a recognized and established feature of biblical society worthy of regular mention. This suggests that commerce held sufficient importance in daily life to warrant its own dedicated vocabulary. The word appears straightforward in definition without additional layers of metaphorical or theological significance noted in the basic lexical data provided, indicating it functioned primarily as a descriptive term for economic transactions rather than as a symbol loaded with religious meaning. Understanding סָחַר helps readers recognize how biblical texts engaged with the material realities of their world. When the Hebrew Bible discusses trade, it is documenting a genuine social practice, not merely using a figure of speech. This term offers a window into the economic dimensions of ancient Israelite and Near Eastern life, showing that commerce was sufficiently routine to have clear linguistic expression.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard.
You shall dwell with us, and the land will be before you. Live and trade in it, and get possessions in it.”
“These men are peaceful with us. Therefore let them live in the land and trade in it. For behold, the land is large enough for them. Let’s take their daughters to us for wives, and let’s give them our daughters.
Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The merchants brought Joseph into Egypt.
Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. So I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’ ”
The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt. The king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and from Kue. The king’s merchants purchased them from Kue.
in addition to that which the traders and merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.
She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
Be still, you inhabitants of the coast, you whom the merchants of Sidon that pass over the sea, have replenished.
Who has planned this against Tyre, the giver of crowns, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the honorable of the earth?
The things that you labored in will be like this: those who have trafficked with you from your youth will each wander in his own way. There will be no one to save you.
If I go out into the field, then, behold, the slain with the sword! If I enter into the city, then, behold, those who are sick with famine! For both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge.’ ”
“ ‘ “Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches. They traded for your wares with silver, iron, tin, and lead.
“ ‘ “Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of your handiworks. They traded for your wares with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies.
“ ‘ “Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks, by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool.
“ ‘ “Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar were the merchants of your hand; in lambs, rams, and goats. In these, they were your merchants.
The merchants among the peoples hiss at you. You have become a terror, and you will be no more.” ’ ”
Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions of it, will ask you, ‘Have you come to take the plunder? Have you assembled your company to take the prey, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ ” ’