The meaning of Traffic, Trafficker in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
traf'-ik, traf'-ik-er (kena'-an, micchar, cachar, rekhullah): (1) Kena'an = "Canaan," and, as the Canaanites were celebrated merchants, came to mean "merchant," and so "traffic" (see CANAAN). Ezekiel 17:4 refers to the great eagle who "cropped off the topmost of the young twigs (of cedar) thereof, and carried it unto a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants." (2) Micchar means "trade," and so "traffic"; comes from a root meaning "to travel round," e.g. as a peddler. I Kings 10:15 reads: "Besides that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants." This refers to the income of Solomon. (3) Cachar means "to go about," "occupy with," "trade," "traffic," "merchant," and so the business of the moving merchant or peddler. Joseph said to his brothers: "So will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land" (Genesis 42:34). He evidently meant that they should have license to become, throughout Egypt, traveling traders. (4) Rekhullah, from a root meaning "to travel for trading," and so a peddled traffic, as in spices, etc. Ezekiel speaks against the prince of Tyre: "By thy great wisdom and by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches" (Ezekiel 28:5); and against the king of Tyre: "in the unrighteousness of thy traffic," etc. (Ezekiel 28:18).
See MARKET; MERCHANDISE; SHIPS AND BOATS, II, 2, (2); TRADE.
William Edward Raffety
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