← G1712 G1714 →

ἔμπορος

émporos

G1713 noun

SILEX Entry

Root πορε to go, to travel, to conduct business

Definition

A person engaged in trade or commerce, specifically one who travels or operates on a larger scale, typically with goods exchanged between localities or regions. In Koine Greek, refers primarily to a wholesale trader or merchant involved in substantial business ventures, as opposed to a retail dealer. Sometimes denotes the owner or operator of shipping enterprises or those engaged in long-distance commercial exchange. Wider semantic range includes anyone practicing commercial exchange, but with a focus on significant or large-scale commerce.

Semantic Range

merchant, wholesale trader, dealer in goods (esp. on a large or international scale), commercial operator, shipowner, importer/exporter, person engaged in long-distance or interregional commerce

Root / Etymology

From ἐν (in) and the base of πορεύομαι (to go, travel), indicating one who moves from place to place about business. The word thus literally means 'one who goes in' (perhaps to markets or countries), hence 'merchant.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἔμπορος usually referred to merchants involved in overseas or long-distance trade, contrasting with κάπηλος (kāpēlos), a retailer or small-scale dealer. In the Septuagint, the term appears for traders bringing goods from afar, echoing the social and economic importance of these figures in ancient contexts (e.g., Ezekiel 27). In the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 13:45; Revelation 18:3,11,15,23), ἔμπορος denotes merchant traders whose business influence often extends across regions. English translations traditionally render this term as 'merchant,' but may underrepresent the emphasis on large-scale or international trade implicit in the Greek. The term is specifically distinct from terms for local shopkeepers or market sellers, highlighting the mobility and scale of ancient commerce. The image of the ἔμπορος can thus connote both economic power and far-reaching connections in the Greco-Roman world, especially in urban and port economies.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐν and the base of πορεύομαι; a (wholesale) tradesman:--merchant.

Root Family

ἔμπορος (emporos) — to go, to travel, to conduct business

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G1713-02 ἔμποροι emporoi N NOM M PL merchants long-distance merchants 4
G1713-01 ἐμπόρῳ emporo N DAT M SG to a wholesale merchant 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G1713-01 Matthew 13:45 ἐμπόρῳ emporo N DAT M SG to a wholesale merchant
G1713-02 Revelation 18:3 ἔμποροι emporoi N NOM M PL merchants long-distance merchants
G1713-02 Revelation 18:11 ἔμποροι emporoi N NOM M PL merchants long-distance merchants
G1713-02 Revelation 18:15 ἔμποροι emporoi N NOM M PL merchants long-distance merchants
G1713-02 Revelation 18:23 ἔμποροί emporoi N NOM M PL merchants long-distance merchants
← G1712 Greek Lexicon G1714 →