Purse — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

A small bag or receptacle in which money and often other small objects would be carried. There are basically three Hebrew words and three Greek words referring to such a purse or pouch. The first refers to a purse or bag in which money or stone weights used with the balance scales were carried (Dt 25:13; Prv 1:14; Is 46:6; Mi 6:11). It could be made of leather or stout cotton. Another Hebrew word referring to much the same kind of pouch is found in 2 Kings 5:23. This same word also appears in a list of ladies’ finery in Isaiah 3:22 and may therefore have been a more ornamentally woven pouch than the first described above. The third Hebrew word appears in Genesis 42:35 and refers to a little bag with an open mouth. This was the small bag or purse in which Joseph’s brothers’ money had been placed before it was put into their sacks of grain.

Show passage in OET: DEU 25:13

OET-RV DEU 25:13

13 Don’t keep two stone weights in your bag—a lighter one and a heavier one for when you’re buying and selling.

OET-LV DEU 25:13

13 Not it _will _belong to/for_yourself(m) in_bag _of_your a _weight and_a _weight large and_small.

Show passage in OET: PRO 1:14

OET-RV PRO 1:14

14 You need to come and join us—
⇔ we share everything equally.”

OET-LV PRO 1:14

14 Lot _of_your you _will _throw among_us a _bag one it _will _belong to_all _of_of _us.

Show passage in OET: ISA 46:6

OET-RV ISA 46:6

6 Those who pour gold out from a bag
⇔ ≈ and weigh their silver on a scale,
⇔ hire a metalsmith to make it into a god.
⇔ They kneel in front of it and worship it.

OET-LV ISA 46:6

6 Those_who_pour _out gold from_a _bag and_silver on_scale[s] they _weigh _out they _hire a _metalsmith and_he_makes _it a _god they _prostrate _themselves also they _bow _down.

Show passage in OET: MIC 6:11

OET-RV MIC 6:11

11 Should I consider people to be innocent if they use fraudulent scales
⇔ or a bag of deceptive weights?

OET-LV MIC 6:11

11 Will_I _be _clean with_balances _of wickedness and_with_a _bag _of weights _of deceit.

Show passage in OET: KI2 5:23

OET-RV KI2 5:23

23 “Sure,” said Na’aman. “Take 60kg,” he urged him. Then he separated 60kg of silver into two bags along with two sets of clothes, then he gave them to two of his young men to carry back for him.

OET-LV KI2 5:23

23 And_ Naˊₐmān _he/it _said be _willing accept two _talents and_he _urged in/on/over_him/it and_he/it _laid _siege two _talents silver in_two _of bags and_two _of changes _of garments and_he/it _gave to two _of his _servants _of_his and_they _carried_them before_him.

Show passage in OET: ISA 3:22

OET-RV ISA 3:22

22 festive robes and capes, veils and purses,

OET-LV ISA 3:22

22 The _fine_robes and_the_over-tunics and_the_cloaks and_the_purses.

Show passage in OET: GEN 42:35

OET-RV GEN 42:35

35 Then when they started emptying their sacks, wow, each man’s pouch of silver was inside his sack. When the brothers and their father saw their pouches of silver, they were afraid.

OET-LV GEN 42:35

35 And_he/it _was they were_emptying sacks _of_their and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE each _man the _bag _of his _silver _of_his was_in_sack _of_his and_ they and_father _of_their _they _saw DOM the _bags _of their _silver(s)_of_their and_they _were _afraid.

Jump to OET DEU 25:13 section.

Jump to OET PRO 1:14 section.

Jump to OET ISA 46:6 section.

Jump to OET MIC 6:11 section.

Jump to OET KI2 5:23 section.

Jump to OET ISA 3:22 section.

Jump to OET GEN 42:35 section.

The corresponding Greek word for the Hebrew words discussed above means a money bag or purse. When Jesus sent out his disciples two by two, he prohibited them from taking, among other things, a purse (Lk 10:4; 22:35-36). In Luke 12:33 this same word for purse is used figuratively for treasure in heaven that cannot be exhausted, stolen, or destroyed.

Show passage in OET: LUK 10:4

OET-RV LUK 10:4

4 Don’t take a wallet or backpack or spare sandals, and don’t greet people on the road.

OET-LV LUK 10:4

4 Be _bearing neither purse, nor knapsack, nor sandals, and you _all _may _greet no _one on the road.

Show passage in OET: LUK 22:35–36

OET-RV LUK 22:35

35 Then Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) told them, “When I sent you all out without a wallet or backpack or spare sandals, did you have to go without anything?”
¶ “Nothing,” they answered.

OET-RV LUK 22:36

36 “But now,” Yeshua continued, “if you have a wallet, take it and same with a backpack. If you don’t have a sword, sell your coat and buy one,

OET-LV LUK 22:35

35 And he _said to _them:
When I _sent_ you _all _out without purse, and knapsack, and sandals, not you _all _lacked of _anything?
And they said:
Of _nothing.

OET-LV LUK 22:36

36 and He _said to _them:
But now the one having a_purse let _him _take _up it, likewise also a_knapsack, and the one not having, a_sword let _him _sell the coat of _him, and let _him _buy.

Show passage in OET: LUK 12:33

OET-RV LUK 12:33

33 Sell what you own and give to the poor and so store your wealth in heaven where it won’t deteriorate or get lost or stolen from you,

OET-LV LUK 12:33

33 Sell the things possessing of _you _all, and give alms.
Make to _yourselves purses not being _grown _old, a_treasure inexhaustible in the heavens, where thief is_ not _nearing nor moth is _ruining.

Jump to OET LUK 10:4 section.

Jump to OET LUK 22:35–36 section.

Jump to OET LUK 12:33 section.

Another Greek word indicates another normal place for the carrying of money, the girdle or the belt, which was an essential part of dress for both men and women in the ancient East. When made of leather, they were made hollow or with slots for the purpose of carrying coins. When made of cloth, they were folded in such a manner that money could be carried in the folds, which served as pockets (Mt 10:9; Mk 6:8).

Show passage in OET: MAT 10:9

OET-RV MAT 10:9

9 Don’t accept any money for your wallets,

OET-LV MAT 10:9

9 You _all _may_ neither _acquire gold, nor silver, nor copper in the belts of _you _all,

Show passage in OET: MRK 6:8

OET-RV MRK 6:8

8 He insisted that they can carry a walking stick, but not to take food, a backpack, or money.

OET-LV MRK 6:8

8 And he _commanded to _them that they _may _be _taking _away nothing for journey, except only not/lest a_staff, not bread, not a_knapsack, not money in the belt,

Jump to OET MAT 10:9 section.

Jump to OET MRK 6:8 section.

The Greek word for the “money bag” that Judas is said to have kept for the disciples refers to a case or container for the mouthpiece of a wind instrument. By NT times it had become the Greek word for a money box or possibly a money bag (Jn 12:6; 13:29), and hence another NT word for purse.