In biblical times, bags were essential items used for various purposes, including carrying money, provisions, and personal belongings. The use of bags is mentioned throughout the Scriptures, reflecting their importance in daily life and spiritual teachings.

Types and Uses of Bags

1. Money Bags: In the New Testament, money bags are frequently mentioned, particularly in the context of Jesus' teachings. In Luke 12:33, Jesus advises, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys." Here, the money bag symbolizes the transient nature of earthly wealth compared to eternal treasures.

2. Travel Bags: Bags were also used by travelers to carry provisions. In Matthew 10:10, Jesus instructs His disciples, "Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions." This directive emphasizes reliance on God's provision and the hospitality of others.

3. Bags for Grain and Goods: In the Old Testament, bags were used to store and transport grain and other goods. Genesis 42:25 recounts how Joseph commanded his servants to fill his brothers' bags with grain and return their money, demonstrating the use of bags in trade and sustenance.

Symbolic Significance

Bags in the Bible often carry symbolic meanings, particularly in the teachings of Jesus. They can represent the priorities of the heart and the focus on spiritual rather than material wealth. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus teaches, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Cultural Context

In ancient Near Eastern culture, bags were typically made from leather or cloth and varied in size depending on their intended use. They were an essential part of daily life, used by merchants, travelers, and households alike. The construction and durability of a bag could signify the wealth and status of its owner.

Spiritual Lessons

The biblical references to bags often serve as a reminder of the impermanence of material possessions and the importance of spiritual readiness. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the servants are entrusted with their master's wealth, symbolically stored in bags, to be used wisely and faithfully. This parable underscores the responsibility of stewardship and the call to invest in God's kingdom.

Overall, bags in the Bible are more than mere physical objects; they are woven into the fabric of biblical narratives to convey deeper spiritual truths and lessons about trust, provision, and the eternal value of heavenly treasures.2754. charit -- bag, purse
... 2753, 2754. charit. 2755 . bag, purse. Transliteration: charit Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-reet') Short Definition: bags. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/2754.htm - 6k

6696. tsuwr -- to confine, bind, besiege
... and figuratively, formative or hostile) -- adversary, assault, beset, besiege, bind
(up), cast, distress, fashion, fortify, inclose, lay siege, put up in bags. ...
/hebrew/6696.htm - 5k

3627. keli -- an article, utensil, vessel
... from kalah Definition an article, utensil, vessel NASB Word Usage armor (24), armory*
(1), article (10), articles (30), bag (2), baggage (12), bags (2), basket ...
/hebrew/3627.htm - 6k

Joseph --The Savior of his People.
... They took the wheat that they had bought in bags, and went away; but when they stopped
at an inn to rest and feed their asses, one of the brothers opened his ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter viii josephthe savior of.htm

The Pearl of Great Price.
... his box and takes out this "pearl of great price." It is just the kind of pearl
the merchant had been seeking, so he quickly produces his two bags of gold and ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the new testament/the pearl of great price.htm

Chapter xliv
... believe that Delitzsch is right when he claims that "the brethren forfeited the
right to give up Benjamin because all had in their bags something incriminating ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xliv.htm

A Little Jewish Maid.
... Naaman folded the letter in his tunic, and filling a few small bags with silver
and gold, and rolling up some bundles of new clothing, he put them into the ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/a little jewish maid.htm

To the Rev. A. Brandram
... one day that Vitoriano, being in need of a pillow for his head, sent word to the
people of the posada to send him his alforjas or saddle-bags, which they did. ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev a brandram 57.htm

Some Gospel Truths Opened, According to the Scriptures; Or, the ...
... garnish himself, and the people are carried away with vanity"women plaiting their
hair"men and women powdering it, making their backs like bags of meal. ...
/.../the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/some gospel truths opened according.htm

Chapter xvii.
... example, that no one might afterwards be scandalized when he observed any of His
servants procuring such necessaries, condescended to have money bags, out of ...
/.../augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xvii 2.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke x. 2, "The Harvest Truly is ...
... that He is our Example; "Christ," says Peter, "suffered for us, leaving us an example
that we should follow His steps." [3284] Our Lord Himself had bags in the ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon li on the words.htm

1877-1879. "They Helped Every one his Neighbour" --Miss Child, a ...
... writing letters for those who could not use a pen themselves, and whose hearts were
softened by kindness shown in this way"others in filling, bags with books ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter vii 1877-1879 they helped.htm

John Chapter xi. 55-57; xii
... who was a thief, yea"do not overlook it"not a thief of any ordinary type, but a
thief and a sacrilegist: a robber of money bags, but of such as were the ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate l john chapter xi.htm

Bags (16 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Bags (16 Occurrences). ... (WEB BBE NAS RSV NIV). Genesis
42:26 Then they put the bags of grain on their asses and went away. (BBE). ...
/b/bags.htm - 11k

Food-bags (1 Occurrence)
Food-bags. Food, Food-bags. Food-place . Multi-Version Concordance
Food-bags (1 Occurrence). Joshua 9:4 Acting with ...
/f/food-bags.htm - 6k

Money-bags (1 Occurrence)
Money-bags. Money-bag, Money-bags. Money-box . Multi-Version
Concordance Money-bags (1 Occurrence). Luke 12:33 Give ...
/m/money-bags.htm - 6k

Bag (52 Occurrences)
... (4.) The word rendered in the Authorized Version "bags," in which the priests bound
up the money contributed for the restoration of the temple (2 Kings 12:10 ...
/b/bag.htm - 29k

Bottle (28 Occurrences)
... by gathering up the piece, or by inserting a flat bit of wood." Burckhardt says
he saw Arabs keeping water for their horses on journeys in "large bags made of ...
/b/bottle.htm - 23k

Bagpipe (4 Occurrences)

/b/bagpipe.htm - 8k

Noting (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Kings 12:10 And when they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king's
scribe and the high priest came and put it in bags, noting the amount of all ...
/n/noting.htm - 6k

Night's (13 Occurrences)
... Genesis 43:21 And when we came to our night's resting-place, on opening our bags
we saw that every man's money was in the mouth of his bag, all our money in ...
/n/night's.htm - 10k

Nuts (2 Occurrences)
... Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for
the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds ...
/n/nuts.htm - 8k

Unfailing (29 Occurrences)
... Luke 12:33 sell your goods, and give alms, make to yourselves bags that become not
old, a treasure unfailing in the heavens, where thief doth not come near ...
/u/unfailing.htm - 13k

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