Purse

Concise Bible Dictionary:

A bag for money or weights (Prov. 1:14¹⁴Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: (Proverbs 1:14); Isa. 46:6⁶They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship. (Isaiah 46:6); Luke 10:4⁴Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. (Luke 10:4); Luke 22:35, 36³⁵And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. ³⁶Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. (Luke 22:35‑36); John 12:6⁶This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. (John 12:6)). In Matthew 10:9⁹Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, (Matthew 10:9) and Mark 6:8⁸And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: (Mark 6:8), the “girdle” is alluded to, a portion of which was used as a purse.

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Model of an ancient Roman leather purse.

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Matthew 10:9⁹Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, (Matthew 10:9). Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses.

“In your purses,” is literally “in your girdles,” (ζώνας) It is quite common to use the folds of the girdle as a pouch, or pocket, for the reception of money. Money is also sometimes carried in a bag, which is. put into the girdle. This is referred to in the parallel passage in Luke, where the word rendered “purse” (βαλαντιον) signifies a bag.

Purse

Concise Bible Dictionary:

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

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