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Bag, Purse, Wallet

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

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BAG, PURSE, WALLET . Several kinds of bags, etc. may be distinguished. ( a ) The shepherd’s and traveller’s wallet for carrying one or more days’ provisions. Like most of the other OT bags, it was made of skin, generally undressed, and was slung across the shoulder. This is the scrip of Matthew 10:10 and parallels (RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘ wallet ’). The former is retained by our RV [Note: Revised Version.] (but Amer. RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘wallet’) to render a unique word, which had to be explained even to Hebrew readers by the gloss ‘the shepherd’s bag’ ( 1 Samuel 17:40 ). ( b ) A more finished article, the leather satchel which served as a purse ( Luke 10:4; Luke 12:33 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] here bag). For illust. see Rich, Dict. of Antiq . 217. The purse of Matthew 10:9 , Mark 6:8 , however, was merely the folds of the girdle (see RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ). ( c ) The merchant’s bag, in which he kept his stone weights ( Deuteronomy 25:13 ), also served as a purse ( Proverbs 1:14 ). ( d ) The favourite bag for money and valuables hence the beautiful figure 1 Samuel 25:29 , where ‘the hundle of life’ = life’s jewel-case was one which could he tied with a string ( 2 Kings 12:10 , Proverbs 7:20 , also Genesis 42:35 EV [Note: English Version.] ‘bundle’). If required, a seal could be put on the knot ( Job 14:17 ). ( e ) Another word is used both for a large bag, capable of holding a talent of silver ( 2 Kings 5:23 ), and for the dainty lady’s satchel ( Isaiah 3:22 RV [Note: Revised Version.]; AV [Note: Authorized Version.] crisping pins ), ( f ) The ‘bag’ which Judas carried ( John 12:6; John 13:29 ) was rather a small box (RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ), originally used for holding the mouthpieces of wind-instruments.

A. R. S. Kennedy.