Biblical Commerce: ὠνέομαι (Strong’s G5608: ōneomai) Reveals Sacred Transaction History

Strong’s G5608: A Greek verb meaning “to buy, purchase,” derived from Proto-Indo-European roots. Used in commercial contexts and significant transactions, particularly in Acts to describe Abraham’s purchase of burial property, highlighting the importance of legal and honorable business dealings in biblical narratives.

U- Unveiling the Word

The verb ὠνέομαι represents more than just a simple commercial transaction – it carries deep cultural and theological significance in biblical contexts. While primarily meaning “to buy or purchase,” it often appears in situations of great spiritual or historical importance. In Acts, it specifically describes Abraham’s purchase of burial property, demonstrating the respect for proper legal transactions and property rights in biblical times. The word’s usage reflects the intersection of sacred history and everyday commerce, showing how even mundane business dealings can carry profound spiritual significance. Today, it reminds us that our commercial dealings should reflect our faith and integrity.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὠνέομαι, ōneomai, oh-NEH-oh-my
• Detailed pronunciation: oh (as in “go”) + NEH (as in “net”) + oh + my
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• Root: ὠν- (ōn-) – related to buying/purchasing
• -έομαι (-eomai) – middle/passive verb ending indicating the subject’s involvement in the action

D – Defining Meanings

• To buy
• To purchase
• To acquire through payment

For compound words:
Not a compound word, but the middle voice ending -έομαι indicates the subject’s direct involvement in the transaction.

Translation Options:

• “to purchase” – emphasizes the formal nature of the transaction
• “to buy” – more general term for everyday use
• “to acquire through payment” – emphasizes the legal aspect of the transaction

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἀγοράζω (agorazō) [ag-or-AD-zo] – to buy in the marketplace – See G59
• πωλέω (pōleō) [po-LEH-o] – to sell – See G4453
• πρίαμαι (priamai) [PREE-am-ai] – to buy – See G4412

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Verb Features:

• Tense: Present
• Voice: Middle/Passive
• Mood: Indicative
• Person: varies
• Number: varies
• Aspect: Progressive/Repeated action

The middle voice indicates the subject’s personal involvement in the purchase. In English, this would transform as:
Present: I buy/am buying
Aorist: I bought
Perfect: I have bought

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons provide rich insight into ὠνέομαι’s usage. BDAG emphasizes its commercial context while noting its relatively rare occurrence in the New Testament. Thayer’s highlights its middle voice usage, indicating personal involvement in the transaction. LSJ provides extensive classical usage examples, showing its broad application in Greek literature. Vine’s notes its specific use in Acts regarding Abraham’s purchase. Strong’s connects it to the concept of legitimate business transactions. Moulton and Milligan’s papyri evidence shows its common usage in legal documents and contracts of the period.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:

Acts 7:16 “And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham had [ὠνέομαι] purchased for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.”

Additional References:
As this is the only occurrence in the New Testament, no additional references are available.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The word ὠνέομαι, while appearing only once in the New Testament, carries significant weight in understanding biblical commerce and sacred history. Its use in describing Abraham’s purchase of burial ground demonstrates the importance of proper business dealings in God’s covenant relationship with His people. This reminds us that the good news of King Jesus extends to all aspects of life, including our commercial transactions. Just as Abraham’s purchase was part of God’s covenant promise, our business dealings today should reflect our commitment to Kingdom principles of integrity and justice.

D – Did You Know?

• ὠνέομαι is one of the few Greek commercial terms that appears exclusively in middle voice form
• The word has survived in modern Greek, still meaning “to buy”
• It appears in numerous ancient commercial documents, providing valuable insights into ancient business practices

Strong’s G5608: A Greek verb meaning “to buy, purchase,” derived from Proto-Indo-European roots. Used in commercial contexts and significant transactions, particularly in Acts to describe Abraham’s purchase of burial property, highlighting the importance of legal and honorable business dealings in biblical narratives.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: commerce, purchase, buy, transaction, Abraham, burial, property, business, legal, covenant, Middle voice, Greek verbs​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​