Understanding βαλλάντιον (ballantion) Strong’s G905: The Sacred Purse That Reveals Divine Provision in Kingdom Ministry

Pronunciation Guide: bal-LAN-tee-on

Basic Definition

Strong’s G905: A βαλλάντιον (ballantion) is a money bag, purse, or pouch specifically designed for carrying coins. In biblical contexts, it represents not merely a container for currency, but symbolizes material resources, financial provision, and one’s approach to wealth within Kingdom service. The term carries implications of dependence on God’s provision rather than human security.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Noun (Neuter)
• Root Word: Possibly from βάλλω (ballō, “to throw, cast, put”)
• Language Origin: Koine Greek
• Primary Usage: Found exclusively in Luke’s Gospel in narrative and teaching sections, particularly in Jesus’ instructions about discipleship and provision

βαλλάντιον Morphology:

• βαλλάντιον (nominative singular) – a purse/money bag
• βαλλαντίου (genitive singular) – of a purse/money bag
• βαλλαντίῳ (dative singular) – in/with a purse/money bag
• βαλλάντια (nominative/accusative plural) – purses/money bags
• βαλλαντίων (genitive plural) – of purses/money bags
• βαλλαντίοις (dative plural) – in/with purses/money bags

Origin & History

The term βαλλάντιον has interesting roots that extend back to classical Greek usage. In Aristophanes’ comedies, particularly in “Frogs” (line 772), the βαλλάντιον appears as an ordinary money pouch carried by travelers and merchants. It was a common target for thieves, highlighting its value and vulnerability.

In the Septuagint (LXX), the term is notably absent, which makes its New Testament usage particularly significant. Instead, Hellenistic Jewish writers like Josephus employed it in descriptions of everyday life, referring to the money pouches carried by both common people and the wealthy. By the time of the New Testament, the βαλλάντιον had evolved to represent not just a physical container but a symbol of financial security and provision in an uncertain world.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A specially designed leather pouch or bag for securely carrying coins and other valuables
• A symbol of material resources and financial provision
• A representation of human security and self-sufficiency that can be relinquished in favor of divine provision
• A practical item that became a teaching tool in Jesus’ ministry about Kingdom economics

βαλλάντιον Translation Options:

• Money bag – Highlights its primary functional purpose for carrying currency, most suitable in narrative contexts
• Purse – Emphasizes its personal nature as something carried close to the body, offering good contemporary resonance
• Money pouch – Stresses its compact design specifically for coins, appropriate when contrasting with larger luggage items
• Wallet – A more modern rendering that captures the essence of financial storage, though somewhat anachronistic to the original context
• Treasury – In certain contexts, conveys the deeper meaning of one’s personal financial resources, not just the container

Biblical Usage

The term βαλλάντιον appears exclusively in Luke’s Gospel, occurring 4 times and always in the context of Jesus’ teaching about material possessions, provision, and Kingdom priorities. Its first appearance in Luke 10:4 comes within Jesus’ commissioning of the seventy disciples, instructing them to travel without financial security. This strategic placement suggests that Luke, who often emphasizes economic themes, saw this term as particularly significant for understanding the relationship between discipleship and material resources.

Most notably, the term creates a stark contrast between worldly financial security and Kingdom dependence. Jesus consistently instructs His followers to reconsider their relationship with money pouches – either leaving them behind entirely or recognizing that spiritual treasures create “money bags that do not grow old” (Luke 12:33).

• “Carry no money bag [βαλλάντιον], no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.” Luke 10:4
• “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with money bags [βαλλάντια] that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.” Luke 12:33
• “And he said to them, ‘When I sent you out with no money bag [βαλλαντίου] or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘Nothing.'” Luke 22:35
• “He said to them, ‘But now let the one who has a money bag [βαλλάντιον] take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.'” Luke 22:36

Cultural Insights

In first-century Jewish culture, the βαλλάντιον was not merely a practical item but carried significant social meaning. Travelers in the ancient Near East faced considerable dangers on journeys, with robbery being a common threat on unpatrolled roads. A money pouch was typically worn under the outer garment, often secured against the body by a belt or girdle to protect it from thieves. This cultural reality makes Jesus’ instruction to the seventy disciples all the more remarkable – they were being sent into a dangerous world without their normal financial security.

The design of the βαλλάντιον itself is noteworthy. Unlike modern wallets, these pouches were typically made of leather or sometimes cloth, with a drawstring closure. The wealthier individuals might have more ornate versions made with multiple compartments or even dyed in expensive purple to signify status. Archaeological findings from the period show that some money pouches even contained small weights used to verify the authenticity of coins – an essential function in a world where currency was valued by its metal content rather than merely by governmental declaration.

Theological Significance

The βαλλάντιον in Luke’s Gospel reveals profound theological truths about God’s character and the nature of discipleship. By instructing His disciples to go without money bags in Luke 10:4, Jesus wasn’t promoting poverty as a virtue in itself. Rather, He was establishing a new paradigm of radical dependence on יהוה (Yahweh) as Provider. This instruction emphasizes God’s character as the One who faithfully supplies for those engaged in His mission, demonstrating that Kingdom economics operates on principles of divine provision rather than human accumulation.

The contrast between earthly and heavenly βαλλάντια in Luke 12:33 reveals Jesus’ understanding of true security. The Messiah teaches that genuine eternal security comes not from hoarding resources in perishable containers but from investing in Kingdom values that create imperishable wealth. This reframes our understanding of prosperity – true abundance is measured not by what we temporarily possess but by what we eternally invest in God’s purposes.

The shift in Jesus’ teaching about the βαλλάντιον in Luke 22:36 – now instructing disciples to take their money bags – demonstrates the situational wisdom of the Master. The Messiah’s approach to material resources wasn’t rigidly ideological but contextually practical. This reveals a God who understands that different seasons of ministry require different approaches to provision, showing His compassionate understanding of human needs within different circumstances.

Personal Application

The βαλλάντιον challenges us to examine our relationship with material security. In a world obsessed with financial stability, retirement accounts, and emergency funds, Jesus’ instruction to sometimes minister without our “money bags” invites us to experience seasons of deeper dependence on God’s provision. This doesn’t mean financial irresponsibility, but rather creating space in our lives where we must trust God beyond our visible resources.

Consider implementing a “βαλλάντιον practice” in your spiritual life – identifying areas where you habitually trust in your own provision rather than God’s faithfulness. Perhaps this means giving beyond comfortable levels, serving in ways that don’t guarantee financial return, or taking steps of faith that require divine intervention. When we periodically set aside our metaphorical money pouches, we create room for God to demonstrate His character as Provider in tangible, faith-building ways. The question isn’t whether we possess resources, but whether those resources possess us.

Related Words

• γαζοφυλάκιον (gazophylakion, “treasury”) – refers specifically to the temple treasury rather than personal finances, highlighting the institutional versus individual nature of financial stewardship. Unlike the personal βαλλάντιον, this term relates to communal religious resources. See G1049
• ἀργύριον (argyrion, “silver, money”) – focuses on the currency itself rather than its container, emphasizing the medium of exchange rather than the storage method. Where βαλλάντιον represents financial security, ἀργύριον represents buying power. See G694
• θησαυρός (thēsauros, “treasure, storehouse”) – represents accumulated wealth or valuables, suggesting long-term storage rather than the portable daily funds carried in a βαλλάντιον. See G2344
• μαμωνᾶς (mamōnas, “mammon, wealth”) – personifies wealth as a potential idol or master, while βαλλάντιον remains neutral as the container for resources that can be used either selfishly or redemptively. See G3126
• χρῆμα (chrēma, “money, wealth”) – denotes money specifically in terms of its usefulness and practical application, whereas βαλλάντιον emphasizes the means of carrying and securing one’s resources. See G5536

Did you Know?

• Archaeological excavations in Jerusalem have uncovered preserved remains of first-century leather money pouches (βαλλάντια) with intricate designs, some featuring multiple internal pockets for different denominations of coins. These findings confirm that far from being simple pouches, these were sophisticated financial tools designed for the complex monetary system of the Roman world where different regional currencies circulated simultaneously.
• The contrast between Jesus’ instructions in Luke 10:4 (take no βαλλάντιον) and Luke 22:36 (take your βαλλάντιον) has fascinated biblical scholars for centuries. St. Augustine explained this apparent contradiction by suggesting that the first command applied to the period when Roman authority provided relative safety on roads, while the latter reflected the increasing danger and persecution facing disciples after Jesus’ departure. This historical insight helps us understand that Jesus wasn’t being inconsistent but responding to changing circumstances.
• In modern Greek, the derivative term “βαλάντιο” still refers to a wallet or purse, showing the remarkable linguistic continuity across 2,000 years. However, in contemporary usage, it has lost its spiritual connotations and refers strictly to the practical item. This linguistic evolution mirrors how modern Christians often separate their financial practices from their spiritual disciplines – precisely the integration that Jesus was teaching against in His βαλλάντιον instructions.

Remember This

The βαλλάντιον reminds us that true security never comes from what we carry, but from Who carries us; it’s not about the fullness of our purse, but the fullness of our trust in the Divine Provider.