Bible Dictionary
Chapman
A chapman was a merchant or trader, especially one who traveled about buying and selling goods.
Definition
A chapman was a merchant or trader, especially one who went about from place to place buying and selling goods. The older English word is related to trade and bargaining.
Biblical Usage
The term occurs in the biblical description of traders connected with the wealth and commerce of the kingdom.
Historical Background
The Hebrew expression means those who go about as merchants. Older English versions use “chapmen,” while later versions commonly use “traders.”
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(i.e. cheap man), merchant.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>chap'-man (plural 'anshe ha-tarim): Word used only once in the King James Version (2Ch 9:14, the American Standard Revised Version "the traders"; compare also 1Ki 10:15 the Revised Version (British and American), where the Hebrew uses the same expression). The English word means "merchant"; compare the verb "to chaffer," and the German Kaufmann. The Hebrew means "those who go about" as merchants.</p>