Bible Dictionary
WARES
“Wares” means merchandise, goods, possessions, or articles offered for sale or trade. Biblical uses may refer to purchased goods, manufactured items, cargo, or commercial property.
Definition
Wares are merchandise, goods, possessions, articles made or acquired, or things offered for sale and trade. The word may include a package, transaction, property, implement, vessel, or other commercial item, according to context.
Biblical Usage
Biblical references use wares for purchased goods, merchandise, things sold, packages, property, and articles connected with trade and business.
Historical Background
The English term translates several Hebrew words involving purchase, price, selling, transaction, trade, prepared articles, and possessions. In most instances its practical sense is merchandise.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>warz (maqqachah, mekher, mimkar, kin`ah, ma`aseh, `izzabhon, keli):</p><p>(1) maqqachah, something received or purchased (Ne 10:31);</p><p>(2) mekher, "price" or "pay," value, merchandise (Ne 13:16);</p><p>(3) mimkar, a "selling," the thing sold (Ne 13:20);</p><p>(4) kin`ah, a "package," hence, wares (Jer 10:17);</p><p>(5) ma`aseh, "transaction," activity, property, possession, work, occupation, thing made, deed, business (Eze 27:16,18);</p><p>(6) `izzabhon, "selling," trade, revenue, mart, letting go for a price (Eze 27:33);</p><p>(7) keli, a "prepared" something, as an implement, tool, weapon, utensil, armor, furniture, sack, vessel, hence, wares (Jon 1:5).</p><p>In most cases the real sense is merchandise (see MERCHANDISE). "That which did not a little amuse the Merchandizers (in Vanity-Fair) was, that these Pilgrims set very light by all their Wares; they cared not so much as to look upon them" (Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress).</p><p>William Edward Raffety</p>