מָכַר

From the study of Deuteronomy 32:30

Range of meaning

To sell goods, land or people. In particular it means selling someone into slavery or debt bondage (Exodus 21:7; Deuteronomy 15:12; Genesis 37:28, Joseph sold by his brothers). With God as subject it is a set image: God, as owner or master of his people, transfers them into the control of an enemy.

Against the English

All versions have 'sold'. That is accurate, but modern readers may hear profit or treachery ('sold out'). The Hebrew picture is of a master handing his servants over to another master. It is not about money changing hands.

How it drifted

In everyday English, 'sell' calls up money and deals, and 'sold them out' suggests betrayal. The biblical idiom is about who has power over the people. No price is in view, and God does not gain from it (Psalm 44:12: 'you sold your people for nothing').

Used elsewhere in the period

Judges 2:14; 3:8; 4:2, 9; 10:7: 'he sold them into the hand of…'. 1 Samuel 12:9. Psalm 44:12. Isaiah 50:1: 'to which of my creditors did I sell you?' Compare Isaiah 52:3: 'you were sold for nothing.'

From the study of Isaiah 50:1

Range of meaning

In its basic form: to sell goods, land or people. The Niphal form means "be sold" and can also mean "sell oneself". In Lev 25:39, 47 and Deut 15:12 it is used for an Israelite who goes into debt-service. The usual translations are "sells himself" or "is sold".

Against the English

BSB, WEB, YLT, NIV and ESV have "you were sold" (passive). KJV has "have ye sold yourselves" (reflexive). Both are defensible from the Hebrew form.

How it drifted

A modern reader hearing "sold" may picture chattel slavery: permanent ownership through a slave market. The background here is debt-service. That was a legal arrangement which could be undone, by release in the seventh year (Deut 15:12) or by a relative buying the person back (Lev 25:47–49).

Used elsewhere in the period

Lev 25:39–55 and Deut 15:12–18 regulate debt-service. Isa 52:3 ("you were sold for nothing") picks up the same verb, as does Judges' recurring "YHWH sold them into the hand of…" (Judg 2:14; 3:8; 4:2). There the phrase describes handing Israel over to enemies as punishment.

From the study of Amos 2:6

Range of meaning

To sell, hand over for a price; also to hand someone over into another's power (Judg 2:14, 'he sold them into the hand of their enemies'). Kesef is silver, and by extension money; in Amos's day it was weighed, not coined.

Against the English

KJV and WEB put it in the past ('sold', 'have sold'); BSB, ESV, NIV and NASB use the present 'sell'; YLT 'their selling' keeps the verb-noun form best. The Hebrew describes an ongoing practice, not one event.

Used elsewhere in the period

Israelite law allowed debt slavery but limited it: release in the seventh year (Exod 21:2; Deut 15:12), and fellow Israelites were not to be treated as slaves (Lev 25:39–42). 2 Kgs 4:1 shows a creditor seizing a widow's children; Neh 5:1–8 describes Judeans selling their children to fellow Judeans over debts. Amos 8:6 echoes this verse: 'to buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals'.