### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **empórion**, represented by `{{G1712}}`, refers to a mart or, more specifically, **merchandise**. It appears **1 times** across **1 unique verses** in the Bible. This term captures the essence of a place of commerce or the goods themselves that are bought and sold, often in a marketplace setting.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{G1712}}` occurs in a dramatic and pivotal scene: the cleansing of the temple. Jesus, upon finding people selling doves and other goods within the sacred courts, confronts them directly. He commands them, "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of **merchandise**" [[John 2:16]]. Here, **empórion** defines the profane activity that has displaced the temple's true purpose of prayer and worship, turning a holy place into a common market.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from this context illuminate the contrast between the sacred and the commercial:
* `{{G3624}}` **oîkos** (a dwelling... house... temple): This word is used twice in the same verse to create a stark contrast, first identifying the temple as the "Father's **house**" and then condemning its transformation into a "**house** of merchandise" [[John 2:16]].
* `{{G4453}}` **pōléō** (to sell): This verb describes the specific action that defiled the temple. It was those who **sell** doves and other items that prompted Jesus's rebuke, highlighting the commercial transactions that were taking place [[John 2:16]].
* `{{G3962}}` **patḗr** (a "father"): This term establishes the identity and authority behind the temple's sacredness. By calling it "my **Father's** house," Jesus claims a unique relationship with God and the authority to defend the honor of His dwelling place [[John 2:16]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G1712}}` is derived from its unique and powerful context.
* **Sanctity of Worship:** The term is used to define what is inappropriate in a place dedicated to God. By labeling the commercial activity as **merchandise**, Jesus establishes a clear boundary between worship and worldly profit, demanding that God's house be treated with reverence.
* **Purity of God's House:** Jesus's forceful action is not just about stopping a specific behavior but about restoring purity. The "house of **merchandise**" represents a spiritual corruption that must be cleansed from the "Father's house" to restore its intended function.
* **Conflict of Kingdoms:** The incident sets the values of God's kingdom against the values of a commercial world. Turning the temple into an **empórion** signifies a displacement of divine priorities with human ones, a conflict that Jesus directly confronts.
### Summary
In summary, though used only once, `{{G1712}}` is a powerfully charged word. It does not simply mean "goods" but represents the intrusion of profane commerce into a sacred space. Its appearance in John's Gospel crystallizes the reason for Jesus's zeal for the temple, marking a definitive statement about the nature of true worship and the necessity of guarding the house of God from becoming a common marketplace.
TRV