probably contracted from τέσσαρες and πεζῇ; a table or stool (as being four-legged), usually for food (figuratively, a meal); also a counter for money (figuratively, a broker's office for loans at interest):--bank, meat, table.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun τράπεζα (trápeza, `{{G5132}}`) is derived from a probable contraction of τέσσαρες (tessares, "four") and πεζῇ (pezē, "foot" or "on foot"), literally signifying a "four-footed" object. Its primary and most common meaning is a "table" or "stool." In ancient contexts, tables were often low and used for dining, where people reclined around them. The semantic range of τράπεζα extends beyond a mere piece of furniture to encompass the activities associated with it. Primarily, it refers to a "table for food," and by extension, the "meal" itself or "food" served. Secondly, and significantly in the New Testament, τράπεζα denotes a "money-changer's table," a "bank," or a "counter for financial transactions." This dual usage highlights its role in both domestic/social life and commercial/financial dealings.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term τράπεζα appears 15 times in the New Testament, revealing its diverse applications.
In its most frequent usage, τράπεζα refers to a dining table:
* In the context of the Last Supper, Jesus reclined *at table* with his disciples ([[Matthew 26:21]], [[Mark 14:18]], [[Luke 22:21]]). This setting underscores the intimate fellowship and the institution of the new covenant.
* The table is a place of sustenance and provision, as seen in the feeding of the five thousand where Jesus directs the crowds to recline "by companies upon the green grass" ([[Mark 6:39]]), implying a preparation for a meal at a "table" of sorts.
* Luke's Gospel frequently uses τράπεζα in scenes of meals and hospitality, such as the parable of the great banquet where the master instructs his servants to bring in the poor, crippled, blind, and lame to "sit at table" ([[Luke 14:10]], [[Luke 14:15]], [[Luke 16:21]]). This emphasizes inclusion and divine provision.
* In Acts, the "daily distribution" (διακονία τραπέζαις, diakonia trapezais) refers to the serving of food at tables for the Hellenist widows, highlighting the early church's practical care for its members ([[Acts 6:2]]).
* Paul uses τράπεζα metaphorically in 1 Corinthians to distinguish between the "table of the Lord" (τράπεζα Κυρίου) and the "table of demons" (τράπεζα δαιμονίων), emphasizing the exclusivity of Christian fellowship and worship ([[1 Corinthians 10:21]]). This highlights the sacredness and spiritual implications of sharing a meal.
Secondly, τράπεζα denotes a money-changer's table or bank:
* Most notably, in the accounts of Jesus cleansing the Temple, he overturns the "tables of the money-changers" (τὰς τραπέζας τῶν κολλυβιστῶν) ([[Matthew 21:12]], [[Mark 11:15]], [[John 2:15]]). This act demonstrates Jesus' zeal for the sanctity of God's house and his condemnation of commercial exploitation within sacred space.
* In the Parable of the Talents/Minas, the unfaithful servant is rebuked for not placing his master's money "with the bankers" (ἐπὶ τὴν τράπεζαν), implying an expectation of interest or profit ([[Matthew 25:27]], [[Luke 19:23]]). Here, τράπεζα refers to a financial institution or a place where money is exchanged and invested.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of τράπεζα intersects with several key biblical terms and concepts.
* **Dining and Fellowship:** It is closely associated with words like δεῖπνον (deipnon, `{{G1172}}`, "supper" or "dinner"), ἄρτος (artos, `{{G740}}`, "bread"), and φαγεῖν (phagein, `{{G5315}}`, "to eat"). The concept of "breaking bread" (`{{G2806}}` κλάω, `{{G740}}` ἄρτος) often occurs at a table, signifying fellowship and communion ([[Acts 2:46]]).
* **Hospitality:** The table is central to the biblical theme of hospitality (φιλοξενία, philoxenia, `{{G5381}}`), where welcoming strangers and providing sustenance is a virtuous act.
* **Provision:** The table symbolizes God's provision, whether physical food or spiritual nourishment.
* **Commerce and Corruption:** In its financial sense, τράπεζα is linked to terms like κέρμα (kerma, `{{G2772}}`, "small coin"), κολλυβιστής (kollubistēs, `{{G2891}}`, "money-changer"), and ἀργύριον (argyrion, `{{G694}}`, "silver, money"). The overturning of these tables highlights the contrast between sacred worship and profane commercialism.
* **Covenant:** The "table of the Lord" in 1 Corinthians 10 strongly connects to the concept of covenant and the shared meal as a sign of participation in that covenant.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of τράπεζα is multifaceted, reflecting its dual usage.
Firstly, the table serves as a profound symbol of **fellowship, communion, and divine provision**. The Lord's Supper, celebrated at a table, is the quintessential expression of Christian communion, where believers partake in the body and blood of Christ, remembering His sacrifice and anticipating His return. It signifies the new covenant and the spiritual nourishment received through faith. The "table of the Lord" is a place of intimacy with God and with fellow believers, a sacred space where the divine and human meet. It speaks to God's abundant provision, not only for physical needs but, more importantly, for spiritual sustenance. The inclusion of the marginalized at tables in Luke's Gospel further underscores God's inclusive love and the breaking down of social barriers within the Kingdom.
Secondly, the "money-changer's table" carries a starkly contrasting theological weight, representing **profane commercialism and the defilement of sacred space**. Jesus' violent overturning of these tables in the Temple courts is a powerful prophetic act. It signifies God's wrath against those who exploit religious practices for personal gain, turning a house of prayer into a "den of robbers" ([[Matthew 21:13]]). This act underscores the sanctity of worship and the imperative for purity in devotion to God. It serves as a perpetual reminder that spiritual matters must never be subservient to worldly profit or selfish ambition. Thus, τράπεζα encapsulates both the sacred intimacy of divine fellowship and the stark warning against spiritual corruption.
### Summary
The Greek word τράπεζα (trápeza, `{{G5132}}`), fundamentally meaning "four-footed," encompasses a rich semantic range in the New Testament. Primarily, it denotes a "table" for dining, symbolizing **fellowship, divine provision, and intimate communion**, most profoundly seen in the institution of the Lord's Supper and the communal meals of the early church. It represents a place of inclusion and the breaking down of social barriers under God's abundant grace. Secondarily, τράπεζα refers to a "money-changer's table" or "bank," which, in the context of Jesus' temple cleansing, powerfully symbolizes **profane commercialism, exploitation, and and the defilement of sacred space**. This dual meaning of τράπεζα thus encapsulates both the highest ideals of spiritual communion and the sternest warnings against worldly corruption, making it a word of profound theological significance in understanding the nature of worship, community, and the Kingdom of God.