PURSE. Three Heb. and three Gr. words used in the OT and NT may be tr. “purse.”

כִּיס, H3967, bag, purse. This was a bag made of cotton, leather, or in the form of a flexible rush basket. It was used for merchants’ weights (Deut 25:13; Mic 6:11) or for money (Prov 1:14; Isa 46:6).

חָרִיט, H3038, bag, purse. This was a bag made of skin or other material. Naaman’s gift of two talents of silver which he brought to Elisha the prophet was put in two such bags (2 Kings 5:23). The use of the same word in Isaiah 3:22 to describe the “handbags” of wealthy Jewish women suggests some sort of ornamentally woven pouch or satchel.

צְרﯴר֒, H7655, bundle, parcel, pouch, bag. This was something tied, as a parcel or at the neck as a pouch. It was such a purse that was found in the grainsacks of Joseph’s brothers (Gen 42:35). It is probable that all types of purses were baglike, drawn together at the neck with leather straps or strong cords made of other material, and hung from the shoulder.

Βαλλάντιον, moneybag, purse. This word occurs only in Luke (10:4; 12:33; 22:35, 36) and is used to describe the bag used by the disciples to carry money or provisions on their journey.

Γλωσσόκομος, a case for the mouthpiece of a flute, case, container, moneybox. This word occurs only in John (12:6; 13:29) and is used to describe the receptacle used by Judas to keep the funds of the twelve disciples.

Ζώνη, belt, girdle. The belt also served as a purse (Matt 10:10; Mark 6:8). The money was inserted in the folds or in a pouch attached to the belt, functioning very much like a present-day money belt.