Who or what is Lucre in the Bible?

Ancient Context: Lucre

⚡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)

Lucre denotes financial gain or profit, frequently carrying a connotation of acquisition through unethical or corrupt means. Within the New Testament, the term appears exclusively in the phrase 'filthy lucre,' emphasizing the moral peril associated with the pursuit of wealth.

What is the meaning of Lucre in the Bible?

Lucre denotes financial gain or profit, frequently carrying a connotation of acquisition through unethical or corrupt means. Within the New Testament, the term appears exclusively in the phrase 'filthy lucre,' emphasizing the moral peril associated with the pursuit of wealth.

SIGNIFICANCE

Recognizing the term 'lucre' illuminates biblical warnings against greed, revealing how early Christian authors employed the concept to differentiate between righteous stewardship and the corrupting influence of materialism.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Lucre. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.

Bible Study Reflection Prompts:

Why did the biblical author mention Lucre in this passage?
What cultural or historical assumption does Lucre clarify?

Source Attribution & Provenance

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.

How to Cite This Entry

          "Lucre." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/lucre/
        

Lucre