Fare
Fare as Passage Money
The most concrete use of "fare" in the Old Testament appears in the story of Jonah. When God called Jonah to go to Nineveh, the prophet fled in the opposite direction, going down to Joppa and paying the fare for a voyage to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3). The Hebrew word here means "hire" or "reward," indicating the price paid for passage on a merchant ship. This detail is more than a travel note. Jonah's willingness to pay money to flee from God's command highlights the deliberate, costly nature of disobedience. He literally invested his resources in running away from his calling.
Fare as Well-Being
In 1 Samuel 17:18, Jesse sends David to the battlefield to check on his brothers, using a word that essentially means "see how your brothers fare." The underlying Hebrew word is "shalom," meaning peace, welfare, or well-being. David was to inquire after their condition and bring back a token of their health. This usage connects "fare" with the broader biblical concept of shalom, the comprehensive well-being that encompasses physical safety, relational harmony, and spiritual wholeness.
The Rich Man Who Fared Sumptuously
The most theologically significant use of "fare" in the Bible comes in Jesus' parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19). The rich man "fared sumptuously every day," meaning he lived in brilliant, magnificent style. The Greek word behind this phrase means "to make merry" or "to celebrate," suggesting not merely rich food but an entire lifestyle of splendor and self-indulgence. His daily life was a perpetual feast while Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores and longing for crumbs.
This parable is one of Jesus' most pointed warnings about the spiritual dangers of wealth. The rich man's sumptuous faring is not presented as sinful in itself, but his complete indifference to Lazarus at his doorstep reveals a heart utterly disconnected from God's concern for the poor. The reversal that follows in the afterlife, where Lazarus rests in Abraham's bosom while the rich man suffers, illustrates the principle Jesus stated elsewhere: "Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort" (Luke 6:24).
Farewell and Faring Well
The word "fare" also appears in biblical farewells. The expression "fare well" carried genuine weight in a world where travel was dangerous and communication slow. When the Jerusalem council sent their letter to Gentile believers, it concluded with the customary greeting "farewell" (Acts 15:29), using a Greek word meaning "be strong" or "prosper." This was not an empty formula but a genuine blessing for health and well-being in an uncertain world.
Lessons from Biblical Faring
The varied uses of "fare" in Scripture touch on important themes. Jonah's fare reminds us that disobedience has a cost. The rich man's sumptuous faring warns that comfort without compassion leads to spiritual ruin. And the farewell blessings of the early church express the deep care believers had for one another's welfare. Together, these uses invite reflection on how we spend our resources, how we live our daily lives, and how we care for one another's well-being.
Biblical Context
Fare appears as passage money in Jonah 1:3, as inquiry about well-being in 1 Samuel 17:18, and most memorably as sumptuous daily living in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19). Related farewell expressions occur in Acts 15:29. The concept connects to broader biblical themes of wealth and poverty (Luke 6:24), the prodigal son's celebration (Luke 15:23-24), and stewardship of resources.
Theological Significance
The biblical uses of 'fare' illuminate the relationship between material resources and spiritual reality. Jonah's fare represents the cost of disobedience. The rich man's sumptuous faring serves as a warning that wealth enjoyed without compassion leads to spiritual catastrophe. These passages collectively teach that how one 'fares' in life — how one uses resources, treats others, and responds to God's calling — has eternal significance. The Bible consistently warns against self-indulgent living disconnected from concern for others.
Historical Background
Sea travel in the ancient Mediterranean involved paying passage on merchant vessels, as Jonah did at Joppa (modern Jaffa), one of the oldest ports in the world. The sumptuous lifestyle described in Luke 16:19 was characteristic of the wealthy elite in Roman Palestine, who hosted elaborate banquets and wore expensive clothing. Archaeological evidence from Herodian-era mansions in Jerusalem confirms that the upper class lived in extraordinary luxury. The farewell formula used in Acts 15:29 follows conventions found in Greek letters throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods.