The Greek verb emporeuomai means to engage in trade or commerce — the work of an emporos (merchant). In the New Testament its two occurrences carry very different tones: one neutral (James 4:13) and one sharply negative (2 Peter 2:3), revealing the word's moral range.
James 4:13 critiques arrogant business planning: 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carrying on business (emporeuomai) and making money.' The problem is not commerce but presumption on the future without acknowledging God's sovereignty. 2 Peter 2:3 uses it of false teachers who 'in their greed... will exploit (emporeuomai) you with fabricated stories.' The same commercial word describes predatory spiritual exploitation — treating people as merchandise for personal profit. This is a sobering warning to all in ministry: the shepherd's call is to give life, not extract value from the flock.