Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the pitcher was a common household item used for carrying and storing liquids, particularly water. The Hebrew word often translated as "pitcher" is "kad," which refers to a vessel typically made of clay or earthenware. Pitchers were essential in daily life for drawing water from wells or springs, a task often performed by women, as seen in several biblical narratives.
One of the most notable references to a pitcher is found in the account of Rebekah in
Genesis 24. When Abraham's servant, seeking a wife for Isaac, arrives at a well, he prays for a sign. Rebekah comes to the well with a pitcher on her shoulder. The servant asks her for a drink, and she not only gives him water but also draws water for his camels. This act of kindness and hospitality is a pivotal moment in identifying Rebekah as the chosen wife for Isaac.
Genesis 24:15-20 describes this scene: "Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up again."
Another significant mention of a pitcher is in the account of Gideon in
Judges 7. God instructs Gideon to reduce his army to just 300 men to defeat the Midianites, ensuring that the victory would be attributed to divine intervention rather than human strength. Gideon's men are equipped with trumpets and empty pitchers with torches inside them. At Gideon's signal, they break the pitchers, revealing the torches and creating confusion among the Midianites, leading to their defeat.
Judges 7:19-20 states: "Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their trumpets and shattered the pitchers that were in their hands. The three companies blew their trumpets and shattered their pitchers. They held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands and shouted, 'A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!'"
In the New Testament, pitchers are mentioned in the context of the Last Supper. Jesus instructs His disciples to follow a man carrying a pitcher of water to find the location where they would prepare the Passover meal. This event is recorded in
Mark 14:13 : "So He sent two of His disciples and told them, 'Go into the city, and a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him.'"
The use of pitchers in these biblical accounts highlights their role in everyday life and their symbolic presence in significant events. They serve as instruments of hospitality, divine intervention, and preparation for sacred moments.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
PitcherThis word is used in the Authorized Version to denote the earthen water-jars or pitchers with one or two handles, used chiefly by women for carrying water, as in the story of Rebekah. (Genesis 24:15-20) but see Mark 14:13; Luke 22:10 This mode of carrying has been and still is customary the East and elsewhere. The vessels used for the purpose are generally borne on the head or the shoulder. The Bedouin women commonly use skin bottles. Such was the "bottle" carried by Hagar (Genesis 21:14) The same word is used of the pitchers employed by Gideon's three hundred men. (Judges 7:16)
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A vessel for containing liquids. In the East pitchers were usually carried on the head or shoulders (
Genesis 24:15-20;
Judges 7:16, 19;
Mark 14:13).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) One who pitches anything, as hay, quoits, a ball, etc.; specifically (Baseball), the player who delivers the ball to the batsman.
2. (n.) A sort of crowbar for digging.
3. (n.) A wide-mouthed, deep vessel for holding liquids, with a spout or protruding lip and a handle; a water jug or jar with a large ear or handle.
4. (n.) A tubular or cuplike appendage or expansion of the leaves of certain plants.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PITCHERpich'-er (kadh; keramion): The word is found chiefly in the Old Testament in the story of Rebekah inGenesis 24:13;; but Gideon's men also had their lamps in pitchers (Judges 7:16, 19). Ecclesiastes speaks of the pitcher broken at the fountain (12:6). The single use in the New Testament is inMark 14:13 parallelLuke 22:10. The pitcher was an earthenware vessel (compareLamentations 4:2, nebhel), with one or two handles, used for carrying water, and commonly borne upon the head or shoulder (compareGenesis 24).
Greek
3582. xestes -- a sextarius (about a pint), apitcher (of wood or...... a sextarius (about a pint), a
pitcher (of wood or stone). Part of Speech: Noun,
Masculine Transliteration: xestes Phonetic Spelling: (xes'-tace) Short Definition
...2765. keramion -- an earthen vessel
... an earthen vessel. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: keramion Phonetic
Spelling: (ker-am'-ee-on) Short Definition: apitcher, earthen vessel...
501. antleo -- to bail out, draw water
... draw out water. From antlos (the hold of a ship); to bale up (properly, bilge water),
ie Dip water (with a bucket,pitcher, etc.) -- draw (out)....
5201. hudria -- a water pot, a pot or jar
... jar. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: hudria Phonetic Spelling:
(hoo-dree-ah') Short Definition: a water pot Definition: a water pot, jar,pitcher...
Strong's Hebrew
5035. nebel -- a skin bottle, skin, jar,pitcher... a skin bottle, skin, jar,
pitcher. Transliteration: nebel Phonetic Spelling:
(neh'-bel) Short Definition: bottle. bottle,
pitcher, psaltery, vessel, viol
...5035a. nebel -- a skin bottle, skin, jar,pitcher
... 5035, 5035a. nebel. 5035b . a skin bottle, skin, jar,pitcher. Transliteration:
nebel Short Definition: jug. Word Origin of uncertain...
3537. kad -- a jar
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a jar NASB Word Usage bowl (3),
jar (9),pitcher (1), pitchers (5). barrel,pitcher. From...
Library
Now Jesus was Six Years Old, and his Mother Sent Him with a...
... Chapter 33. Now Jesus was six years old, and His mother sent Him with
apitcher to? Now Jesus was six years old, and His mother...
And on the Second Day, While Mary was at the Fountain to Fill Her...
... Chapter 9. And on the second day, while Mary was at the fountain to fill
herpitcher? And on the second day, while Mary was at...
The Story of Rebekah.
... Then he asked God to help him to choose a wife for Isaac, saying, "Let it come to
pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, 'Let down thypitcher, I pray thee...
A Tale About Words
... Take the silverpitcher and run to the fountain. If the fairy has given these for
a drink from a jug, what will she give for a drink from a silverpitcher!"....
The Last Supper.
... And it came to pass that when Peter and John were still on their way to Jerusalem,
Baruch, the servant of Mark, came out into the street with apitcher of water...
Christ's Human Nature the Flesh and the Soul Both Fully and...
... Ourpitcher, then, which was formed of the clay, is one body, and has one name
indicative, of course, of that one body; nor can thepitcher be also called clay...
Isaac the Shepherd Prince.
... Before his prayer was ended, Rebekah, of the family of Abraham's brother
Nahor, came bearing herpitcher on her shoulder. She looked...
The Traitor
... And He sendeth two of His disciples, and saith unto them, Go into the city, and
there shall meet you a man bearing apitcher of water: follow him; and...
The King's Highway Opened and Cleared
... By faith I bring my emptypitcher and hold it where the water flows, and
receive of its fullness, grace for grace. It is not the...
Of the Harmony Characterizing the Accounts which are Given by...
... the individual meant, He gave them, before they set out, a particular sign which
they were to follow,"namely, the appearance of a man bearing apitcher or a...
Thesaurus
Pitcher (16 Occurrences)...PITCHER.
... Ecclesiastes speaks of the
pitcher broken at the fountain (12:6). The single
use in the New Testament is in Mark 14:13 parallel Luke 22:10.
...Jar (45 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY NIV). Mark 14:13 He sent two of his disciples, and said to them, "Go into
the city, and there you will meet a man carrying apitcher of water....
Barrel (3 Occurrences)
... The same word (cad) so rendered is also translated "pitcher," a vessel for carrying
water (Genesis 24:14; Judges 7:16). Noah Webster's Dictionary....
Camels (52 Occurrences)
... Genesis 24:14 Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say,'Please let
down yourpitcher, that I may drink,' and she will say,'Drink, and I will also...
Damsel (43 Occurrences)
... Genesis 24:14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let
down thypitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and...
Maiden (40 Occurrences)
... Genesis 24:14 And let it come to pass, that the maiden to whom I shall say, Let
down thypitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink, and who will say, Drink, and I...
Shoulder (72 Occurrences)
... had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the
son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with herpitcher on her...
Please (324 Occurrences)
... Genesis 24:14 Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say,'Please let
down yourpitcher, that I may drink,' and she will say,'Drink, and I will also...
Lowered (14 Occurrences)
... RSV). Genesis 24:18 She said, "Drink, my lord." She hurried, and let down
herpitcher on her hand, and gave him drink. (See NAS NIV)....
Letteth (11 Occurrences)
... (KJV). Genesis 24:18 and she saith, 'Drink, my lord;' and she hasteth, and letteth
down herpitcher upon her hand, and giveth him drink. (YLT)....
Resources
What are the modern equivalents of biblical weights and measures? | GotQuestions.orgPitcher: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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