Lexical Summary chalkion: Bronze vessel, copper vessel Original Word: χαλκίον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance a bronze vesselDiminutive from chalkos; a copper dish -- brazen vessel. see GREEK chalkos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chalkos Definition a brazen (i.e. of copper, bronze, brass) vessel NASB Translation copper pots (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5473: χαλκίονχαλκίον, χαλκιου, τό (χαλκός), a (copper or) brazen vessel: Mark 7:4. ((Aristophanes), Xenophon, oec. 8, 19; (others).) Topical Lexicon Occurrences in Scripture Mark 7:4 records the single New Testament use of the term: “And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they maintain, such as the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches”. Historical Background of Copper Vessels Copper and bronze cookware was common throughout the Greco-Roman world. Archaeological finds from first-century Judea include small kettles designed to hold a few quarts of water for handwashing or for heating liquids. Such vessels were durable, resisted corrosion, and—unlike clay—could be scoured and reused after ceremonial purification (compare Leviticus 6:28; Numbers 31:22–23). Possessing a copper kettle therefore fit naturally into Jewish domestic life and enabled households to meet the Pharisaic emphasis on ritual cleanness. Jewish Ritual Purity and the Tradition of the Elders By the time of Jesus, the oral traditions of the Pharisees had expanded the Mosaic laws on uncleanness. Mark notes that even after visiting a public market, observant Jews would not eat “unless they wash.” The list of items to be ritually cleansed—cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches—demonstrates how far beyond Scripture these regulations had grown. The inclusion of kettles underscores that their concern extended to vessels used both for food and for water, reflecting an ever-widening hedge intended to avoid ceremonial defilement. Theological Implications Jesus responded to these traditions by calling attention to the heart: “Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a man are what defile him” (Mark 7:15). The purity of kettles was not inherently wrong; the error lay in elevating external rituals above obedience to God’s Word. The single occurrence of the term therefore highlights the tension between human regulations and the true source of spiritual purity. Lessons for Christian Worship and Discipleship 1. External forms have value only when they serve genuine holiness. Related Old Testament Imagery The bronze laver in the tabernacle (Exodus 30:17-21) provided water for priests to wash their hands and feet before service, foreshadowing the need for cleansing prior to entering God’s presence. Unlike the laver, however, the kettles of Mark 7 represent man-made additions to divine command. The contrast invites believers to distinguish between God-ordained means of sanctification and humanly-devised substitutes. Illustrative Insights from the Early Church Acts 10 records Peter’s vision in which formerly unclean animals are declared clean, preparing the apostle to welcome Gentiles into fellowship. This pivotal moment echoes Jesus’ teaching in Mark 7: what God purifies must no longer be called common. The church’s eventual acceptance of all who believe, apart from ritual works of the law, embodies the principle that true cleansing is found in Christ alone (1 John 1:7). Contemporary Application Modern believers may not wash copper kettles for ceremonial reasons, yet similar temptations persist—equating holiness with dietary rules, styles of dress, or liturgical forms. Mark’s notice of kettles therefore serves as a perennial reminder: fidelity to Scripture, not the multiplication of regulations, safeguards authentic worship and preserves the gospel’s freedom. Forms and Transliterations χαλκιων χαλκίων chalkion chalkiōn chalkíon chalkíōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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