Topical Bible: Dish

Jump to: ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, the term "dish" referred to a broad, shallow vessel used for serving food. Dishes were an essential part of daily life and are mentioned in various contexts throughout the Bible. They were typically made from materials such as clay, metal, or wood, depending on the wealth and status of the household.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, dishes are often associated with the preparation and serving of meals. For example, in Exodus 25:29, God instructs Moses on the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, including dishes: "And you are to make its plates and dishes, as well as its pitchers and bowls, with which to pour out drink offerings; you are to make them of pure gold." Here, dishes are part of the sacred service, indicating their importance in religious rituals.

In 2 Kings 21:13, the imagery of a dish is used metaphorically: "And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down." This passage uses the act of wiping a dish clean to symbolize the thoroughness of God's judgment.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, dishes are mentioned in the context of meals and teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 26:23, during the Last Supper, Jesus refers to a dish: "Jesus answered, 'The one who has dipped his hand into the dish with Me will betray Me.'" This moment highlights the intimacy and betrayal within the context of a shared meal.

Similarly, in Mark 14:20, the dish is again mentioned in the context of the Last Supper: "He answered, 'It is one of the Twelve—one who is dipping into the bowl with Me.'" The dish here serves as a symbol of fellowship and the impending betrayal by Judas Iscariot.

In Luke 11:39, Jesus uses the concept of a dish to teach about inner purity: "But the Lord said to him, 'Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.'" This teaching emphasizes the importance of inner righteousness over outward appearances.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance

Dishes in biblical times were not only practical items but also carried cultural and symbolic significance. They were often used in communal meals, which were central to social and religious life. Sharing a dish was an act of fellowship and hospitality, reflecting the values of community and relationship.

In a spiritual sense, dishes can symbolize the state of one's heart and life. Just as a dish can be clean or unclean, so can a person's inner life. The biblical references to dishes often serve as metaphors for purity, judgment, and the nature of human relationships.

Overall, the concept of a dish in the Bible extends beyond its physical use, offering insights into the spiritual and communal aspects of life as understood in biblical times.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

For eating from (2 Kings 21:13). Judas dipped his hand with a "sop" or piece of bread in the same dish with our Lord, thereby indicating friendly intimacy (Matthew 26:23). The "lordly dish" in Judges 5:25 was probably the shallow drinking cup, usually of brass. In Judges 6:38 the same Hebrew word is rendered "bowl."

The dishes of the tabernacle were made of pure gold (Exodus 25:29; 37:16).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) A vessel, as a platter, a plate, a bowl, used for serving up food at the table.

2. (n.) The food served in a dish; hence, any particular kind of food; as, a cold dish; a warm dish; a delicious dish. A dish fit for the gods.

3. (n.) The state of being concave, or like a dish, or the degree of such concavity; as, the dish of a wheel.

4. (n.) A hollow place, as in a field.

5. (n.) A trough about 28 inches long, 4 deep, and 6 wide, in which ore is measured.

6. (n.) That portion of the produce of a mine which is paid to the land owner or proprietor.

7. (v. t.) To put in a dish, ready for the table.

8. (v. t.) To make concave, or depress in the middle, like a dish; as, to dish a wheel by inclining the spokes.

9. (v. t.) To frustrate; to beat; to ruin.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

DISH

The rendering in English Versions of the Bible in some connections of three Hebrew and one Greek word. The qe`arah of Exodus 25:29; Exodus 37:16 Numbers 4:7 was apparently a kind of salver, in this case of gold, for holding the loaves of the "presence bread." The same word represents the silver "platters" (Numbers 7:13) brought by the princes as a dedication gift. The cephel of Judges 5:25 was a large bowl, so translated in Judges 6:38. "Lordly dish" is literally, "bowl of (fit for) nobles." The tsallachath of 2 Kings 21:13 Proverbs 19:24; Proverbs 26:15 (last two the King James Version "bosom" after the Septuagint) refers probably to the wide, deep dish in which the principal part of the meal was served. Of somewhat similar form may have been the trublion (Septuagint for qe`arah) mentioned in connection with the Passover meal (Matthew 26:23 Mark 14:20).

Benjamin Reno Downer

Greek

3953. paropsis -- a side dish of delicacies
... a side dish of delicacies. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: paropsis
Phonetic Spelling: (par-op-sis') Short Definition: a bowl, dish, platter ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3953.htm - 6k

5165. trublion -- a bowl, dish
... a bowl, dish. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: trublion Phonetic Spelling:
(troob'-lee-on) Short Definition: a platter Definition: a deep dish ... dish. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5165.htm - 6k

4094. pinax -- a board, dish
... a board, dish. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: pinax Phonetic Spelling:
(pin'-ax) Short Definition: a plate, platter Definition: a plate ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4094.htm - 6k

4627. skaphe -- anything scooped out, spec. a light boat
... a light boat NASB Word Usage boat (3). boat, dish. A "skiff" (as if dug out),
or yawl (carried aboard a large vessel for landing) -- boat. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4627.htm - 6k

5473. chalkion -- a brazen (ie of copper, bronze, brass) vessel
... a bronze vessel. Diminutive from chalkos; a copper dish -- brazen vessel. see GREEK
chalkos. (chalkion) -- 1 Occurrence. 5472, 5473. chalkion. 5474 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5473.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

7086. qearah -- a dish, platter
... 7085, 7086. qearah. 7087 . a dish, platter. Transliteration: qearah Phonetic
Spelling: (keh-aw-raw') Short Definition: dish. Word ...
/hebrew/7086.htm - 6k

6747. tsallachath -- a dish
... 6746, 6747. tsallachath. 6748 . a dish. Transliteration: tsallachath
Phonetic Spelling: (tsal-lakh'-ath) Short Definition: dish. ...
/hebrew/6747.htm - 6k

4289. machtah -- a fireholder, censer, snuff dish
... 4288, 4289. machtah. 4290 . a fireholder, censer, snuff dish. Transliteration:
machtah Phonetic Spelling: (makh-taw') Short Definition: firepans. ...
/hebrew/4289.htm - 6k

4958. masreth -- probably pan, dish
... 4957, 4958. masreth. 4959 . probably pan, dish. Transliteration: masreth
Phonetic Spelling: (mas-rayth') Short Definition: pan. ...
/hebrew/4958.htm - 5k

1758. dush -- to tread, thresh
dush or dish. 1757, 1758. dush or dish. 1759 . to tread, thresh. Transliteration:
dush or dish Phonetic Spelling: (doosh) Short Definition: threshing. ...
/hebrew/1758.htm - 6k

4303. matam -- tasty or savory food, dainties
... 4302, 4303. matam or matammah. 4304 . tasty or savory food, dainties.
Transliteration: matam or matammah Phonetic Spelling: (mat-am') Short Definition: ...
/hebrew/4303.htm - 6k

5602. sephel -- a bowl
... bowl, dish. From an unused root meaning to depress; a basin (as deepened out) --
bowl, dish. 5601, 5602. sephel. 5603 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5602.htm - 5k

3595. kiyyor -- pot, basin
... Or kiyor {kee-yore'}; from the same as kuwr; properly, something round (as excavated
or bored), ie A chafing-dish for coals or a caldron for cooking; hence ...
/hebrew/3595.htm - 6k

737. aruchah -- a meal, allowance
... Word Origin pass. part. of arach Definition a meal, allowance NASB Word Usage allowance
(4), dish (1), ration (1). allowance, diet, dinner, victuals. ...
/hebrew/737.htm - 6k

5592. caph -- a basin, goblet
... From caphaph, in its original sense of containing; a vestibule (as a limit); also
a dish (for holding blood or wine) -- bason, bowl, cup, door (post), gate ...
/hebrew/5592.htm - 5k

Library

Meditation vi. The Last Pasch.
... The Paschal Lamb was placed on a dish in the centre of the table. Its head
rested on its front legs, which were fastened to a cross ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/meditation vi the last pasch.htm

Judas.
... It was impossible that Jesus should undisturbedly eat out of the same dish with
the man whom He knew to have already sold Him to the priests; it were unfair to ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/vii judas.htm

And on the Day Following He Went Forth Still More Eagerly Bent on ...
... And yet again the enemy seeing his zeal and wishing to hinder it, cast in
his way what seemed to be a great silver dish. But Antony ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/life of antony section 11.htm

'Is it I?'
... For many hands dipped in the dish together, to moisten their morsels; and to say,
'He that dippeth with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me,' was to say ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/is it i.htm

The Story of Jacob
... And Esau said: "Give me some of that red stuff in the dish. ... He had scarcely gone
out, when Esau came in from hunting, with the dish of food that he had cooked. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of jacob.htm

The Sop
... They began to be sorrowful, and to say unto Him one by one, Is it I? And He said
unto them, It is one of the twelve, he that dippeth with Me in the dish. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 14 17-21 the sop.htm

Judas Exposed.
... There was upon the table a dish of bitter herbs, a kind of sauce that was
always eaten at the passover. ... These are dipped in the dish. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/judas exposed.htm

A Sermon on the Parable of a King that Married his Son, Made by ...
... prepared that can be gotten. What was the chiefest dish at this great banquet?
What was the feast-dish? Marry, it was the bridegroom ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/a sermon on the parable.htm

The Morning-Meal in the Pharisee's House - Meals and Feasts among ...
... Another series of elaborate discussions arose, as to what blessing should be used
when a dish consisted of various ingredients, some the product of the earth ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii the morning-meal in.htm

Satan's Banquet
... Ahithophel first presents the lordly dish of love and kindness to David, then
afterwards that which is worse, for he forsakes his master, and becomes the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/satans banquet.htm

Thesaurus

Dish (54 Occurrences)
... Judas dipped his hand with a "sop" or piece of bread in the same dish with our
Lord, thereby indicating friendly intimacy (Matthew 26:23). ...
/d/dish.htm - 24k

Weighing (39 Occurrences)
... Numbers 7:13 and his offering was one silver dish, the weight thereof was a hundred
and thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel ...
/w/weighing.htm - 17k

Platter (20 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A large plate or shallow dish on which meat or other food is brought to
the table. Int. ... plat'-er: (1) qe`arah, "a deep dish" (Numbers 7:13, 84, 85). ...
/p/platter.htm - 15k

Bowl (44 Occurrences)
... Some hollow dish of the sort would be indispensable, even in the lowest stage of
nomad life, to receive the milk of the flock, and as the common dish in which ...
/b/bowl.htm - 26k

Charger (17 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A bowl or deep dish. ... 2. (n.) An instrument for
measuring or inserting a charge. 3. (n.) A large dish. ...
/c/charger.htm - 14k

Cruse (11 Occurrences)
... The Hebrew word here used is translated "dish" in 21:13; "pans," in 2 Chronicles
35:13; and "bosom," in Proverbs 19:24; 26:15 (RV, "dish"). ...
/c/cruse.htm - 12k

Pan (26 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) A shallow, open dish or vessel, usually of metal, employed for many domestic
uses, as for setting milk for cream, for frying or baking food, etc.; also ...
/p/pan.htm - 20k

Basin (37 Occurrences)
... 7:2) and "cups" (Isaiah 22:24). (2.) A covered dish or urn (Hebrews k'for) among
the vessels of the temple (1 Chronicles 28:17; Ezra 1:10; 8:27). ...
/b/basin.htm - 26k

Girl (71 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY BBE NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 14:11 The head was brought on a dish and given
to the young girl, and she took it to her mother. (WEY BBE NAS RSV NIV). ...
/g/girl.htm - 28k

Garnish (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To surround with additions; to adorn; to embellish. 2. (vt) To ornament,
as a dish, with something laid about it; as, a dish garnished with parsley. ...
/g/garnish.htm - 9k

Resources

What is a sluggard? What does Proverbs teach about sluggards? | GotQuestions.org

Is it wrong for parents to select the gender of their children, such as through Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)? | GotQuestions.org

What is the greatest commandment? | GotQuestions.org

Dish: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Dish (54 Occurrences)

Matthew 14:8
So she, instigated by her mother, said, "Give me here on a dish the head of John the Baptist."
(WEY DBY WBS)

Matthew 14:11
The head was brought on a dish and given to the young girl, and she took it to her mother.
(WEY DBY WBS)

Matthew 23:25
"Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you wash clean the outside of the cup or dish, while within they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
(WEY DBY NAS NIV)

Matthew 23:26
Blind Pharisee, first wash clean the inside of the cup or dish, and then the outside will be clean also.
(WEY DBY NAS NIV)

Matthew 26:23
He answered, "He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Mark 6:25
The girl immediately came in, in haste, to the King and made her request. "My desire is," she said, "that you will give me, here and now, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist."
(WEY DBY WBS)

Mark 6:28
and brought his head on a dish and gave it to the young girl, who gave it to her mother.
(WEY DBY WBS)

Mark 14:20
He answered them, "It is one of the twelve, he who dips with me in the dish.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 11:39
But the Lord said to him, Now do ye Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but your inward parts are full of plunder and wickedness.
(DBY RSV NIV)

Luke 11:41
But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you.
(See NIV)

John 13:26
Jesus therefore answered, "It is he to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
(See NIV)

Genesis 25:29
And Jacob had cooked a dish; and Esau came from the field, and he was faint.
(DBY)

Genesis 25:34
And Jacob gave Esau bread and the dish of lentils; and he ate and drank, and rose up and went away. Thus Esau despised the birthright.
(DBY)

Genesis 27:4
and prepare me a savoury dish such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, in order that my soul may bless thee before I die.
(DBY NAS)

Genesis 27:7
Bring me venison, and prepare me a savoury dish, that I may eat, and bless thee before Jehovah, before my death.
(DBY NAS)

Genesis 27:9
Go, I pray thee, to the flock, and fetch me thence two good kids of the goats. And I will make of them a savoury dish for thy father, such as he loves.
(DBY NAS)

Genesis 27:14
And he went, and fetched and brought them to his mother. And his mother prepared a savoury dish such as his father loved.
(DBY)

Numbers 7:13
And his offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl, of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation;
(DBY JPS YLT NAS)

Numbers 7:14
one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
(See RSV NIV)

Numbers 7:19
he presented his offering; one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour, mingled with oil for an oblation;
(DBY JPS YLT NAS)

Numbers 7:20
one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
(See RSV NIV)

Numbers 7:25
his offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation;
(DBY JPS YLT NAS)

Numbers 7:26
one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
(See RSV NIV)

Numbers 7:31
His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation;
(DBY JPS YLT NAS)

Numbers 7:32
one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
(See RSV NIV)

Numbers 7:37
His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation;
(DBY JPS YLT NAS)

Numbers 7:38
one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
(See RSV NIV)

Numbers 7:43
His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation;
(DBY JPS YLT NAS)

Numbers 7:44
one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
(See RSV NIV)

Numbers 7:49
His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation;
(DBY JPS YLT NAS)

Numbers 7:50
one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
(See RSV NIV)

Numbers 7:55
His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation;
(DBY JPS YLT NAS)

Numbers 7:56
one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
(See RSV NIV)

Numbers 7:61
His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation;
(DBY JPS YLT NAS)

Numbers 7:62
one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
(See RSV NIV)

Numbers 7:67
His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation;
(DBY JPS YLT NAS)

Numbers 7:68
one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
(See RSV NIV)

Numbers 7:73
His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation;
(DBY JPS YLT NAS)

Numbers 7:74
one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
(See RSV NIV)

Numbers 7:79
His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation;
(DBY JPS YLT NAS)

Numbers 7:80
one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense;
(See RSV NIV)

Numbers 7:85
each silver dish of a hundred and thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy: all the silver of the vessels was two thousand four hundred shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary;
(DBY JPS YLT NAS NIV)

Judges 5:25
He asked for water. She gave him milk. She brought him butter in a lordly dish.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

2 Samuel 13:10
And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the dish into the chamber, that I may eat of thy hand. And Tamar took the cakes that she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
(DBY)

1 Kings 17:12
And she saith, 'Jehovah thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but the fulness of the hand of meal in a pitcher, and a little oil in a dish; and lo, I am gathering two sticks, and have gone in and prepared it for myself, and for my son, and we have eaten it -- and died.'
(YLT)

1 Kings 17:14
for thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, The pitcher of meal is not consumed, and the dish of oil is not lacking, till the day of Jehovah's giving a shower on the face of the ground.'
(YLT)

1 Kings 17:16
the pitcher of meal was not consumed, and the dish of oil did not lack, according to the word of Jehovah that He spake by the hand of Elijah.
(YLT)

1 Kings 19:6
and he looketh attentively, and lo, at his bolster a cake 'baken on' burning stones, and a dish of water, and he eateth, and drinketh, and turneth, and lieth down.
(YLT)

2 Kings 2:20
And he saith, 'Bring to me a new dish, and place there salt;' and they bring 'it' unto him,
(YLT)

2 Kings 21:13
I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 28:17
and the forks, and the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl;
(See NIV)

Proverbs 15:17
Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it.
(See NAS)

Proverbs 19:24
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 26:15
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Dish

Related Terms

Dishon (7 Occurrences)

Ezer (10 Occurrences)

Aran (2 Occurrences)

Se'ir (36 Occurrences)

Uz (8 Occurrences)

Seir (38 Occurrences)