In biblical times, flasks were small containers typically used for holding liquids such as oil, perfume, or wine. These vessels were often made from materials like clay, glass, or alabaster, and they played a significant role in daily life and religious practices.

Old Testament References

Flasks are mentioned in various contexts throughout the Old Testament. One notable instance is in 1 Samuel 10:1, where the prophet Samuel uses a flask of oil to anoint Saul as the first king of Israel: "Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, 'Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?'" . This act of anointing with oil from a flask symbolized the consecration and divine appointment of Saul to his royal office.

In 1 Kings 17:12, the widow of Zarephath refers to a flask of oil during her encounter with the prophet Elijah: "But she replied, 'As surely as the LORD your God lives, I have no bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a flask. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and prepare a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.'" . Here, the flask of oil represents the meager resources of the widow, which God miraculously multiplies through Elijah's intervention.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, flasks are most prominently featured in the accounts of the anointing of Jesus. In Mark 14:3, a woman anoints Jesus with expensive perfume from an alabaster flask: "While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster flask of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the flask and poured it on His head." . This act of devotion and worship signifies the woman's recognition of Jesus' messianic identity and foreshadows His impending death and burial.

Similarly, in Luke 7:37-38, another woman uses a flask of perfume to anoint Jesus' feet: "When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster flask of perfume. As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume." . This poignant scene highlights themes of repentance, forgiveness, and the transformative power of Christ's love.

Symbolism and Significance

Flasks in the Bible often symbolize the outpouring of something precious, whether it be oil, perfume, or wine. They are associated with acts of anointing, which denote consecration, healing, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. The use of flasks in anointing rituals underscores the importance of setting individuals or objects apart for God's purposes.

Moreover, the breaking of a flask, as seen in the anointing of Jesus, can represent the complete and sacrificial giving of oneself to God. The costly nature of the contents within these flasks serves as a reminder of the value and significance of worship and devotion to the Lord.

In summary, flasks in the biblical narrative are more than mere containers; they are vessels of divine purpose, symbolizing the richness of God's blessings and the depth of human devotion.30. aggeion -- a vessel
... Definition: a vessel, flask. Word Origin from aggos Definition a vessel NASB
Word Usage flasks (1). vessel, container. From aggos (a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/30.htm - 6k

Biogenesis
... to the boiling temperature for many hours, is supposed to be likewise dead; so that
any life which may subsequently appear in the closed flasks must have ...
/.../drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/biogenesis.htm

Civ. Jesus Arrives and is Feasted at Bethany.
... It was sealed in flasks or alabaster boxes and imported from the far East], ^b and
she brake the cruse, and poured it over { ^a upon} ^b his head. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/civ jesus arrives and is.htm

The Eve of the Resurrection.
... down to the floor, when Mary returned; bundles of herbs were heaped around them,
and these they mixed together and arranged; small flasks, containing sweet ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter lx the eve of.htm

The Opening of the Side of Jesus.
... Mary, John, the holy women, and Cassius, gathered up the blood and water in
flasks, and wiped up the remainder with pieces of linen.13. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xlviii the opening of.htm

The Cruse of Ointment
... And as such alabaster flasks were commonly sealed in making, and only to be opened
by breaking off the neck, she crushed the cruse between her hands and poured ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 14 1-9 the cruse of.htm

John Chapter ii. 11-Jan
... mysterious meaning. For by "metret??" he means certain measures, as if he
should say jars, flasks, or something of that sort. Metreta ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate ix john chapter ii.htm

The Woman which was a Sinner
... the word alabastron,' the name was given to perfume-phials in general, even if not
made of alabaster, because the latter was so frequently used for such flasks ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxi the woman which.htm

The Death of the Blessed virgin Mary at Ephesus
... She could only say a few words to them. I saw that they took no nourishment except
little loaves; they drank from the little flasks hanging from their girdles. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xviii the death of the.htm

Boniface, Apostle of the Germans.
... a gift which he frequently bestowed, alluding to the washing one another's feet
as a sign of humility) and some silver; to an English bishop, two flasks of wine ...
/.../neander/light in the dark places/boniface apostle of the germans.htm

The Transformation of Rome from a Pagan into a Christian City.
... although it was still flourishing in other regions, where crowds of pilgrims were
still going from tomb to tomb with baskets of provisions and flasks of wine ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter i the transformation of.htm

Flasks (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Flasks (3 Occurrences). Matthew 25:4 but the wise,
besides their torches, took oil in their flasks. (WEY NAS RSV). ...
/f/flasks.htm - 7k

Wine-flasks (1 Occurrence)
Wine-flasks. Wine-fat, Wine-flasks. Wine-offerings . Multi-Version
Concordance Wine-flasks (1 Occurrence). Joshua 9:4 ...
/w/wine-flasks.htm - 6k

Flask (15 Occurrences)

/f/flask.htm - 11k

Wine-offerings (1 Occurrence)
Wine-offerings. Wine-flasks, Wine-offerings. Winepress . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(See JPS ASV WBS). Wine-flasks, Wine-offerings. Winepress . ...
/w/wine-offerings.htm - 6k

Wine-fat (1 Occurrence)
Wine-fat. Winefat, Wine-fat. Wine-flasks . Multi-Version Concordance Wine-fat
(1 Occurrence). ... (YLT). Winefat, Wine-fat. Wine-flasks . Reference Bible.
/w/wine-fat.htm - 6k

Torches (18 Occurrences)
... themselves with oil; (WEY DBY). Matthew 25:4 but the wise, besides their torches,
took oil in their flasks. (WEY DBY). Matthew 25:7 "Then ...
/t/torches.htm - 12k

Besides (178 Occurrences)
... witnesses or of three. (DBY). Matthew 25:4 but the wise, besides their
torches, took oil in their flasks. (WEY). Matthew 25:20 He ...
/b/besides.htm - 37k

Craft (14 Occurrences)
... Joshua 9:4 then they also acted with craft, and they went prepared as on a journey,
and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-flasks, old and rent and tied ...
/c/craft.htm - 12k

Sandals (30 Occurrences)
... Joshua 9:13 And these flasks of wine which we filled new, behold, they are rent;
and these our garments and our sandals are become old by reason of the very ...
/s/sandals.htm - 16k

Horn (108 Occurrences)
... various purposes (Joshua 6:4, 5). Flasks or vessels were made of horn (1
Samuel 16:1, 13; 1 Kings 1:39). But the word is used also ...
/h/horn.htm - 49k

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