Topical Bible: Jars

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, jars were essential household items used for a variety of purposes, including storage, cooking, and ceremonial functions. The Bible references jars in several contexts, highlighting their practical and symbolic significance.

Materials and Construction

Jars in ancient Israel were typically made from clay, a readily available material that could be shaped and fired to create durable containers. Pottery was a common craft, and the skill of the potter is often used metaphorically in Scripture to describe God's sovereignty over creation (Jeremiah 18:1-6). Jars varied in size and shape, from small vessels for precious oils to large storage jars for grain and water.

Uses in Daily Life

Jars were indispensable in daily life for storing food, water, and other essentials. In 1 Kings 17:12, the widow of Zarephath mentions a "jar of flour" and a "jug of oil," illustrating their role in food storage. Similarly, in John 2:6, Jesus performs His first miracle at the wedding in Cana by turning water into wine, using six stone water jars, each holding twenty to thirty gallons.

Ceremonial and Religious Uses

Jars also held religious significance. In the Old Testament, anointing oil was stored in jars, as seen in 1 Samuel 10:1, where Samuel anoints Saul as king. The use of jars in religious rituals underscores their importance in the spiritual life of the Israelites.

Symbolism and Metaphor

Jars are often used metaphorically in Scripture to convey deeper spiritual truths. In 2 Corinthians 4:7, Paul writes, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us." Here, the fragility of clay jars symbolizes human weakness, while the treasure within represents the divine power of the Gospel.

Archaeological Findings

Archaeological discoveries have unearthed numerous jars from biblical times, providing insight into the daily life and culture of ancient Israel. These findings corroborate biblical accounts and enhance our understanding of the historical context in which these texts were written.

Notable Biblical References

· Gideon's Victory: In Judges 7:16-20, Gideon uses jars to conceal torches, creating a surprise attack against the Midianites. The breaking of the jars and the sudden appearance of light symbolize divine intervention and victory.

· The Widow's Oil: In 2 Kings 4:1-7, Elisha instructs a widow to gather empty jars to be filled miraculously with oil, demonstrating God's provision and care for His people.

· The Potter's House: Jeremiah 18:1-6 uses the imagery of a potter shaping clay to illustrate God's authority over nations and individuals, emphasizing His ability to mold and transform according to His will.

Jars, both as practical items and as rich symbols, play a significant role in the biblical narrative, reflecting the culture, faith, and divine interactions of the people of God.

Greek

3749. ostrakinos -- earthen
... clay vessels). Earthen (clay) jars were used for storage and as "writing
pads" (for messages, contracts, wills, etc.).]. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3749.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

5035a. nebel -- a skin bottle, skin, jar, pitcher
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a skin bottle, skin, jar, pitcher
NASB Word Usage jar (1), jars (2), jars* (1), jug (5), jugs (1), water jars (1 ...
/hebrew/5035a.htm - 5k

7184. qasah -- jug, jar
qasah or qasvah. 7183b, 7184. qasah or qasvah. 7185 . jug, jar. Transliteration:
qasah or qasvah Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-saw') Short Definition: jars. ...
/hebrew/7184.htm - 6k

3627. keli -- an article, utensil, vessel
... 1), equipment (6), everything* (1), furnishings (10), furniture (4), gear (1), goods
(6), implements (2), instruments (14), items (1), jar (2), jars (1), jars ...
/hebrew/3627.htm - 6k

Library

Commandment Twelfth. On the Twofold Desire. The Commandments of ...
... When a man has filled very suitable jars with good wine, and a few among those jars
are left empty, [238] then he comes to the jars, and does not look at the ...
/.../the pastor books first second third/commandment twelfth on the twofold.htm

Gideon's Brave Band
... He divided the three hundred men into three companies. Into the hands of all of
them he put horns and empty earthen jars. In each jar was a torch. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/gideons brave band.htm

The Story of Jesus, the Babe of Bethlehem
... In the dining hall were standing six large stone jars, each about as large as a
barrel, holding twenty-five gallons. ... "Fill the jars with water.". ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of jesus the.htm

Jesus Begins his Work
... Close to the house there were six great stone jars or waterpots, and Jesus
said to the servants, 'Fill the waterpots with water. ...
/.../anonymous/the good shepherd/chapter v jesus begins his.htm

The Wedding at Cana
... My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells
you." Six stone water-jars (such as the Jews used in washing) were there ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the wedding at cana.htm

The So-Called Calends, and what are Called Bota and Brumalia...
... tragic masks; nor may men invoke the name of the execrable Bacchus when they squeeze
out the wine in the presses; nor when pouring out wine into jars [to cause ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon lxii the so-called calends.htm

Sanctified Commonplaces
... Look, first of all, at these clay pots"common enough"jars and jugs, standing in
a corner, or perhaps standing out on the veranda, near where the Saviour ...
/.../howard/standards of life and service/xvi sanctified commonplaces.htm

Jesus Works his First Miracle at Cana in Galilee.
... with water. [The jars had been partially emptied by the ablutions of the company.]
And they filled them up to the brim. [This statement ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxii jesus works his first.htm

The Story of one Furlough (1908-1910)
... That winter, again and again, gifts of canned fruit came, sometimes from unknown
sources. Altogether, seventy jars of the finest fruit were sent to us. ...
/.../goforth/how i know god answers prayer/vii the story of one.htm

At the Marriage Feast
... Christ. Beside the doorway stood six large stone water jars, and Jesus
bade the servants fill these with water. It was done. Then ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 15 at the marriage.htm

Thesaurus

Jars (28 Occurrences)
...Jars (28 Occurrences). ... John 2:6 Now there were six stone jars standing there (in
accordance with the Jewish regulations for purification) (WEY RSV NIV). ...
/j/jars.htm - 14k

Potter (14 Occurrences)
... These jars are the oldest examples of the potter's article It is inconceivable that
in the country of Babel, Egypt's great rival in civilization, the ceramic ...
/p/potter.htm - 28k

Pottery (11 Occurrences)
... These jars are the oldest examples of the potter's article It is inconceivable that
in the country of Babel, Egypt's great rival in civilization, the ceramic ...
/p/pottery.htm - 27k

Press (57 Occurrences)
... The juice flowed down through the pipe into the lower vat, from which it was removed
into jars (Haggai 2:16) or where it was allowed to remain during the first ...
/p/press.htm - 46k

Oil (281 Occurrences)
... The juice which runs from the press, consisting of oil, extractive matter and water,
is conducted to vats or run into jars and allowed to stand until the oil ...
/o/oil.htm - 60k

Wine (282 Occurrences)
... The juice flowed down through the pipe into the lower vat, from which it was removed
into jars (Haggai 2:16) or where it was allowed to remain during the first ...
/w/wine.htm - 68k

Ointment (29 Occurrences)
... The scented oils or ointments were kept in jars or vials (not boxes) made
of alabaster. These jars are frequently found as part ...
/o/ointment.htm - 18k

Dionysus
... The burial of the wine in the dark tomb of the jars through the winter, and the
opening of these jars at the spring festival symbolized the great awakening of ...
/d/dionysus.htm - 9k

Pouring (21 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and the pans thereof, and the
jars thereof, and the bowls thereof, wherewith to pour out; of pure gold ...
/p/pouring.htm - 13k

Bacchus
... The burial of the wine in the dark tomb of the jars through the winter, and the
opening of these jars at the spring festival symbolized the great awakening of ...
/b/bacchus.htm - 12k

Resources

What does it mean that we have treasures in jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7)? | GotQuestions.org

What does Malachi 2:16 mean when God says, “I hate divorce”? | GotQuestions.org

Did Jesus change the water into wine or grape juice? | GotQuestions.org

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

Concordance

Jars (28 Occurrences)

Matthew 25:4
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
(See NIV)

John 2:6
Now there were six stone jars standing there (in accordance with the Jewish regulations for purification)
(WEY RSV NIV)

John 2:7
Jesus said to the attendants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them to the brim.
(WEY RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.
(See NIV)

Revelation 2:27
And he shall be their shepherd, ruling them with a rod of iron, just as earthenware jars are broken to pieces; and his power over them shall be like that which I Myself have received from My Father;
(WEY)

Exodus 7:19
Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell Aaron,'Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'"
(See NIV)

Exodus 25:29
And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and the spoons thereof, and the flagons thereof, and the bowls thereof, wherewith to pour out: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
(See JPS NAS)

Exodus 37:16
And he made the vessels which were upon the table, the dishes thereof, and the spoons thereof, and the bowls thereof, and the flagons thereof, wherewith to pour out, of pure gold.
(See JPS NAS)

Numbers 4:7
And upon the table of showbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls and the cups wherewith to pour out; and the continual bread shall be thereon:
(See JPS NAS NIV)

Numbers 4:9
"They shall take a blue cloth, and cover the lampstand of the light, and its lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it.
(See NIV)

Judges 7:8
So he took the jars of the people from their hands, and their trumpets; and he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the three hundred men; and the camp of Mid'ian was below him in the valley.
(DBY RSV)

Judges 7:16
And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches inside the jars.
(DBY RSV NIV)

Judges 7:19
So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch; and they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands.
(DBY RSV NIV)

Judges 7:20
And the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, holding in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow; and they cried, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!"
(DBY RSV NIV)

Ruth 2:9
Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them. Haven't I commanded the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink from that which the young men have drawn."
(See NAS NIV)

1 Kings 18:33
He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, "Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the wood." brass, the iron for the
(WEB ASV RSV NIV)

1 Kings 18:34
And he said, Do it the second time; and they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time; and they did it the third time.
(See JPS)

2 Kings 4:3
Then he said, "Go, borrow containers from of all your neighbors, even empty containers. Don't borrow just a few.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 4:4
You shall go in, and shut the door on you and on your sons, and pour out into all those containers; and you shall set aside that which is full."
(See NIV)

2 Kings 4:5
So she went from him, and shut the door on her and on her sons; they brought the containers to her, and she poured out.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 28:17
and the flesh-hooks, 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 JPS)

Job 38:37
Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of the sky,
(See NAS NIV)

Psalms 33:7
He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap. He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 22:24
And all the glory of his father's family will be hanging on him, all their offspring, every small vessel, even the cups and the basins.
(See NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 14:3
Their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are disappointed and confounded, and cover their heads.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 40:10
As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who shall come to us: but you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 48:12
Therefore, behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will send to him those who pour off, and they shall pour him off; and they shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles in pieces.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Lamentations 4:2
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Jars

Related Terms

Potter (14 Occurrences)

Pottery (11 Occurrences)

Press (57 Occurrences)

Oil (281 Occurrences)

Wine (282 Occurrences)

Ointment (29 Occurrences)

Dionysus

Pouring (21 Occurrences)

Bacchus