In biblical times, bottles were commonly used for storing liquids such as water, wine, and oil. The materials and construction of these bottles varied, with some being made from animal skins and others from pottery or glass. The use of bottles is mentioned in several passages throughout the Bible, illustrating both practical and symbolic purposes.

Animal Skin Bottles:

Animal skin bottles, often referred to as "wineskins," were a prevalent method for storing and transporting liquids. These were typically made from the skins of goats or sheep, sewn together and treated to hold liquids without leaking. The elasticity of the skin allowed it to expand, making it suitable for fermenting wine.

· Matthew 9:17 : "Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will spill and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

This passage highlights the necessity of using new wineskins for new wine, as the fermentation process would cause old, less elastic skins to burst. The metaphor is used to illustrate the need for new structures or ways of thinking to accommodate new teachings or revelations.

Pottery and Glass Bottles:

In addition to animal skins, bottles made from pottery or glass were also used, particularly for storing perfumes, oils, and other valuable liquids. These materials were more rigid and less prone to leakage, making them suitable for long-term storage.

· Jeremiah 19:1 : "This is what the LORD says: 'Go and buy a potter’s clay jar. Take some of the elders of the people and some of the priests.'"

Here, the prophet Jeremiah is instructed to purchase a clay jar, which he later uses as a symbol of God's impending judgment on Jerusalem. The breaking of the jar represents the shattering of the city and its people due to their disobedience.

Symbolic Uses:

Bottles in the Bible also carry symbolic meanings, often representing containment or preservation of something valuable, such as tears or prayers.

· Psalm 56:8 : "You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle—are they not in Your book?"

In this verse, the psalmist expresses a deep trust in God's care and remembrance, using the imagery of tears being collected in a bottle to signify that God values and remembers every sorrow and prayer of His people.

Cultural and Historical Context:

The use of bottles in biblical times reflects the cultural and technological practices of ancient societies. The choice of material—whether skin, clay, or glass—depended on the intended use and the resources available. Bottles were essential for daily life, serving both practical needs and spiritual symbolism.

· Job 32:19 : "Behold, my belly is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like new wineskins."

This verse from Job uses the imagery of wineskins to describe the pressure of unspoken words and the urgency to speak truth. It reflects the cultural understanding of fermentation and the physical properties of wineskins, illustrating the intensity of the speaker's emotions.

In summary, bottles in the Bible serve as practical tools for storage and transport, as well as powerful symbols of preservation, transformation, and divine remembrance. The various references to bottles across Scripture provide insight into the daily life and spiritual beliefs of biblical times.Genesis 21:14
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
Nave's Topical Index

The Resurrection of Lazarus
... Oh that Christians in general, Oh that ministers in particular, would ... crystal water
shaken in a glass or bottle; you may ... The scriptures are silent concerning it ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the resurrection of lazarus.htm

Chapter xxi
... for not everything could be reported in the Scriptures. ... The mother fills the
skin-bottle and from it ... Two terms cover this: the more general robheh, "shooter ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxi.htm

He that Doubteth is Damned if He Eat, Because He Eateth not of ...
... After laying down some general maxims and principles, he ... is bound to stop and inquire,
and search the scriptures. ... there for about a cent a bottle, wine being ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/he that doubteth is damned.htm

The Great Shepherd
... 56:8) , putting their tears into His bottle, recording their ... and extensive knowledge
of the Scriptures; and the ... day of that solemn and general visitation, when ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xiii the great shepherd.htm

State in which Man was Created. The Faculties of the Soul --The ...
... to which Adam was formed, whereas the Scriptures teach very ... the sensorium: Next,
reason, to which the general power of ... draw wine out of a cask into a bottle. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 15 state in which.htm

The Contribution of Science to Christianity
... physical science, and these of a somewhat general kind ... than are many ancient
interpretations of the Scriptures to the ... in this century or in that, bottle it like ...
/.../berkhof/new evangelism and other papers/the contribution of science to.htm

Cyrus, the Servant Of-The Lord {4}
... for two reasons"First, because the Hebrew Scriptures call him ... and respectable ditch-
water, a bottle of champagne ... his grandfather had made him general of the ...
/.../kingsley/historical lectures and essays/cyrus the servant of-the lord.htm

The Servant of the Lord.
... two reasons"First, because the Hebrew Scriptures call him ... and respectable ditch-water,
a bottle of champagne ... that his grandfather had made him general of the ...
/.../kingsley/lectures delivered in america in 1874/lecture iv the servant of.htm

They Shall be Called the Children of God
... Take heed of resting in a general faith ... And that from a child thou hast known the
holy Scriptures' (2 Timothy ... Put thou my tears into thy bottle' (Psalm 56:8). A ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/19 they shall be called.htm

A Few Sighs from Hell;
... dregs (Psalm 75:8). And the Lord hath a bottle for thy ... leave thee, I shall leave
with thee two Scriptures to be ... 1 Timothy 6:9). Thus much in general; but now ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a few sighs from hell.htm

Questions about Psalms | GotQuestions.org

How should a Christian respond to unanswered prayer? | GotQuestions.org

What is truth? | GotQuestions.org

Bottle: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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