In biblical times, pitchers were common household items used for carrying and storing liquids, particularly water. These vessels were typically made of clay or pottery, though some might have been crafted from metal or other materials. The use of pitchers is mentioned in several biblical narratives, highlighting their importance in daily life and their symbolic significance in certain contexts.

Old Testament References

One of the earliest mentions of pitchers is found in the account of Rebekah, who is described as carrying a pitcher when she encounters Abraham's servant at the well. Genesis 24:15-20 recounts, "Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up again." This passage illustrates the customary use of pitchers for drawing water from wells, a task often performed by women.

In Judges 7, pitchers play a crucial role in the account of Gideon. God instructs Gideon to reduce his army and then provides a unique strategy for defeating the Midianites. Judges 7:16-20 describes how Gideon divided the 300 men into three companies and gave each man a trumpet and an empty pitcher with torches inside. At Gideon's signal, the men broke the pitchers, revealing the torches and creating a sudden burst of light and noise that confused and terrified the Midianite army, leading to their defeat. This account demonstrates how ordinary objects, like pitchers, can be used by God to achieve extraordinary outcomes.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, pitchers are mentioned in the context of Jesus' instructions to His disciples regarding preparations for the Passover. In Mark 14:13 , Jesus tells two of His disciples, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him." This man would lead them to the upper room where they would prepare the Passover meal. The mention of a man carrying a pitcher is notable, as this task was typically performed by women, making the man easily identifiable to the disciples.

Symbolic Significance

Pitchers, as vessels, can symbolize service and hospitality, as seen in the account of Rebekah, who not only drew water for Abraham's servant but also for his camels. This act of kindness and hospitality was a sign of her suitability as Isaac's wife. Additionally, the breaking of pitchers in Gideon's account can symbolize the breaking of human strength and reliance on God's power for victory.

In biblical symbolism, vessels often represent individuals or communities, with the contents signifying what is poured out or shared with others. The use of pitchers in biblical narratives underscores themes of service, divine intervention, and the fulfillment of God's purposes through seemingly mundane objects and actions.3582. xestes -- a sextarius (about a pint), a pitcher (of wood or ...
... Word Origin of Latin origin Definition a sextarius (about a pint), a pitcher
(of wood or stone) NASB Word Usage pitchers (1). a pitcher, jug. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3582.htm - 6k7184. qasah -- jug, jar
... Definition: jars. Word Origin from an unused word Definition jug, jar NASB
Word Usage jars (3), pitchers (1). cover, cup. Or qasvah ...
/hebrew/7184.htm - 6k

3537. kad -- a jar
... jar. Word Origin from an unused word Definition a jar NASB Word Usage bowl
(3), jar (9), pitcher (1), pitchers (5). barrel, pitcher. ...
/hebrew/3537.htm - 6k

1375. gabia -- a cup, bowl
... cups. Word Origin from the same as Geba Definition a cup, bowl NASB Word
Usage cup (5), cups (8), pitchers (1). house, cup, pot. From ...
/hebrew/1375.htm - 6k

Each Person of the Trinity is Said in the Sacred Writings to be ...
... The Spirit is designated Fire by Isaiah, a figure of which Fire was seen in the
bush by Moses, in the tongues of fire, and in Gideon's pitchers. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xiv each person of.htm

A Battle Without a Sword
... And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet
in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.17. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a battle without a sword.htm

Trials of the Christian
... The lamps of Gideon were discovered, when his soldiers' pitchers were broken: if
our pitchers are broken for the Lord and his gospel's sake, those lamps will ...
/.../bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xiv trials of the christian.htm

How the Midianites and Other Nations Fought against the Israelites ...
... his army into three parts, and brought it out about the fourth watch of the night,
each part containing a hundred men: they all bare empty pitchers and lighted ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how the midianites.htm

Christ's Prophetic Office
... Ministers are teachers under Christ. Pastors and teachers.' Ephesians 4:4: We
read of pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. Judges 7:16. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/3 christs prophetic office.htm

The Story of Gideon and his Three Hundred Soldiers
... Then at one moment a great shout rang out in the darkness, "The sword of the Lord
and of Gideon," and after it came a crash of breaking pitchers, and then a ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of gideon and.htm

section 4
... We may know that we are but earthen pitchers, like Gideon's, with nothing of our
own but the light within, and yet we may not have passed through the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/trotter/parables of the christ-life/section 4.htm

Immanuel
... He gave Gideon a complete victory, not by providing him an army equal to that of
the enemy, but by three hundred men furnished with earthen pitchers and lamps ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon v immanuel.htm

A Blast of the Trumpet against False Peace
... These who professed to be the precious sons of God, comparable to fine gold, shall
be esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/a blast of the trumpet.htm

The Defeat of the Midianites.
... surrounded. Then all blew their trumpets, broke their pitchers, held up their
lamps (torches), and cried out as they had been commanded. ...
/.../mother stories from the old testament/the defeat of the midianites.htm

Pitchers (12 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Pitchers (12 Occurrences). Mark 7:4 They don't
eat when they come from the marketplace, unless they bathe ...
/p/pitchers.htm - 10k

Pitcher (16 Occurrences)
... A vessel for containing liquids. In the East pitchers were usually carried on the
head or shoulders (Genesis 24:15-20; Judges 7:16, 19; Mark 14:13). ...
/p/pitcher.htm - 13k

Torches (18 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:16 He divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into
the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches within ...
/t/torches.htm - 12k

Detachments (7 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:16 And he divideth the three hundred men 'into' three detachments, and
putteth trumpets into the hand of all of them, and empty pitchers, and lamps ...
/d/detachments.htm - 8k

Companies (38 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:16 He divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into
the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches within ...
/c/companies.htm - 18k

Cups (28 Occurrences)
... the marketplace, unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things,
which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels ...
/c/cups.htm - 15k

Lamps (45 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put
a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the ...
/l/lamps.htm - 19k

Trumpets (52 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:16 He divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into
the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches within ...
/t/trumpets.htm - 32k

Divideth (20 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:16 And he divideth the three hundred men 'into' three detachments, and
putteth trumpets into the hand of all of them, and empty pitchers, and lamps ...
/d/divideth.htm - 12k

Blew (37 Occurrences)
... of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch, when they had but newly set the
watch: and they blew the trumpets, and broke in pieces the pitchers that were ...
/b/blew.htm - 19k

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