ξέστης
xestēs
pitcher
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word "ξέστης" (xestēs), with Strong's number G3582, can be literally translated as "pitcher." Its short definition suggests a container for holding liquids, likely used for serving or storing water, wine, or other beverages. The semantic domain of "Body & Health" indicates a possible connection between the pitcher and human consumption or nourishment. The limited number of occurrences in the Bible, at 2, implies a specialized or niche usage of the word. It may have been a common household item in ancient Greece or Asia Minor, where the New Testament was written. The word's specificity to a container or vessel highlights its practical function and mundane aspect, underscoring the ordinary concerns of everyday life in the biblical world. In the context of its biblical appearances, the pitcher may symbolize hospitality, nourishment, or the care of others. Without additional information about its context or usage, it is impossible to pinpoint a more specific significance. However, as a simple pitcher, its primary function remains clear: to hold and serve liquids, making it an essential object for daily sustenance and social interaction.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences across the text
They don’t eat when they come from 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, and couches.)
Mark 7:8“For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.”