זְכוּכִית

# Zekhukhit (Glass) in Biblical Hebrew The Hebrew word *zekhukhit* (זְכוּכִית) denotes glass, appearing only once in the biblical text. This single occurrence in the Hebrew Bible suggests that glass was either a rare material in ancient Israelite culture or that the language had limited vocabulary for describing it. The word itself represents a transparent or translucent material, likely referencing manufactured glass rather than any naturally occurring substance. The rarity of this term in biblical literature is noteworthy. With just one attestation, *zekhukhit* stands in contrast to materials more frequently mentioned in Scripture, such as bronze, silver, gold, and pottery. This scarcity may reflect the historical reality that glass production and use were not common in ancient Israel during the periods when the biblical texts were composed, or that imported glass items were luxury goods encountered only occasionally. The linguistic evidence alone cannot determine which explanation applies, but the minimal usage suggests glass held a limited role in daily Israelite life as recorded in the Hebrew scriptures.