χαλκίον
a bronze vessel
Definition
χαλκίον (chalkion) refers specifically to a bronze or copper vessel used for various domestic purposes in the ancient world. In its sole New Testament occurrence, it denotes a type of container or utensil, likely for holding water or other liquids, that was subject to Jewish ritual purification customs. The word emphasizes the material (bronze/copper) from which the object is made, distinguishing it from vessels of pottery, wood, or precious metals. No other major senses or biblical passages are associated with this specific term.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Mark 7:4. In this context, it appears in a list of items (including 'cups, pots, and bronze vessels') that the Pharisees and scribes traditionally washed as part of their ritual purification rites before eating. Its usage is purely descriptive, highlighting a category of everyday household objects within a discussion about ceremonial cleanliness versus inner moral purity.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek noun χαλκός (chalkos, G5475), meaning 'copper' or 'bronze.' The suffix -ιον forms a diminutive or denotes an object made from that material, thus χαλκίον literally means 'a little thing of bronze' or 'a bronze object.' It is a straightforward compound describing an artifact's composition.
Semantic Range
In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) was a common, durable, and relatively inexpensive metal used for a wide array of household utensils, tools, and coins. The mention of 'bronze vessels' in Mark 7:4 reflects everyday material culture. Their inclusion in ritual washing traditions (based on interpretations of Leviticus 11:32-33 and Numbers 31:22-23) shows how ordinary objects were incorporated into Jewish religious practice concerning purity and defilement, a point Jesus critiques by focusing on the heart.
χαλκός (chalkos, G5475) — the base metal (copper/bronze) itself, or money/coinage made from it. σκεῦος (skeuos, G4632) — a more general term for any vessel, implement, or object.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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