כַּד
properly, a pail; but generally of earthenware; a jar for domestic purposes
Definition
The Hebrew word כַּד (kad) refers to a common household vessel, typically a jar or pitcher made of earthenware. Its primary function was for carrying and storing water, as vividly illustrated in the story of Rebekah at the well (Genesis 24:14-20, 24:43-45). While often translated as 'pitcher,' it can denote a general water container, including what English versions sometimes call a 'barrel' in 1 Kings 18:33. The word consistently describes a portable vessel for liquid, emphasizing its role in daily domestic life and labor.
Biblical Usage
כַּד is used 17 times in the Old Testament, predominantly in narrative contexts involving drawing water. Its most concentrated usage is in Genesis 24, where it appears 8 times in the story of Isaac and Rebekah. It also appears in the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:33) and in the poetic description of a shattered pot in Ecclesiastes 12:6. The word is exclusively used for water containers, highlighting a specific and practical function within ancient Israelite society.
Etymology
The noun כַּד derives from an unused root meaning 'to deepen,' suggesting the core idea of a hollowed-out or deep vessel. This connection to depth appropriately describes a jar designed to hold a substantial amount of liquid. It is a common Semitic word, with cognates found in related languages like Aramaic and Arabic, indicating a shared cultural understanding of this essential household item.
Semantic Range
While כַּד itself is a common object, its use in Scripture is theologically significant. In Genesis 24, the 'pitcher' is the instrument through which God's providential guidance is visibly confirmed, as Rebekah's act of drawing water for Abraham's servant becomes the sign of the chosen bride for Isaac. In 1 Kings 18:33, the filling of the trench with water from four 'barrels' (כַּד) sets the stage for God's dramatic display of power over Baal. Thus, this ordinary vessel becomes a backdrop for divine action, reminding the reader that God often works through the mundane items and faithful actions of daily life to accomplish His purposes.
In the ancient Near East, fetching water was a daily, essential task, typically performed by women. The כַּד was a standard piece of domestic equipment, usually made of baked clay, which was porous and helped keep water cool through evaporation. It was carried on the shoulder or head (as implied in Genesis 24:15). Understanding this cultural context makes the biblical stories more vivid; Rebekah's offer to water ten camels (Genesis 24:19-20) was an extraordinary act of strenuous hospitality, requiring her to make many trips to the well with her jar.
נֵבֶל (nevel, H5035) — A larger jar or skin bottle, often for wine. כְּלִי (kliy, H3627) — A general term for any vessel, utensil, or weapon. סִיר (siyr, H5518) — A pot or cauldron, usually for cooking.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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