כּוֹס
a cup (as a container), often figuratively, a lot (as if a potion); also some unclean bird
Definition
The Hebrew word כּוֹס (kôwç) primarily means 'cup,' referring to a literal drinking vessel used for wine or water, as seen in Genesis 40:11, 13, 21, where Pharaoh's cupbearer dreams of a grape-filled cup. Figuratively, it often symbolizes one's divinely appointed lot or destiny, whether of blessing or judgment, such as the 'cup of salvation' (Psalm 116:13) or the 'cup of wrath' (Jeremiah 25:15). In Leviticus 11:17 and Deuteronomy 14:16, כּוֹס also denotes an unclean bird, likely an owl, possibly named for its cup-like eye sockets.
Biblical Usage
כּוֹס appears 29 times across various Old Testament books. Its literal sense as a container is common in narratives like Genesis 40 (Joseph's interpretation of dreams) and descriptions of temple vessels (1 Kings 7:26). The figurative usage dominates in poetic and prophetic books, where it metaphorically represents divine judgment (e.g., Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17) or blessing. The avian meaning occurs only in the dietary laws of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, listing it among forbidden birds.
Etymology
Derived from an unused root meaning 'to hold together,' כּוֹס emphasizes containment. It is related to כִּיס (kîys, H3599), meaning 'pouch' or 'bag,' both sharing the concept of something that encloses. This root idea of holding likely extended to the bird's name due to its distinctive, cup-shaped eyes.
Semantic Range
כּוֹס is theologically significant for its rich metaphorical use in expressing God's sovereignty over human destiny. It vividly portrays divine judgment as a 'cup of wrath' that nations must drink (Jeremiah 25:15-16), and conversely, God's provision as a 'cup of salvation' (Psalm 116:13). This imagery deepens understanding of Jesus' reference to his own 'cup' of suffering (Matthew 26:39), connecting Old Testament themes of allotted fate to New Testament redemption.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, cups were common vessels for drinking, but also held symbolic weight in rituals and dreams, as in Genesis 40. The 'cup' as a metaphor for destiny reflects the practice of sharing a cup to signify fellowship or, in judgment contexts, being forced to drink a bitter potion. The identification of כּוֹס as an owl highlights Israel's dietary laws, which categorized birds based on physical traits, possibly linking this bird to darkness or uncleanness.
גָּבִיעַ (gāḇîaʿ, H1375) — a larger bowl or goblet, often for ceremonial use; כַּף (kaph, H3709) — a palm, hand, or spoon, sometimes used for holding liquid but less specific than a cup.
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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