צְלֹחִית
something prolonged or tall, i.e. a vial or salt-cellar
Definition
The Hebrew word צְלֹחִית (tsᵉlôchîyth) refers to a small, elongated vessel or container. It is best understood as a 'cruse' or 'flask,' a portable jar often used for holding liquids like oil or, in its sole biblical occurrence, salt. The term's core meaning relates to something 'prolonged' or 'tall' in shape, describing the vessel's form. In 2 Kings 2:20, it is specifically a 'new cruse' used by the prophet Elisha to hold salt for a miracle of purification.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Kings 2:20. It is used in a prophetic miracle narrative where Elisha requests a 'new cruse' to perform God's work of healing the waters of Jericho. The context is one of ritual purification and divine power, with the vessel itself being new and set apart for this holy purpose.
Etymology
Derived from the root צָלַח (tsalach, H6743), meaning 'to advance,' 'prosper,' or 'push forward.' The noun form צְלֹחִית carries the sense of something 'prolonged' or 'extended,' likely describing the elongated, narrow-necked shape of the flask or cruse it denotes.
Semantic Range
While a simple object, the 'cruse' in 2 Kings 2:20 is instrumental in a miracle that demonstrates God's power to heal and purify through His prophet. Its specification as a 'new' vessel underscores themes of consecration and the fresh, untainted means God uses to enact restoration. Understanding this term highlights the tangible, physical objects God incorporates into His redemptive acts.
In ancient Israel, small, personal vessels like this cruse were common for carrying precious commodities such as oil, perfume, or salt. A 'new' cruse would be ritually clean and unused, making it suitable for a sacred act. The use of salt, a preservative and purifying agent, combined with a new vessel, reflects cultural practices of ritual purity and symbolic renewal.
בַּקְבֻּּק (baqbuq, H1228) — a flask or bottle, often for oil; נֵבֶל (nevel, H5035) — a skin bottle or jar, typically larger; כַּד (kad, H3537) — a jar or pitcher, usually for water.
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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