### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **askós**, represented by `{{G779}}`, refers to a **leathern (or skin) bag used as a bottle**. It appears **12 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible, establishing its presence in a very specific and repeated illustration.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{G779}}` is used exclusively in the context of the parable about new wine and old wineskins. The word illustrates the incompatibility of old, worn-out containers with new, fermenting wine. When new wine is put into old **bottles**, the result is that the **bottles** break or burst ([[Matthew 9:17]], [[Mark 2:22]], [[Luke 5:37]]). This causes the wine to be spilled and the **bottles** themselves to perish or be marred ([[Mark 2:22]], [[Luke 5:37]]). The teaching concludes that new wine must be put into new **bottles**, which ensures that both are preserved ([[Matthew 9:17]], [[Luke 5:38]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide deeper context for the use of **askós**:
* `{{G3631}}` **oînos** (wine): This is the substance placed within the **bottle**. The term is used both literally and figuratively throughout scripture, sometimes representing divine wrath [[Revelation 14:10]] or spiritual influence [[Ephesians 5:18]].
* `{{G3820}}` **palaiós** (old): This describes the state of the unsuitable **bottles**. It means "antique, i.e. not recent, worn out" and is used elsewhere to refer to the "old man" which is corrupt [[Ephesians 4:22]] and the "old leaven" of malice and wickedness [[1 Corinthians 5:7-8]].
* `{{G4486}}` **rhḗgnymi** (to "break," "wreck" or "crack"): This verb describes what happens to the old **bottles** under the pressure of new wine [[Matthew 9:17]]. It is also used to describe a violent action, such as when a demon "teareth" a person [[Mark 9:18]].
* `{{G622}}` **apóllymi** (to destroy fully... to perish, or lose): This word signifies the fate of the old **bottles** and the spilled wine ([[Mark 2:22]], [[Luke 5:37]]). The concept of perishing is a significant theological theme, as seen in the promise that believers should not **perish** but have everlasting life [[John 3:16]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G779}}` is conveyed through its role in this central parable. It helps to illustrate a fundamental principle of spiritual life.
* **Incompatibility of Old and New:** The **old** `{{G3820}}` bottle cannot contain the new wine. This parallels other biblical concepts like putting off the "old man" [[Romans 6:6]] and purging the "old leaven" [[1 Corinthians 5:7]], suggesting that old systems or sinful natures are unfit for the new life.
* **Consequences of Improper Mixing:** Attempting to put the new into the old leads to ruin. The bottles **break** `{{G4486}}` and **perish** `{{G622}}`, and the wine is lost. This demonstrates that trying to combine new spiritual realities with old, rigid forms results in the destruction of both.
* **The Necessity of Preservation:** The solution is to put new wine into new **bottles**, so that both "are preserved" `{{G4933}}` [[Matthew 9:17]]. The word for **preserved** `{{G4933}}` implies careful conservation and is also used to describe how Mary "kept" and pondered events in her heart [[Luke 2:19]], suggesting a new and fitting vessel is required to protect something precious.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G779}}` is more than just a simple container. As a **bottle** made of skin, its use in scripture serves as a powerful and memorable metaphor. It teaches that new divine movements and truths require new frameworks and receptive hearts. The image of an old, inflexible **bottle** bursting underscores the principle that the new life offered by God cannot be contained within old, unchanged structures or ways of thinking.
TRV