Word Study for H1228 (בַּקְבֻּק)

baqbuq /bak-book'/ Ask about this word

Meaningxlit baqbûk corrected to baqbuq; a bottle (from the gurgling in emptying)

KJV usagebottle, cruse.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of baqbuq — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word baqbuq, represented by H1228, refers to a bottle or cruse. Its name is derived from the gurgling sound made when emptying it. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses, where it functions as both a common container and a potent prophetic symbol.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical occurrences, H1228 is used in two distinct contexts. In 1 Kings, it is a cruse used to carry honey H1706 as part of a gift to a prophet 1 Kings 14:3. In the book of Jeremiah, the word takes on a more dramatic role. God commands the prophet to get a potter's H3335 earthen H2789 bottle Jeremiah 19:1. This object is then used in a symbolic act, where Jeremiah is instructed to break H7665 the bottle in the sight of the elders as a sign of impending judgment Jeremiah 19:10.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words illuminate the meaning of H1228 in its scriptural context:

H2789 cheres (a piece of pottery; earth(-en)): This word specifies the material of the bottle in Jeremiah's prophecy, highlighting its fragile, man-made nature Jeremiah 19:1.
H7665 shâbar (to burst; break): This is the key action performed on the bottle, signifying destruction and a point of no return in the prophetic message Jeremiah 19:10.
H1706 dᵉbash (honey): This is what the cruse contains in the narrative of 1 Kings, showing the object's use for carrying provisions or offerings 1 Kings 14:3.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1228 is primarily derived from its use as a prophetic symbol in Jeremiah.

Vessel for a Purpose: Whether carrying honey H1706 to a prophet 1 Kings 14:3 or being carried to a place of judgment, the bottle serves a specific function ordained by a higher purpose.
Symbol of a Created People: The object is explicitly a potter's H3335 earthen H2789 bottle Jeremiah 19:1. This connects to the theme of God as the Potter and His people as the work of His hands, who are ultimately accountable to their maker.
Representation of Judgment: The command to break H7665 the bottle is a visceral and public illustration of divine judgment. Just as the earthen vessel is shattered beyond repair, so too would the nation be broken for its transgressions Jeremiah 19:10.

Summary

In summary, H1228 transitions from a simple cruse for carrying goods to a powerful symbol of divine communication. Its use demonstrates how an ordinary object can be imbued with profound meaning. The bottle serves as a tangible representation of a people formed by a potter, and its shattering becomes an unforgettable sermon on the finality and public nature of God's judgment.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

בַקְבֻּק
בַּקְבֻּק

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Jeremiah (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

1 Kings

Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.