### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gᵉbîyaʻ**, represented by `{{H1375}}`, is derived from a root meaning "to be convex." It primarily refers to a **goblet** or, by analogy, the **calyx of a flower**, and can also be translated as a **house**, **cup**, or **pot**. It appears 14 times across 11 unique verses in the Bible, holding a dual significance as both a common vessel and a sacred architectural element.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H1375}}` appears in two distinct contexts. In the Genesis narrative, it is the silver **cup** that Joseph commands be placed in Benjamin's sack, serving as a critical device to test his brothers [[Genesis 44:2]]. The discovery of the **cup** [[Genesis 44:12]] leads to Judah's plea, acknowledging that "God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants" [[Genesis 44:16]]. In contrast, the books of Exodus describe the `{{H1375}}` as ornate **bowls**, specifically the flower-calyx shaped parts of the golden candlestick, or menorah ([[Exodus 25:31]], [[Exodus 37:17]]). In Jeremiah, it is used more plainly as **pots** full of wine set before the Rechabites [[Jeremiah 35:5]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller picture of vessels and sacred design:
* `{{H3563}}` **kôwç** (cup): Often used figuratively for a person's lot or destiny, this word appears alongside `{{H1375}}` in the account of the Rechabites [[Jeremiah 35:5]]. It is famously used to describe the "cup of salvation" [[Psalms 116:13]] and the "cup of his fury" [[Isaiah 51:17]].
* `{{H3730}}` **kaphtôr** (knop): This architectural term refers to a wreath-like button or disk. It is mentioned repeatedly with the **bowls** `{{H1375}}` and flowers as a key decorative feature on the branches of the golden candlestick [[Exodus 25:33]].
* `{{H4501}}` **mᵉnôwrâh** (candlestick): This is the sacred chandelier or lampstand for which the **bowls** `{{H1375}}` were made. The instructions specify that the **bowls**, knops, and flowers were to be formed from the same piece of pure, beaten gold as the candlestick itself [[Exodus 25:31]].
* `{{H6525}}` **perach** (flower): Meaning a calyx or bloom, this word completes the botanical motif of the candlestick design, appearing alongside the **bowls** `{{H1375}}` and knops to create an image of a flowering almond branch [[Exodus 37:19]].
### Theological Significance
The conceptual weight of `{{H1375}}` is demonstrated through its different applications.
* **Vessel of Revelation:** In the story of Joseph, the **cup** is not merely a possession but an instrument of revelation. Its discovery forces a confrontation with past guilt and reveals the changed hearts of the brothers [[Genesis 44:16]].
* **Component of Sacred Order:** As the **bowls** on the **candlestick** `{{H4501}}`, the word signifies divine artistry and meticulous order. The precise number of bowls on each branch, fashioned like almonds with a knop and a flower, reflects a prescribed pattern for worship and the beauty of holiness [[Exodus 25:33-34]].
* **Container of Choice:** When presented as **pots** of wine to the Rechabites, the `{{H1375}}` holds the substance of a test of obedience [[Jeremiah 35:5]]. This highlights the theme of a cup or vessel as a holder of a significant, consequential choice.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1375}}` is a multifaceted term that moves between the mundane and the holy. It is a simple **pot** or **cup** used in a human test, as well as the ornate, flower-like **bowls** adorning the golden **candlestick** in the Tabernacle. Whether as a tool for revealing character in Genesis or as a component of divine design in Exodus, **gᵉbîyaʻ** illustrates how an ordinary object can be imbued with profound purpose in the biblical narrative.
TRV