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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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