### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **dûwd**, represented by `{{H1731}}`, refers to a pot for boiling or, by a resemblance of shape, a basket. It appears 7 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible, carrying a dual meaning that shifts based on its context. Its root is shared with the word for "beloved" or "uncle," though its usage here is strictly for objects.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H1731}}` functions in both literal and symbolic ways. It is a vessel for preparing sacred food, as seen when the priests at Shiloh would take their portion from the **kettle** [[1 Samuel 2:14]] and when holy offerings were cooked in **caldrons** for the Passover [[2 Chronicles 35:13]]. It also serves as a container, gruesomely used to hold the heads of the king's sons [[2 Kings 10:7]] and, in a prophetic vision, to represent the fate of Judah through two **baskets** of figs [[Jeremiah 24:2]]. Figuratively, it describes the immense power of Leviathan, whose nostrils emit smoke like a "seething **pot**" [[Job 41:20]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several other Hebrew words for pots and containers appear alongside or in similar contexts to **dûwd**:
* `{{H3595}}` **kîyôwr** (pan, laver): This word for a round object appears with `{{H1731}}` in the list of priestly vessels at Shiloh [[1 Samuel 2:14]]. It is also famously used for the bronze **laver** in the tabernacle court [[Exodus 30:18]].
* `{{H5518}}` **çîyr** (pot): A more common term for a cooking pot, it is listed with `{{H1731}}` in the preparations for the Passover [[2 Chronicles 35:13]]. Elisha commands his servant to "Set on the great **pot**" to make pottage for the prophets [[2 Kings 4:38]].
* `{{H6517}}` **pârûwr** (pot, pan): This term appears in [[1 Samuel 2:14]] with **kettle** `{{H1731}}`. Gideon used a **pot** of this kind to carry broth for the angel of the LORD [[Judges 6:19]].
* `{{H100}}` **'agmôwn** (caldron, rush): This word is paired directly with `{{H1731}}` in the description of Leviathan, whose breath is like a "seething pot or **caldron**" [[Job 41:20]]. Elsewhere, it is used to mean a bulrush [[Isaiah 58:5]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H1731}}` lies in its versatile application as a symbol in the biblical narrative.
* **Vessel of Prophetic Truth:** In Jeremiah's vision, the two **baskets** of figs are not mere containers but powerful symbols representing the two fates awaiting the exiles of Judah, making the object a vehicle for divine communication [[Jeremiah 24:2]].
* **Instrument of Sacred Ritual:** Its use in cooking holy offerings for the Passover and for priestly portions underscores its role in the sacred economy of worship and sacrifice ([[2 Chronicles 35:13]], [[1 Samuel 2:14]]).
* **Metaphor for Burden and Liberation:** Deliverance from the **pots** is used as a metaphor for Israel's liberation from the burdens of labor, signifying freedom granted by God [[Psalms 81:6]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1731}}` **dûwd** demonstrates how a simple object can hold significant weight. While not frequently used, its appearances are memorable, shifting from a common pot or basket to a symbol of prophecy, sacred duty, brutal political acts, and divine deliverance. It captures a range of experiences, from the mundane tasks of cooking to the profound theological concepts of judgment and freedom.
TRV