English · KJV
H2573

חֵמֶת

chêmeth /klay'-meth/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom the same as חוֹמָה
Meaninga skin bottle (as tied up)
KJV usagebottle.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of chêmeth — 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 chêmeth, represented by H2573, refers to a bottle, specifically a skin bottle used for holding liquids. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses. Its meaning is derived from its function as a tied-up container, often holding life-sustaining water.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H2573 is most prominent in the story of Hagar and Ishmael. When Abraham sends them away, he provides them with a bottle of water for their journey Genesis 21:14. The narrative reaches its crisis point when the water in the bottle is gone Genesis 21:15. God then intervenes, revealing a well so Hagar can fill the bottle again and save her son Genesis 21:19. The word is also used in a negative context in Habakkuk, which warns against the one who uses his bottle to make his neighbor drunk Habakkuk 2:15.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context and function of the bottle:

  • H4325 mayim (water): This is the essential substance carried within the bottle in the Genesis account. The presence or absence of water drives the entire narrative of survival (Genesis 21:15, Genesis 21:19).
  • H3615 kâlâh (to end... be finished, perish... consume): This verb is used to describe the moment the water was "spent" from the bottle, marking the point of desperation and the end of Hagar's provisions Genesis 21:15.
  • H8248 shâqâh (to... cause to... drink): This word describes the primary purpose of the water in the bottle. It is used positively when Hagar gives her son a drink Genesis 21:19 and negatively in the warning against giving a neighbor drink to intoxicate him Habakkuk 2:15.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H2573 is tied to its role as a vessel of critical resources.

  • Provision and Survival: The bottle is a key instrument of provision. It holds the water Abraham gives to Hagar and is the vessel she refills after God's intervention, directly enabling survival Genesis 21:19.
  • Human Limitation: The empty bottle symbolizes the limits of human preparation and the onset of despair. When the water was "spent," Hagar's hope was lost until divine help arrived Genesis 21:15.
  • Instrument of Malice: In contrast to its life-sustaining role in Genesis, the bottle in Habakkuk is an instrument of deception and harm, used to exploit a neighbor Habakkuk 2:15.

Summary

In summary, H2573 is more than a simple object. It is a powerful symbol in Scripture representing the container of finite, life-giving resources. Its state—whether full or empty—dictates moments of survival and despair. The bottle illustrates a duality, serving as a vessel for both divine provision in a time of need and for human wickedness in a moment of temptation.

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 5 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.

  • חֵמַת
  • חֵמֶת

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H4325 מַיִם dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase H3615 כָּלָה a primitive root; to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete, prepare, con H8248 שָׁקָה a primitive root; to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate or furnish apotion to; cause to (give, give to, let, make to)

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

3
Genesis
1
Habakkuk

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.