### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **kad**, represented by `{{H3537}}`, is a term for a jar used for domestic purposes, translated as **pitcher** or **barrel**. It appears 18 times in 17 unique verses. The word describes an earthenware vessel, such as a pail or jar, typically used for carrying water or storing food.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H3537}}` appears in several significant narratives. A prominent example is in the account of Abraham's servant finding a wife for Isaac. Rebekah is first seen "with her **pitcher** upon her shoulder" [[Genesis 24:15]]. Her willingness to draw water with her **pitcher** serves as the sign that she is the one chosen for Isaac ([[Genesis 24:14]], [[Genesis 24:18]]). In the time of Elijah, `{{H3537}}` refers to the **barrel** of meal belonging to the widow of Zarephath, which miraculously does not run out during a famine ([[1 Kings 17:14]], [[1 Kings 17:16]]). The term is also used in the context of warfare, where Gideon's men hide lamps within empty **pitchers** and then break them to surprise the Midianite camp ([[Judges 7:16]], [[Judges 7:20]]). Finally, Elijah commands the people on Mount Carmel to fill four **barrels** with water to douse the sacrifice [[1 Kings 18:33]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are used in close association with the **kad**:
* `{{H6835}}` **tsappachath** (cruse): This word for a saucer or flat vessel is frequently paired with `{{H3537}}` in the account of the widow of Zarephath, where the "**barrel** of meal" and the "**cruse** of oil" are both miraculously sustained [[1 Kings 17:14]].
* `{{H4325}}` **mayim** (water): As a primary function of a pitcher is to carry liquid, `{{H3537}}` is often associated with **water**. Rebekah fills her pitcher with **water** at the well [[Genesis 24:16]], and Elijah has barrels filled with **water** on Mount Carmel [[1 Kings 18:33]].
* `{{H7058}}` **qemach** (meal): The **barrel** `{{H3537}}` of the widow of Zarephath is specifically a container for **meal**, highlighting its use for storing dry goods like flour [[1 Kings 17:12]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3537}}` is demonstrated in its symbolic uses.
* **Divine Provision:** The "barrel of meal" that does not waste serves as a powerful symbol of God's supernatural provision in a time of desperate need [[1 Kings 17:16]].
* **A Test of Service:** In the story of Rebekah, her pitcher becomes a tool to demonstrate her generous and hospitable spirit. Her quick offer to draw water for a stranger and his camels reveals the character God sought for Isaac's wife ([[Genesis 24:14]], [[Genesis 24:46]]).
* **The Frailty of Life:** The Preacher in Ecclesiastes uses the image of a broken vessel to symbolize mortality. The phrase "the **pitcher** be broken at the fountain" is a metaphor for the finality of death [[Ecclesiastes 12:6]].
* **Revelation Through Brokenness:** Gideon's strategy of concealing lamps within earthenware **pitchers** and then breaking them is symbolic. The breaking of the ordinary, earthly vessel is what allows the light within to be revealed, leading to victory [[Judges 7:20]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3537}}` **kad** is a word that moves from the mundane to the meaningful. As a simple earthenware **pitcher** or **barrel**, it is a tool for daily chores like drawing water and storing food ([[Genesis 24:16]], [[1 Kings 17:12]]). However, in the biblical narrative, this common object becomes a vehicle for profound truth. It is used to illustrate God's miraculous provision, to reveal a servant's heart, to symbolize the fragility of human life, and to demonstrate how victory can be revealed through brokenness. The story of the **kad** shows how scripture invests everyday items with significant theological weight.
TRV