from an unused root meaning to deepen; properly, a pail; but generally of earthenware; a jar for domestic purposes; barrel, pitcher.
Transliteration:kad
Pronunciation:kad
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H3537 (כַּד, *kad*) derives from an unused root signifying "to deepen," aptly describing a vessel designed to hold contents within a cavity. Its primary meaning refers to a "pail" or "bucket," but its usage in the biblical text more broadly encompasses a "jar" or "pitcher," particularly one made of earthenware. This highlights its common, domestic utility as a container for liquids, such as water or oil, or for dry goods like meal. The word emphasizes the vessel's function as a receptacle for storage and transport in everyday life. While "pail" suggests a wider opening and perhaps a handle for carrying, "jar" or "pitcher" implies a more rounded body, often with a narrower neck, suitable for pouring. The material, typically earthenware, underscores its commonness, affordability, and fragility.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term H3537 appears 17 times in the Hebrew Bible, consistently referring to a domestic container. Its occurrences illuminate various aspects of ancient Israelite life and serve as crucial elements within significant narratives:
* **Water Drawing and Hospitality:** The most prominent use is in the narrative of Rebekah at the well. Genesis 24 repeatedly mentions her *kad* (pitcher) as she goes to draw water and offers drink to Abraham's servant and his camels ([[Genesis 24:14]], [[Genesis 24:15]], [[Genesis 24:16]], [[Genesis 24:18]], [[Genesis 24:20]], [[Genesis 24:43]], [[Genesis 24:44]], [[Genesis 24:45]], [[Genesis 24:46]]). This highlights the essential role of such vessels in daily life for water provision and as instruments of hospitality.
* **Divine Provision:** In the account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, the *kad* (jar) of oil and the *keli* (bin) of meal are miraculously sustained by God's power during a famine ([[1 Kings 17:12]], [[1 Kings 17:14]], [[1 Kings 17:16]]). Here, the humble, ordinary jar becomes a testament to divine faithfulness and miraculous provision, demonstrating God's ability to work through common means.
* **Military Strategy:** Gideon's strategic use of pitchers in his victory over the Midianites is another notable instance. His 300 men carried torches hidden inside their pitchers ([[Judges 7:16]], [[Judges 7:19]], [[Judges 7:20]]). The breaking of these earthenware pitchers, revealing the bright torches, created a loud noise and sudden light that disoriented the enemy, showcasing how ordinary objects can be employed in divine strategy to achieve extraordinary results.
* **Symbol of Life's Fragility:** The poignant imagery in Ecclesiastes 12:6 speaks of the "pitcher broken at the fountain," symbolizing the cessation of life and the return of the body to dust. This usage underscores the fragility of human existence, likening it to a breakable vessel that can no longer fulfill its purpose once shattered.
Across these contexts, the *kad* consistently represents a functional, often indispensable, domestic item, yet it transcends its mundane nature to participate in narratives of divine interaction, human service, and existential reflection.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of containers and vessels is pervasive in the biblical text, with H3537 fitting into a broader semantic field. Other related Hebrew words include:
* `{{H3627}}` (*keli*): A very broad term for "vessel," "article," "utensil," or "instrument." While *kad* specifies a type of jar, *keli* is a general category that could include a *kad*.
* `{{H5035}}` (*nevel*): Refers to a "skin bottle" or "jar," often made of clay, used for wine or other liquids.
* `{{H2573}}` (*chamor*): Another term for a "jar" or "jug," sometimes specifically for water.
* `{{H2767}}` (*cheres*): "Earthenware," "pottery," or "potsherd," referring to the material from which a *kad* would often be made.
The concept of the *kad* is also intimately linked with:
* **Water:** As a primary means of drawing and storing water, it is connected to themes of life, sustenance, and spiritual refreshment.
* **Oil and Grain:** Its use in storing these vital provisions ties it to themes of sustenance, blessing, and miraculous provision.
* **Fragility:** Its earthenware composition inherently links it to the concept of vulnerability and breakability, a theme powerfully expressed in Ecclesiastes.
### Theological Significance
The humble *kad* carries surprising theological weight within the biblical narrative:
* **God's Use of the Ordinary:** The examples of the Zarephath widow's jar and Gideon's pitchers powerfully illustrate God's propensity to work through common, even insignificant, objects and individuals to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. This underscores a divine principle that power is perfected in weakness, and divine glory is often revealed through humble means (cf. the New Testament concept of "jars of clay" in `{{G4756}}` *skeuos* and `{{G3749}}` *ostrakinos* in 2 Corinthians 4:7).
* **Divine Provision and Sustenance:** The enduring oil in the widow's jar serves as a tangible symbol of God's unfailing provision for those who trust Him, even in times of severe scarcity. It speaks to the miraculous nature of divine care.
* **Humanity's Frailty and Dependence:** The imagery of the "pitcher broken at the fountain" in Ecclesiastes offers a profound meditation on the brevity and fragility of human life. Just as an earthenware jar is susceptible to breaking, so too is human life subject to decay and death, emphasizing our dependence on God as the source of life.
* **Service and Hospitality:** Rebekah's diligent use of her pitcher to water the camels demonstrates a spirit of generous service and hospitality, qualities highly valued in biblical ethics. The *kad* becomes an instrument of blessing and a testament to her character.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H3537 (כַּד, *kad*) primarily denotes a "jar" or "pitcher," typically made of earthenware and used for domestic purposes like drawing and storing water, oil, or meal. While a seemingly mundane object, its biblical occurrences imbue it with significant theological resonance. From Rebekah's act of hospitality to the miraculous provision for the Zarephath widow and Gideon's strategic victory, the *kad* serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to work through ordinary means. Furthermore, its inherent fragility, as depicted in Ecclesiastes, poignantly symbolizes the delicate nature of human life. Thus, the *kad* transcends its simple definition, becoming a vessel through which divine power, provision, human service, and the transient nature of existence are profoundly illustrated.
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