or נאוֹדlemma נֹאוד vowel, corrected to נאוֹדxlit nôʼwd corrected to nʼôwd; also (feminine) נֹאדָה; from an unused root of uncertain signification; a (skin or leather) bag (for fluids); bottle.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **nôʼd**, represented by `{{H4997}}`, refers to a **(skin or leather) bag (for fluids); bottle**. It appears **6 times** across **6 unique verses** in the Bible. This term denotes a common, practical vessel used for carrying liquids, which also serves as a potent metaphor for human experience.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H4997}}` is used in both literal and figurative contexts. It is a standard container for provisions, such as the "bottle of **wine**" `{{H3196}}` Jesse sent with David to Saul [[1 Samuel 16:20]] or the "bottle of **milk**" `{{H2461}}` Jael opened for Sisera [[Judges 4:19]]. The Gibeonites cleverly used "old, and rent, and bound up" wine bottles to support their story of coming from a distant country ([[Joshua 9:4]], [[Joshua 9:13]]). Figuratively, the psalmist expresses deep distress by saying, "I am become like a **bottle** in the smoke" [[Psalms 119:83]], and in a plea for divine remembrance, David asks God to put his tears into His **bottle** [[Psalms 56:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the function and contents associated with `{{H4997}}`:
* `{{H3196}}` **yayin** (wine): This word for "wine (as fermented)" is a common liquid carried in a `nôʼd`. It is offered as a provision or gift [[1 Samuel 16:20]] and is central to the Gibeonites' deception [[Joshua 9:4]].
* `{{H2461}}` **châlâb** (milk): Described as "**milk** (as the richness of kine)," this liquid is shown to be stored in a `nôʼd` when Jael offers it to Sisera [[Judges 4:19]].
* `{{H1832}}` **dimʻâh** (tears): Meaning "**weeping; tears**," this word is metaphorically contained within God's bottle, signifying that God sees and remembers human sorrow [[Psalms 56:8]].
### Theological Significance
The symbolic weight of `{{H4997}}` is significant, illustrating deeper theological truths.
* **Vessel for Sustenance and Deceit:** As a practical object, the `nôʼd` carries essential liquids like **wine** `{{H3196}}`, representing provision [[1 Samuel 16:20]]. Its condition—old and rent—can also be part of a wily strategy, as shown by the Gibeonites [[Joshua 9:4]].
* **Symbol of Affliction:** The image of a "bottle in the smoke" [[Psalms 119:83]] powerfully conveys a state of being shriveled, neglected, and worn out by trial, like a leather skin dried and blackened by soot.
* **Emblem of Divine Remembrance:** David's request for God to collect his **tears** `{{H1832}}` in His **bottle** `{{H4997}}` elevates the object to a symbol of God's intimate awareness of suffering. This act of collection is linked to God's accounting, as the verse asks, "are they not in thy **book** `{{H5612}}`?" [[Psalms 56:8]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4997}}` is far more than a simple skin bag. It functions as a mundane object for carrying vital fluids like **wine** and **milk**, yet it is also transformed into a profound symbol in scripture. It illustrates how a common vessel can represent the human condition—worn by affliction like a bottle in the smoke—and serve as a metaphor for God's compassionate remembrance, storing the very **tears** of His people.
TRV