ἀγγεῖον
angeîon
G30 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A container or vessel designed to hold or carry solids or liquids; in extended use, any object functioning as a receptacle. Its primary sense is a physical container, such as a jar, flask, pail, or similar implement. Contextually, it can refer to various types of vessels, utensils, and containers, depending on setting (domestic, cultic, medical, etc.).
Semantic Range
container, vessel, jar, pot, flask, box, basket, utensil, medical vessel, anatomical vessel (e.g., blood vessel)
Root / Etymology
Probably related to ἀγγεῖον as a diminutive or derivative of ἀγγός (pail, bucket) and possibly linked to the root of ἀγκάλη (bend, arm, embrace), referencing something bent or curved, as is characteristic of many containers. Etymology is not fully certain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἀγγεῖον is attested as a general term for containers—jars, pots, bottles, boxes, and even anatomical 'vessels' (such as blood vessels). The term persisted into the Hellenistic and Roman periods with similar breadth. In the Septuagint, it is used for a range of cultic or household vessels in the Hebrew Bible, translating several Hebrew terms. In the New Testament (e.g., Matt 13:48; Luke 8:16), it refers to everyday containers. English Bibles often render ἀγγεῖον as 'vessel' or 'container,' but these words may obscure its broader use in Greek for any type of receptacle, not only jars or pots. The word does not have metaphorical or theological nuances in the NT, unlike σκεῦος, which can bear metaphorical meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from (a pail, perhaps as bent; compare the base of ἀγκάλη); a receptacle:--vessel.
Root Family
ἀγγεῖον (angeion) — container, vessel, receptacle
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G30-01 |
ἀγγείοις | aggeiois | N DAT N PL |
vessels | to containers | containers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G30-01 |
Matthew 25:4 | ἀγγείοις | aggeiois | N DAT N PL |
vessels | to containers | containers |