Pitcher

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Pitcher ( κεράμιον).—An earthenware jar with one or two handles, used chiefly by women for carrying water ( Genesis 24:15,  Judges 7:16, כֵּד; Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 and Authorized Version ‘pitcher’). The only occurrence of the word in the Gospels is in  Mark 14:13 ||  Luke 22:10, in the directions given by our Lord for securing a room for the Paschal meal. It has been alleged ( Speak. Com .  Luke 22:10 note) that the sign of the pitcher was not so accidental as it appears. ‘According to Jewish usage, on the evening of the 13th [of the month Nisan], before the stars appeared in heaven, every father of a family was to go to the well to draw pure water, with which the unleavened bread was kneaded. It was a real rite which they performed.…’ But apart altogether from the chronological inaccuracy,—the disciples must have entered Jerusalem early in the day ( Mark 14:17,  Matthew 26:20),—this statement is not confirmed by  Mark 14:14 and  Luke 22:11, from which it may be inferred that the head of the house, who has been identified in turn with John Mark, Joseph of Arimathaea, and Nicodemus, is not the bearer of the pitcher.

There is, however, presumptive evidence that the pitcher was being used in the preparation of the unleavened bread, the making of which, together with the putting away of leaven from the houses, was part of the work in which many hundreds in Jerusalem (Josephus BJ vi. ix. 3) must have been employed on that day; but the demand for water for ordinary purposes alone will suggest the inference that in a city whose population was so enormously increased, the pitcher borne by this slave could pot be distinctive.

Whatever the probability of recognizing or of not recognizing the sign, the most important feature of the whole incident remains unaffected. For all time the pitcher will be a sign not of the need for secrecy and sealed orders, nor even of the prescience of Christ, though that is abundantly proved, but rather of the faith of the two disciples. Here also is presented a beautiful illustration of the co-operation of the human will with the Divine, the overruling of common events for Divine ends, a demonstration of the power that is laid under service to faith. Blessing in the ordinary affairs of life, as in the greatest crises of the soul, is attainable only by implicit and unquestioning confidence in the Master mind.

Literature.—Art. ‘Pitcher’ in Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible; S. Cox, Expositions , iv. 321; the Commentaries on the Gospels, ad locc .; the various Lives of Christ .

Alex. A. Duncan.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Pitcher. This word is used in the Authorized Version to denote The Earthen Water-Jars or Pitchers With One Or Two Handles, Used Chiefly By Women For Carrying Water, as in the story of Rebekah.  Genesis 24:15-20, but See  Mark 14:13 ;  Luke 22:10 .

This mode of carrying has been, and still is, customary the East and elsewhere. The vessels used for the purpose are generally borne on the head or the shoulder. The Bedouin women commonly use skin bottles. Such was the "bottle," carried by Hagar.  Genesis 21:14. The same word is used of the pitchers employed by Gideon's three hundred men.  Judges 7:16.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Judges 7:16 (c) Probably this represents the personal plans and purposes of a human soul. These must be laid aside or broken in order that the light of GOD may shine out freely to those around. Selfishness, self-seeking and greed effectually hide the light of GOD from others.

 Ecclesiastes 12:6 (c) It may be that this is a symbol of the heart of an aged person which at one time beat strong and firm but now fails in its task.

 Lamentations 4:2 (b) Israel should have been a golden viol full of the precious promises of GOD, and rich in the experiences of GOD's grace. Instead of that they are compared to clay, which has little value, is easily broken, and contains nothing of value.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Κεράμιον (Strong'S #2765 — Noun Neuter — keramion — ker-am'-ee-on )

"an earthen vessel" (keramos, "potter's clay"), "a jar" or "jug," occurs in  Mark 14:13;  Luke 22:10 .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

PITCHER . The earthenware jar (cf.   Lamentations 4:2 ‘earthen pitchers’) in which in all ages the women and maidens of Palestine have drawn and carried the water from the village well (  Genesis 24:14 ff.). In wealthy households this task was performed by a slave or other menial (  Mark 14:13 ,   Luke 22:10 ). For illustrations of water-jars found in ancient cisterns, see Macalister, Bible Sidelights , etc., fig. 22, and the works cited under House, § 9 .

A. R. S. Kennedy.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) A sort of crowbar for digging.

(2): ( n.) A wide-mouthed, deep vessel for holding liquids, with a spout or protruding lip and a handle; a water jug or jar with a large ear or handle.

(3): ( n.) A tubular or cuplike appendage or expansion of the leaves of certain plants.

(4): ( n.) One who pitches anything, as hay, quoits, a ball, etc.; specifically (Baseball), the player who delivers the ball to the batsman.

King James Dictionary

PITCH'ER, n.

1. An earthen vessel with a spout for pouring out liquors. This is its present signification. It seems formerly to have signified a water pot, jug or jar with ears. 2. An instrument for piercing the ground.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 24:15-20 Judges 7:16,19 Mark 14:13

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Women's water jars with one or two handles, carried on the shoulder ( Genesis 24:15-20).

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Ecclesiastes 12:6 Lamentations 4:2

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pich´ẽr ( כּד , kadh  ; κεράμιον , kerámion ): The word is found chiefly in the Old Testament in the story of Rebekah in   Genesis 24:13 ff; but Gideon's men also had their lamps in pitchers (  Judges 7:16 ,  Judges 7:19 ). Ecclesiastes speaks of the pitcher broken at the fountain ( Ecclesiastes 12:6 ). The single use in the New Testament is in  Mark 14:13 parallel   Luke 22:10 . The pitcher was an earthenware vessel (compare  Lamentations 4:2 , nēbhel ), with one or two handles, used for carrying water, and commonly borne upon the head or shoulder (compare Gen 24).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Pitcher'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/p/pitcher.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.