Flagon

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Flagon occurs five times in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] , but in only one of these instances is the tr. [Note: translate or translation.] retained by RV [Note: Revised Version.] , namely,   Isaiah 22:24 , ‘vessels of flagons.’ Here it is perhaps an earthenware bottle. On the other hand, RV [Note: Revised Version.] introduces ‘flagons’ in two instances where it is not found in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] , namely,   Exodus 25:39;   Exodus 37:16 . This tr. [Note: translate or translation.] is probably correct, although RV [Note: Revised Version.] gives ‘ cups ’ for the same Heb. word in   Numbers 4:7 . In all these three passages AV [Note: Authorized Version.] has ‘covers.’ In the remaining four instances where AV [Note: Authorized Version.] gives ‘flagons’ (  2 Samuel 6:19 ,   1 Chronicles 16:3 ,   Hosea 3:1 ,   Song of Solomon 2:5 ), the meaning of the Heb. word is a ‘pressed cake … composed of meal, oil, and dibs’ (W. R. Smith, OTJC [Note: TJC The Old Test. in the Jewish Church.] 1 434, n. [Note: . note.] 7). Hence in   2 Samuel 6:19 ,   1 Chronicles 16:3 , RV [Note: Revised Version.] gives ‘cake of raisins’ for AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘flagon [of wine],’ in   Hosea 3:1 ‘cakes of raisins’ for ‘flagons of wine,’ and in   Song of Solomon 2:5 ‘raisins’ (RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ‘cakes of raisins’) for ‘flagons.’

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

'Ashishah .  2 Samuel 6:19. Rather (from 'Eesh , "fire", i.e. "dried by heat") "a cake of pressed dried grapes"; so  1 Chronicles 16:3;  Song of Solomon 2:5;  Hosea 3:1 margin; such were offered to idols ( Jeremiah 7:18). Νobel is the Hebrew in  Isaiah 22:24, "I will hang upon Eliakim (a type of the Messiah) all the glory of his father's house ... all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons." On Christ hang alike the small and the great "vessels unto honor in the Father's house, sanctified and meet for the Master's use" ( 2 Timothy 2:20-21); their capacities varying, but each to be filled to the brim hereafter with heavenly joy according to their several capacities ( Luke 19:16-19;  Matthew 25:19-23).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The Hebrew word everywhere rendered in the English version flagon,  2 Samuel 6:19   1 Chronicles 16:3 Song of   Song of Solomon 2:5   Hosea 3:1 , means rather a cake, especially of dried grapes or raisins, pressed into a particular form. These are mentioned as delicacies, by which the weary and languid are refreshed; they were also offered to idols,  Hosea 3:1 . They differed from the dried clusters of grapes not pressed into any form,  1 Samuel 25:18 , and also from the "cakes of figs." We may refer, in illustration, to the manner in which with us cheeses are pressed in various forms, as of pineapples, etc., and also the manner in which dates are prepared at the present day by the Arabs. See FIGS.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. ashishah, treated in the A.V. as a measure, but now generally understood to signify a 'cake of raisins,' the raisins being pressed into a cake, in the same way that figs are. In  2 Samuel 6:19;  1 Chronicles 16:3 , the words 'of wine' have been added. In  Song of Solomon 2:5 it is simply 'flagons.' In   Hosea 3:1 the words 'of wine' are not added, but should be translated, as in the margin, 'of grapes,' signifying as before 'cakes of raisins.'

2. nebel, a bottle, irrespective of its measure.  Isaiah 22:24 . The word is several times translated 'bottle.'

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Flagon. A word employed in the Authorized Version to render two distinct Hebrew terms:

1. Ashishah ,  2 Samuel 6:19;  1 Chronicles 16:3;  Song of Solomon 2:5;  Hosea 3:1. It really means A Cake Of Pressed Raisins. Such cakes were considered as delicacies; they were also offered to idols.

2. Nebel ,  Isaiah 22:24 is commonly used for A Bottle Or Vessel, originally probably a skin, but in later times, a piece of pottery.  Isaiah 30:14.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 6:19 1 Chronicles 16:3 Song of Solomon 2:5 Hosea 3:1 Isaiah 22:24 Nebel   1 Samuel 1:24 10:3 25:18 2 Samuel 16:1

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Isaiah 22:24  Exodus 25:29 Exodus 37:16 ashishah   2 Samuel 6:19 1 Chronicles 16:3 Song of Solomon 2:5 Hosea 3:1

King James Dictionary

FLAG'ON, n. L. lagena Gr.

A vessel with a narrow mouth, used for holding and conveying liquors.

Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples for I am sick of love.

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) A vessel with a narrow mouth, used for holding and conveying liquors. It is generally larger than a bottle, and of leather or stoneware rather than of glass.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

a word employed in the A. V. to render two distinct Hebrew terms.

1. Ashisha'H, אֲשִׁישָׁה ( 2 Samuel 6:19;  1 Chronicles 16:3;  Song of Solomon 2:5;  Hosea 3:1). The real meaning of this word, according to the conclusions of Gesenius (Thes. Heb. p. 166), is a Cake of pressed raisins (q.v.), such as are a common refreshment in the East, especially for travellers. (See Cake). He derives it from a'root signifying to Compress, and this is confirmed by the renderings of the Sept. ( Λάγανον , Ἀμορίτη , Πέμματα ) and of the Vulgate (Simila, but in Hos. Vinacia, in Cant. Flores, where the Sept. has Μύρα ), and also by the indications of the Targum Pseudojon. and the Mishna (Nedarim, 6, § 10). In the passage in Hosea there is probably a reference to a practice of offering such cakes before the false deities. The rendering of the A. V. is perhaps to be traced to Luther, who in the first two of the above passages has Ein Nsssel Wein, and in the last Kanne Wein; but primarily to the interpretations of modern Jews (e.g. Gemara, Baba Bathra, and Targum on Chronicles), grounded on a false etymology (see Michaelis, quoted by Gesenius, and the observations of the latter, as above). It will be observed that in' the first two passages the words "of wine" are interpolated, and that in the last "of wine" should be "of grapes." (See Fruit).

2. Nebbel, נֵבֶל ( Isaiah 22:24), which is commonly used for a bottle (q.v.) or vessel, originally probably a skin, but in later times a piece of pottery ( Isaiah 30:14). But it also frequently occurs ( Psalms 57:9, etc.) with the force of a musical instrument (A.V. generally "psaltery," but sometimes "viol"), a meaning which is adopted by the Targum, and the Arabic and Vulgate (Musici), and Luther, and given in the margin of the A. V. The text, however, seems to have aimed to follow the rendering of the Sept. (confusedly Ἐπικρεμάμενοι ), and with this agree Gesenius (Comment. in loc.) and Furst (Hebr. Handw. s.v.), as being agreeable to the parallel אִגָּנוֹת , Bowls (" cups," Vulg. Crateroe). (See Musical Instruments); (See Pitcher).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

flag´un  : The translation of אשׁישׁה , 'ăshı̄shāh , in the King James Version in  2 Samuel 6:19;  1 Chronicles 16:3;  Song of Solomon 2:5;  Hosea 3:1 . In all, these passages the Revised Version (British and American) reads "cake of raisins" or "raisins." It was probably a pressed raisin cake. the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) read "flagons," in  Isaiah 22:24 as a rendering of נבלים , nebhālı̄m , which is elsewhere ( 1 Samuel 1:24;  1 Samuel 10:3;  2 Samuel 16:1 , etc.) rendered "bottles," the Revised Version, margin "skins." These were the bags or bottles made of the whole skin of a kid, goat or other animal. the Revised Version (British and American) has "flagons" in  Exodus 25:29 and   Exodus 37:16 as translation of קשׁות , ḳeshāwōth , a golden jug or jar used in the tabernacle from which the drink offerings were poured out. The same word is translated "cups" in  Numbers 4:7 .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

The word thus rendered in the English Bibles means rather a cake, especially of dried figs or raisins, pressed into a particular form [FRUITS].