Potsherd

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 2:8 Genesis 41:30

Isaiah ( Isaiah 30:14 ) used the image of a sherd as a sign of the worthlessness of ancient Judah. The psalmist ( Psalm 22:15 ) used the image of a dry potsherd as a simile for some physical illness he was experiencing.

Since the Hebrew word translated “potsherd” in the above passages can also mean “earthen vessel” in other contexts (compare  Leviticus 14:5 ,Leviticus 14:5, 14:50;  Numbers 5:17 ), it is not always clear as to which meaning is to be preferred. Such is the case in  Proverbs 26:23 where a comparison of the NRSV translation (“earthen vessel”) with the KJV (“potsherd”) highlights the problem. Elsewhere, textual confusion compounds the problem. In   Isaiah 45:9 , the Hebrew text literally reads: “a potsherd (or “earthen vessel”) with potsherds (or “earthen vessels”) of ground.” In neither case is the text clear, though the symbolism of the futility of a person striving with God is obviously intended.

Finally, the obscure text in  Ezekiel 23:24 assigned Judah the same fate as her sister, Samaria. She would not only drink the cup of wrath but also “gnaw its sherds” (NRSV). See Pottery; Archaeology.

John C. H. Laughlin

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Heres . "Sherd," anything "serered". A piece of earthenware broken.  Proverbs 26:23, "burning lips (Lips Professing Burning Love) and a wicked heart are like a potsherd (A Fragment Of Common Earthenware) silvered over with dross"; implying "roughness, dryness, and brittleness".  Psalms 22:15, "my strength is dried up like a potsherd" or earthen vessel exposed to heat; the drying up of the vital juices caused Christ's excessive thirst ( John 19:28). In  Job 2:8 not a potsherd but an instrument for scratching is meant.  Isaiah 45:9, i.e. whatever good one might promise himself from striving with his fellow creature of earth, to strive with one's Maker is suicidal madness ( Isaiah 27:4).

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Psalm 22:15 (b) A potsherd is a piece of a broken clay pot which has no value. The Lord is describing in figurative language the way He would suffer on Calvary, be broken, and apparently have no value to GOD or to men.

 Proverbs 26:23 (b) This is a remarkable description of a hypocrite. The potsherd is worthless and the silver dross is worthless, yet the dross on the potsherd is an effort to make it look attractive and appear valuable.

 Isaiah 45:9 (a) Man is described as a broken piece of gourd fighting with and arguing with another man who is also a piece of a gourd. It is an expression of derision and contempt.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

A fragment of pottery, to which man is compared when he strives with his Maker.  Isaiah 45:9 . David quotes the word in the Psalm prophetical of the Lord's sacrificial sufferings, "My strength is dried up like a potsherd."  Psalm 22:15 . It is employed literally in  Job 2:8;  Proverbs 26:23 , and translated 'sherd' in  Isaiah 30:14;  Ezekiel 23:34 .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Potsherd. Also, in Authorized Version, "sherd," A Broken Piece Of Earthenware.  Proverbs 26:23.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Job 2:8 Proverbs 26:23 Isaiah 45:9

King James Dictionary

POT'SHERD, n. A piece or fragment of a broken pot.  Job 2 .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Potsherd . See Pottery.

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) A piece or fragment of a broken pot.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( חֶרֶשׂ , Chires, from the root חָרִס , To Scrape or Scratch; Sept. Ὄστρακον ; Vulg. Testa, Vas Fictile; "sherd" in two places, once "stone," often "earthen vessel"), a bit of pottery ware ( Job 2:8), is figuratively used in Scripture to denote a thing worthless and insignificant ( Psalms 22:15;  Proverbs 26:23 :  Isaiah 45:9). It may illustrate some of these allusions to remind the reader of the fact that the sites of ancient towns are often covered at the surface with great quantities of broken pottery, usually of coarse texture, but coated and protected with a strong and bright colored glaze, mostly bluish-green, and sometimes yellow. These fragments give to some of the most venerable sites in the world the appearance of a deserted pottery rather than of a town. The fact is, however, that they occur only upon the sites of towns which were built with crude brick; and this suggests that the heaps of ruin into which these had fallen being disintegrated, and worn at the surface by the action of the weather, bring to view and leave exposed the broken pottery, which is not liable to be thus dissolved and washed away. It is certainly remarkable that of the more mighty cities of old time, nothing but potsherds now remains visible at the surface of the ground. Towns built with stone, or kiln-burnt bricks, do not exhibit this form of ruin, which is therefore not usually met with in Palestine. (See Potter).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Potsherd is figuratively used in Scripture to denote a thing worthless and insignificant (;; ). It may illustrate some of these allusions to remind the reader of the fact, that the sites of ancient towns are often covered at the surface with great quantities of broken pottery. The present writer has usually found this pottery to be of coarse texture, but coated and protected with a strong and bright-colored glaze, mostly bluish-green, and sometimes yellow. These fragments give to some of the most venerable sites in the world the appearance of a deserted pottery rather than of a town. The fact is, however, that they occur only upon the sites of towns which were built with crude brick; and this suggests that the heaps of ruin into which these had fallen being disintegrated, and worn at the surface by the action of the weather, bring to view and leave exposed the broken pottery, which is not liable to be thus dissolved and washed away. This explanation was suggested by the actual survey of such ruins; and we know not that a better has yet been offered in any other quarter. It is certainly remarkable that of the more mighty cities of old time, nothing but potsherds now remain visible at the surface of the ground.

Towns built with stone, or kiln-burnt bricks, do not exhibit this form of ruin, which is, therefore, not usually met with in Palestine.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pot´shûrd ( חרשׂ , ḥeres ): A piece of earthenware (  Job 2:8;  Psalm 22:15;  Isaiah 45:9 ). the Revised Version (British and American) renders the word in  Proverbs 26:23 , "an earthen vessel," and in  Job 41:30 substitutes "sharp potsherds" for "sharp stones." Sirach 22:7 refers to the art of "gluing a potsherd ( ὄστρακον , óstrakon ) together." See Harsith; Ostraca .