Lexical Summary aggeion: Vessel, container, jar Original Word: ἀγγεῖον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance vessel, container. From aggos (a pail, perhaps as bent; compare the base of agkale); a receptacle -- vessel. see GREEK agkale NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom aggos Definition a vessel NASB Translation flasks (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 30: ἀγγεῖονἀγγεῖον, , τό (equivalent to τό ἄγγος), a vessel, receptacle: Matthew 13:48 (R G L); Topical Lexicon Word Overview and Occurrences Strong’s Greek 30 (ἀγγεῖον, aggeion) denotes a movable receptacle—anything from a clay jar or flask to a woven basket. It appears only twice in the Greek New Testament, both times on the lips of Jesus within parabolic teaching (Matthew 13:48; Matthew 25:4). In each setting the physical vessel becomes a vehicle for spiritual truth. Historical Background of Vessels in First-Century Judea Every home in first-century Palestine relied on a wide assortment of aggeia. Potters fired clay jars in village kilns; fishermen carried wicker baskets or leather buckets; travelers kept small alabaster flasks for oil or wine. These containers preserved food, safeguarded valuables, and enabled daily commerce. Their ubiquity made them ideal illustrations for teachers, allowing listeners to grasp unseen realities through familiar household items. Theological Themes Illustrated by aggeion in the Parables • Separation and discernment (Matthew 13:48) “When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away.” Fishermen placed edible fish into aggeia, while the worthless were discarded. Jesus applies the scene to the final judgment (Matthew 13:49–50): just as fish are divided, so angels will separate “the wicked from the righteous.” The vessel thus represents safe keeping for the redeemed. The image underscores divine discernment—God knows those who are His—and anticipates the secure destiny of believers gathered into His kingdom. • Readiness and provision (Matthew 25:4) “But the wise ones took oil in jars along with their lamps.” In the parable of the ten virgins, aggeia carry an essential reserve of oil. The wise prepare; the foolish presume. When the bridegroom delays, only those with filled vessels enter the wedding feast (Matthew 25:10). Here the container highlights personal responsibility to be spiritually stocked—faith expressed through persevering obedience, not mere profession. The vessel’s adequacy or emptiness becomes the dividing line between acceptance and exclusion. Related Biblical Imagery of Vessels Although differing Greek words are used, Scripture frequently employs the broader motif of a “vessel” to portray humanity in God’s hands: • “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) Each passage reinforces truths implicit in the two aggeion texts: God chooses, prepares, and fills people for His purposes; moral purity and humble dependence determine whether a person becomes a vessel of honor or dishonor. Eschatological Emphasis Both canonical occurrences tie aggeion to end-time accountability. The dragnet scene culminates in “the end of the age” (Matthew 13:49). The wedding feast represents the consummation of the kingdom (Matthew 25:10-13). Thus, the ordinary jar acquires eschatological weight: what is inside the vessel today foretells eternal destiny tomorrow. Practical Application for the Church Today 1. Self-examination: Believers are called to inspect the “container” of their lives. Is there living faith and the oil of the Spirit, or an outward form that hides emptiness? The humble aggeion, though mentioned only twice, reminds every generation that what God seeks is a prepared, purified, and Spirit-filled vessel through which He may pour His light to the world and into eternity. Forms and Transliterations αγγεία αγγειοις αγγείοις ἀγγείοις αγγείον αγγείου αγγείω αγγείων αγγη ἄγγη ange angē ánge ángē angeiois angeíoisLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 13:48 N-ANPGRK: καλὰ εἰς ἄγγη τὰ δὲ KJV: the good into vessels, but cast INT: good into vessels and Matthew 25:4 N-DNP Strong's Greek 30 |
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