In biblical times, baskets were common household items used for various purposes, including carrying, storing, and measuring goods. The term "basket" appears in several contexts throughout the Bible, symbolizing provision, protection, and judgment. The Hebrew word for basket is "sal" or "tene," while the Greek word is "kophinos" or "spuris."

Old Testament References

1. Moses' Ark of Bulrushes: One of the earliest mentions of a basket in the Bible is the ark of bulrushes in which the infant Moses was placed. Exodus 2:3 states, "But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile." This basket served as a vessel of deliverance, preserving Moses' life and setting the stage for the deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

2. Offerings and Firstfruits: Baskets were used in the presentation of offerings and firstfruits to the Lord. Deuteronomy 26:2 instructs, "you are to take some of the firstfruits of all the produce of the soil that you harvest from the land the LORD your God is giving you, and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for His Name." The basket here symbolizes gratitude and acknowledgment of God's provision.

3. Gideon's Dream: In Judges 7:13 , a Midianite soldier recounts a dream involving a loaf of barley bread tumbling into the Midianite camp, striking a tent with such force that it overturned and collapsed. Although not directly mentioning a basket, the imagery of grain and bread often involves baskets, symbolizing sustenance and divine intervention.

New Testament References

1. Feeding of the Multitudes: Baskets play a significant role in the miracles of Jesus feeding the multitudes. In the feeding of the 5,000, Matthew 14:20 records, "They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over." Similarly, in the feeding of the 4,000, Mark 8:8 states, "The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over." The baskets here signify abundance and the miraculous provision of God through Christ.

2. Paul's Escape from Damascus: In Acts 9:25 , baskets are mentioned in the context of Paul's escape from Damascus: "One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall." This basket served as a means of protection and deliverance, allowing Paul to continue his ministry.

3. Symbol of Judgment: In Revelation 18:12 , baskets are indirectly referenced in the list of goods lamented over in the fall of Babylon: "cargo of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; all kinds of citron wood and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble." While not explicitly mentioned, the imagery of trade and commerce often involves baskets, symbolizing the judgment upon materialism and idolatry.

Symbolism and Themes

Throughout the Bible, baskets symbolize God's provision, protection, and judgment. They are vessels of sustenance, as seen in the miracles of Jesus, and instruments of deliverance, as in the accounts of Moses and Paul. Baskets also serve as symbols of offering and gratitude, representing the acknowledgment of God's blessings. In prophetic literature, they can imply judgment, as seen in the broader context of trade and material wealth.