In biblical times, vats were essential components of agricultural and wine-making processes. They are frequently mentioned in the context of wine production, olive oil extraction, and grain storage. Vats were typically large containers or basins used to collect and store liquids, particularly wine and oil, after they were pressed from grapes or olives.

Biblical References

1. Wine Production: Vats are most commonly associated with the production of wine. In ancient Israel, grapes were harvested and placed in a winepress, where they were trodden by foot to extract the juice. This juice would then flow into a vat, where it was collected for fermentation. Proverbs 3:10 highlights the abundance associated with obedience to God: "then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine."

2. Symbol of Abundance and Blessing: Vats overflowing with wine or oil are often used as symbols of divine blessing and prosperity. Joel 2:24 states, "The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil." This imagery conveys the idea of God's provision and the resulting prosperity for His people.

3. Judgment and Wrath: Conversely, vats can also symbolize judgment. In the prophetic literature, the imagery of a winepress and vats is used to depict God's wrath being poured out on the nations. Isaiah 63:3 uses this metaphor: "I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the nations no one was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My wrath; their blood spattered My garments, and I stained all My clothing."

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, wine and oil were staples of daily life and held significant economic and cultural value. The process of making wine and oil was labor-intensive, and the presence of full vats indicated a successful harvest and economic stability. Vats were typically made of stone or plaster-lined pits, designed to withstand the pressure and acidity of the liquids they contained.

Spiritual Significance

In a spiritual sense, vats represent the fullness and richness of God's blessings. The imagery of overflowing vats serves as a reminder of God's provision and the abundance that comes from living in accordance with His will. The contrast between overflowing vats as a sign of blessing and empty or trampled vats as a symbol of judgment underscores the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God.

Conclusion

Vats in the Bible are more than just agricultural tools; they are rich in symbolic meaning, representing both the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience. Through the imagery of vats, the Scriptures convey profound truths about God's provision, judgment, and the spiritual state of His people.3342. yeqeb -- wine vat
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition wine vat NASB Word Usage presses
(1), vats (3), wine press (3), wine presses (3), wine vat (6). ...
/hebrew/3342.htm - 6k

Heavenly Rest
... Sometimes his vats overflow, his barns are crammed, his heart is full of joy and
gladness, there are periods with him when he flourishes like a green bay tree ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/heavenly rest.htm

God's Care for those who Try to do Right
... Honor the Lord with your wealth, With the best of all you receive, Then your barns
will be filled with grain, And your vats overflow with wine. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/gods care for those who.htm

The Exhortation of Abbot John to Theonas and the Others who had ...
... from thy righteous labours, and offer to Him of the fruits of thy righteousness;
that thy garners may be full of abundance of wheat, and thy vats may overflow ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter ii the exhortation of.htm

Discussion of the Divine Generation is Continued. ...
... to exist in the course of time. Have they not all dyed their impiety in
the vats of philosophy? But indeed the pagans do extol that ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xiii discussion of the.htm

Anxious About Earth, or Earnest About the Kingdom
... trust. The glorious colours of the lily come from no dyer's vats, nor the
marvellous texture of their petals from any loom. They ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/anxious about earth or earnest.htm

Jesus in the Garden of Olives.
... character, refused to cure various sick persons, injured the inhabitants of Gergesa
by permitting men possessed by the devil to overturn their vats,8 and ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter i jesus in the.htm

Matt. xviii. 21
... the merchandise which they make of them, the sordid gains which they gain by them,
by their labors and their sweat filling winepresses, and wine vats, but not ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxi matt xviii 21.htm

The Sweetness of Tears
... Through deer-parks, enclosed by latticed fences, wandered gazelles. Oil factories,
vats and cellars for wine, ran on from the bath-buildings and the offices. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/iv the sweetness of tears.htm

Psalm LXXXI.
... the affection of their heart, they shall go in their own affections." There is what
ye shudder at, if at least ye are straining out into the hidden vats of the ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxxi.htm

Colossians iv. 12, 13
... it ill-omened to speak even a syllable of what is adverse to it; for instance, when
thou sowest, when thou drawest off the wine from thy vats, thou wouldest not ...
/.../homily xii colossians iv 12.htm

Vats (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Vats (5 Occurrences). ... Proverbs 3:10 so your barns will
be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. ...
/v/vats.htm - 7k

Wine-vats (2 Occurrences)
Wine-vats. Wine-vat, Wine-vats. Wine-vine . Multi-Version Concordance
Wine-vats (2 Occurrences). Nehemiah 13:15 In those ...
/w/wine-vats.htm - 7k

Overflow (43 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Proverbs 3:10 so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats
will overflow with new wine. (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS NIV). ...
/o/overflow.htm - 19k

Tanner (3 Occurrences)
... Simon's house was by the seashore, as is true of the tanneries along the Syrian
coast today, so that the foul-smelling liquors from the vats can be drawn off ...
/t/tanner.htm - 11k

Winepress (19 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Consisted of two vats or receptacles, (1) a trough
(Hebrews gath, Gr. lenos) into which the grapes were ...
/w/winepress.htm - 14k

Wine-vat (7 Occurrences)
Wine-vat. Winevat, Wine-vat. Wine-vats . Multi-Version Concordance Wine-vat
(7 Occurrences). ... (WBS). Winevat, Wine-vat. Wine-vats . Reference Bible.
/w/wine-vat.htm - 8k

Wine (282 Occurrences)
... Joel 2:24, "their vats;3:13, "the fats;" Proverbs 3:10, "Thy presses shall burst
out with new wine [tirosh];" Haggai 2:16; Jeremiah 48:33, "wine-presses;" 2 ...
/w/wine.htm - 68k

Vau (1 Occurrence)

/v/vau.htm - 6k

Vaticanus

/v/vaticanus.htm - 7k

What does it mean to “let the weak say I am strong” in Joel 3:10? | GotQuestions.org

How does God restore the years that the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25)? | GotQuestions.org

Should a Christian invest money in the stock market? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus